Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has defended government policies.
"I think that this is a robbery - a serious crime - and it will be being investigated. But I don't think that it necessarily shows a sloppy attitude. I think it's a crime which is a serious one and will be looked into and we hope obviously - that the police will be able to apprehend the offenders."
So you drive away from a secure printing site, checked out by the guards on the gate and you are heading for an RAF Base, where you will need to satisfy all sorts of security procedures to gain entry, carrying parcels that must at least be marked as "Diplomatic" mail and you decide that you cannot go further without a newspaper to read as you drive so you stop, leave both of the van doors open and wander off for a chat with Mr Patel. Two likely lads, having no idea what you are carrying, leap into the van through the open doors, intimidate your escort in the passenger seat and find, conveniently, that the keys are in the ignition and they drive off round the corner, unload all of the parcels into another vehicle and make good their getaway.
I think that if I were Greater Manchester Police I would have the thumbscrews on that driver by now. Talk about a classic put up job. I'm just amazed that the driver and his mate thought they would get away with it.
In my day I'd have had the driver hanging by his bollox answering probing questions within the hour.
