Downing Street's misnamed garden
This week, the first anniversary of the formation of the coalition, is seeing a torrent of articles and broadcasts referring to the "Downing Street rose garden".
This is rapidly becoming one of the great myths of history.
As I have said before, it is not a rose garden, though it's possible there are one or two roses in it.
Certainly, I've not seen any roses in any of the pictures of the great Coalition event, and not had the pleasure of visiting it since. And it's always been called simply the Downing Street garden.
People are obviously thinking of the White House, which does have a rose garden. Full of very nice roses.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 10th May 2011, barriesingleton wrote:WASN'T IT RENAMED 'THE SHRUBBERY' IN TONY'S TIME?
BULL RUSH 17.11.03
I looked up the meaning of βBushβ
You could say itβs βdense shrubβ at a push
Now this thick vegetation
Is leading a nation
Weβve all gone to war in a rush.
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Comment number 2.
At 10th May 2011, RW49 wrote:How does the song put it? '....I never promised you a rose garden....'
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Comment number 3.
At 10th May 2011, JunkkMale wrote:'My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out.'
Front pages being held. Unless, of course, there's been a super-injunction. This could be HUGE! Another lie exposed! Where's me iPad?
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Comment number 4.
At 10th May 2011, offpat wrote:I beg your pardon.
I never promised you...
(better headline for the musically raised...)
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Comment number 5.
At 10th May 2011, stevie wrote:in a rose garden there are many, many thorns as the LibDems are now finding out to their cost....
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