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David Hughes asks an aposite question at Three Line Whip:Where is the Minister for Africa when you need him? The post-election meltdown in Kenya is producing some of the most horrific scenes to emanate even from that sad continent. Gordon Brown and David Miliband have both been in action today, trying to exert the maximum diplomatic pressure on the Kenyan government to bring an end to the violence.
Yet from Lord Malloch-Brown, there is silence. The former number two at the United Nations was brought into the Foreign Office largely because of his expertise in African affairs. The Prime Minister even granted him the accolade of allowing him to attend Cabinet meetings, so highly - it seems - does he rate his abilities. Yet he has been nowhere to be seen or heard as this crisis unfolds.
UPDATE: Please don't think that I actually regret his Lordship's absence from the fray. I only wish it were a permanent absence from public life.