The geek in Parliament

Tom Watson has yet to mention his departure from Government on his blog, which is uncharacteristic, but I suppose it's been a bit of a heavy week. I'll be sorry to see him recede, although the awful state of the Brown premiership he worked so hard to institute must be pretty dispiriting. Whatever his politics, he gave the impression of having some sense of how technology worked.

Compare this with the also departing Jacqui Smith, who sometimes gave the impression that she felt the Internet could be better managed if the people writing it all out slipped some carbon paper under their easels and passed a copy of every web page they drew over to the Home Office, along with the names of everyone who had checked out each page from the Internet Ledger.

In their coming absence, who's going to step up to the plate? I have a good feeling about Vernon Coaker (who got from reading Animal Farm a real feeling of hope - no, really). After a couple of practice swings, I think he might be ready for the big leagues.