How Tony Blair almost created a very rude sounding government department in embarrassing gaffe revealed by Alan Johnson
Former Cabinet Minister explained he was nearly in charge of a comically named department after an acronym fail
TONY Blair very nearly created a department of ‘penis’ after a hilarious acronym gaffe, according to Alan Johnson.
The former Cabinet member revealed how he was nearly in charge of a comically named ministry, but it was nothing to do with his surname.
He said he realised there was a problem after he received a phone call from the then-Prime Minster following labour’s win in the 2005 election.
In an extract from his new book, published in the , he wrote that he was asked to return to the Department of Trade and Industry as Secretary of State.
“At the end of the conversation, Tony mentioned in passing that the name of the department was to be changed and that Matthew, my private secretary, would fill me in”, he said.
“I had a pen and paper ready when he called as promised: ‘It’s the Department of Productivity…’
“I grimaced as I recorded a capital ‘P’ on my notepad. It was an ugly word to include in a departmental name. ‘… Energy (En), Industry (I) and Science (S)’.”
The MP said in his new memoir, The Long And Winding Road, he brought the matter up a few days later in a meeting at the Downing Street rose-garden terrace.
After being asked if there was anything to add he said: “Yes, there was one other thing.
“Why has the name of my department been changed to Penis?”
Mr Johnson said eventually the PM replied it was “a dreadful name”, asking: “Can’t we change it back again?”
The 66-year-old said: “I informed him that the old sign had been removed but the new one hadn’t yet been erected.
“The absence of a Penis erection was the cause of great merriment.”