Heritage minister placed on defensive
The Secretary of State for National Heritage, Virginia Bottomly, admitted on Wednesday in a speech to Imperial College’s Conservative Society, that the Government is in a very difficult predicament and that "Small majorities are grim." Nevertheless Mrs Bottomley denied that recent deals with Ulster Unionists were evidence of the Government favouring one party over another.
The Member of Parliament for Surrey South West also denied knowing the "ins and outs" of the Conservative Party finances. She insisted that her party’s sources of funding did not worry her and expressed "outrage" at the suggestion that donations to political parties should be declared.
Mrs Bottomley repeatedly insisted that the electorate does not understand "how straight government is", whether it be in dealings with the different parties in Northern Ireland or in accepting influence from foreign benefactors of the Conservative Party. She further expressed her regret at the direction Parliament has taken following the Nolan Commission on standards in public life.
Just as the Conservative Society’s previous speaker, Peter Lilley, refused to rule himself out of any future Conservative leadership battle, Virginia Bottomley did likewise albeit with considerably less vigour. She chastised her Cabinet colleagues, who she believes are "auditioning for solo acts" in their attempts to position themselves in the run up for the expected leadership race after the next election.
With the recent introduction of the extra Wednesday draw, the Minister responsible for overseeing the Lottery and the distribution of its millions resolutely defended it from attack. She insisted that the "average family spend" is no more than Ł2.50 and that there was no proof that charities or low income families were being adversely affected.
The former Secretary of State for Health expressed her gratitude to the Rector, Sir Ronald Oxburgh, for his support during her attempts to implement the Tomlinson Report on the merger of London hospitals. "For all the grief that I got about the changes in London, the science community was always behind me", she said, going on to reflect on her time in the Department of Health.
Whilst admitting that her current position involves such pleasurable activities as going to football matches, Arsenal versus Manchester United being the latest, Mrs Bottomley was reluctant to pinpoint the achievement of which she is most proud. Assisted by her Private Secretary, Mrs Bottomley eventually admitted that "putting in place the framework for the introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television" was one of her greatest moments
