Request granted

Maurice Vellacott has gone public asking for "a modest role" in the Conservative government:

In the two-page letter, Vellacott says he'd prefer to be appointed either a vice-chair or chair of the Human Resources, Aboriginal Affairs, Foreign Affairs or Health committees.

He also says he's concerned that if he were appointed to a senior cabinet role he would be prevented from speaking his mind on certain issues, such as "ethnic outreach, marriage, family and life."

Presumably Vellacott wants to leave a bit more of a paper trail so he can't again be accused of doing nothing as an MP. But given those views that Vellacott wants to be able to speak his mind about, I'm sure Harper will be glad to find him the most modest role possible - preferably one which won't result in any publicly-recorded proceedings to be used against the Cons in the next election campaign.