Robin Wilton's esoterica

This weekend it's Geoff Hoon's turn to express the government's desire that the House of Lords should back down on its opposition to the ID Cards Bill. He doesn't appear to advance any new arguments, just to restate the 'constitutional convention' that peers should not continue to oppose legislation which fulfils a manifesto commitment. He doesn't mention the point already raised by peers in debate, which was that the manifesto commitment was to a voluntary phasing in of identity cards.

Mr Hoon and controversy are long-standing companions; you may remember that he was defence secretary at the time of the invasion of Iraq. It seems to me that these days, with the pace of life being what it is, it's all too easy to forget last month's headlines, let alone those of last year and the year before. Fortunately, technology also suggests an antidote. A quick check back through the BBC website for articles involving Mr Hoon throws up the following (this is a representative sample, but I'm not sure what it's representative of...):

Hoon suggests compulsory voting Leader of the House of Commons Geoff Hoon says he backs making voting in UK general elections compulsory. » 91% relevance | 04/07/2005 | similar stories

'Bury bad news' claim on ID cards Leader of the Commons Geoff Hoon is criticised for setting a debate time on ID cards when many MPs will be away. » 85% relevance | 23/06/2005 | similar stories

Hoon saw early Iraq legal advice Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon saw the attorney general's early advice on the Iraq war, which was not shown to Cabinet. » 90% relevance | 02/05/2005 | similar stories

MP thrown out of House of Commons An MP is thrown out of the House of Commons for calling Geoff Hoon a "back-stabbing coward". » 85% relevance | 16/12/2004 | similar stories

Analysis: Hoon's 120 mins The issue of who knew what about Iraq's weapons capability continues to dominate the agenda at Westminster. » 85% relevance | 05/02/2004 | similar stories

Hoon questions Deepcut inquiry As MPs lobby for a public inquiry into deaths at Deepcut barracks, Geoff Hoon asks what it would achieve. » 89% relevance | 27/04/2004 | similar stories

Hoon admits mistakes over Kelly Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon says more could have been done to help Dr David Kelly before his death. » 90% relevance | 24/04/2004 | similar stories

Hoon's special adviser quits job Geoff Hoon's special adviser who linked the defence secretary to the naming of David Kelly has quit his job. » 89% relevance | 03/02/2004 | similar stories

Hoon resignation demands rejected A minister rejects calls for the defence secretary to resign after a soldier's death is blamed on a lack of armour. » 87% relevance | 15/01/2004 | similar stories

Hoon must quit, says Iraq widow The wife of a British soldier, killed in Iraq after having to give his body armour back calls for the defence secretary to resign. » 86% relevance | 15/01/2004 | similar stories

Hoon accused of neglecting duty Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is guilty of a "dereliction of duty" for sending troops to war without the right kit, say the Tories. » 90% relevance | 13/01/2004 | similar stories

Hoon gets US honour for Iraq work Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is awarded the Pentagon's highest civilian honour for the UK's role in Iraq and Afghanistan » 89% relevance | 08/01/2004 | similar stories

UK Iraq troops face another year UK troops will still be in Iraq on New Year's Day 2005, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon says. » 87% relevance | 02/01/2004 | similar stories

Hoon declines to make public apology Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon declines to issue a public apology over the death in Iraq of a soldier told to hand back his body armour. » 91% relevance | 21/12/2003 | similar stories

Iraq situation 'calm' says Hoon Security in Iraq is improving, says Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, following the death of a British marine. » 88% relevance | 05/11/2003 | similar stories

Hoon rejects Kelly family's criticism The defence secretary rejects Dr David Kelly's family's claims he was guilty of hypocrisy at the Hutton inquiry. » 87% relevance | 15/10/2003 | similar stories

Campbell's diaries fill papers Alastair Campbell's diaries dominate the Hutton inquiry coverage as speculation continues about Geoff Hoon's future. » 84% relevance | 23/09/2003 | similar stories

Diary price tag on the rise Alastair Campbell 's diaries prove to be a star exhibit as the Downing Street media chief and Geoff Hoon face questions at the Hutton inquiry. » 84% relevance | 22/09/2003 | similar stories

Hoon regrets Iraq 'misunderstanding' Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon responds to criticism from a committee which says he failed to reveal fully concerns about the Iraq dossier. » 90% relevance | 11/09/2003 | similar stories

'Time to go', Hoon is told Iain Duncan Smith steps up calls for the defence secretary to quit or be sacked following the publication of a report on Iraq's weapons. » 86% relevance | 11/09/2003 | similar stories

Spotlight on Hoon's dossier role Whitehall sources dispute claims Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon misled an influential committee of MPs over the Iraq dossier. » 90% relevance | 10/09/2003 | similar stories

Prescott defends Hoon's holiday Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott defends Geoff Hoon's decision not to go to the funeral of government weapons expert David Kelly. » 90% relevance | 03/08/2003 | similar stories

MoD plays down Hoon reports Defence officials dismiss 'misleading' reports that Geoff Hoon sanctioned the naming of dead weapons expert Dr David Kelly. » 90% relevance | 22/07/2003 | similar stories

Defence secretary under fire The Iraq war raised the profile of Geoff Hoon but not necessarily to his advantage as he became embroiled in the Kelly affair. » 90% relevance | 22/07/2003 | similar stories

BBC refuses to name source The BBC says it will not reveal the source who alleged a dossier had been "sexed up", as Geoff Hoon offers a deal. » 85% relevance | 09/07/2003 | similar stories

Number 10 resumes BBC dossier row Downing Street resumes the Iraq weapons dossier row with the BBC claiming Today refused to broadcast a Geoff Hoon interview. » 85% relevance | 04/07/2003 | similar stories

'Net closing' on Bin Laden US-led forces are close to finding Osama Bin Laden's hiding place, says UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon. » 86% relevance | 22/10/2001 | similar stories

For the defence: Geoff Hoon Former lawyer Geoff Hoon has experienced a rapid rise through government this year to become defence secretary. » 94% relevance | 12/10/1999 | similar stories