21 December 1998
Now, at last, I'm really doing something. Today, Tony Blair made me Minister for Emergency Communications. It's understood that the really important bit is preparing for the Y2K circus. It's a real vote of confidence in Amateur Radio that he's appointed an Amateur to the post. I nearly got sent to Scotland with a portfolio to revive the Whisky industry, but apparently they thought that the Member for Six Mile Bottom was better at organising the brewery's drinks sessions. Some comment to that effect, anyway.
One of the first jobs is to boost Public confidence. Everyone says the Public want to have confidence in their Government and Public Utilities. We are having increasing trouble with people questioning whether preparations for Y2K are good enough. This destroys confidence and saps morale. When anyone questions my Ministry's Y2K Compliance, I tell them in no uncertain terms that they're being jolly rude to question our professionality.
I think it's important to show the Public how seriously we take Y2K; that's why I've told the Radiocommunications Agency to allow callsigns with a Y as if it were a part-of-the-UK letter, like W for Wales. GY and MY are for Amateurs who are ready for Y2K, so the Public will know whom to trust. In the present-day spirit of de-regulation, there will be no over-weighty beaurocracy to allocate Y letters - Amateurs will be allowed to self-certify that they are Y2K Compliant.
Come to think of it, all this beaurocracy was one of the reasons I got bored with Raynet - they never could do things the easy way. Call-out lists, message forms, maps showing where people were, no end to it. I preferred to trust to my memory - gives the Public some confidence in a chap. That's how I did it when they allowed me to organise communications for that 48-hour run (although I could have sworn it said 12-hour on the instruction sheet). They all said "it was interesting" and that "they'd never seen that before", so they seem to have learnt something from me. We certainly had more liaison with the Mountain Rescue and the RAF than ever before, especially considering that it was the dry-run for the London Marathon.
I've insisted that we should all roll up our sleeves and be there at the front line, not just command from distant offices. That's why I'm getting everyone to procure their own communications equipment and keep it with them at all times. Young whats-his-name from the Ministry looked a bit surprised when I insisted on spending Department money on a really good quality Morse key for myself. Sir Jim Bartlake didn't turn a hair, though. (Strange old buzzard, but seems very keen I succeed.) That's the older Civil Servant for you - recognises when quality is worth paying for.
I've no doubt that this little Y2K problem can be overcome. It will be hard work, but shoulder to shoulder we will hold the breech. (Or do you plug a breech? Or is it spelt breach?) Anyway, that's what the Public pay us for - to give educated and decisive leadership. (Note for next speech to local party meeting - when was St. Crispin's day? Anywhere near Jan 1st?)
Jim Crackke, MP, MY0PIC
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