"What is the point of Maria Miller?" one of the nation's most prominent political pundits queried recently.

It is a question that I suspect many in sport also have been asking.

For those who might not know, Mrs Miller is Britain's Games Mistress, nominally in charge of what some MPs refer to as the Ministry of Fun – the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Although the esteemed Quentin Letts was not referring specifically to sport when he opined: "The Right Hon Maria Frances Miller, Conservative MP for Basingstoke, is Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Were that not enough, she is also Minister for Women and (hooray!) Equalities. This 49-year-old mother of three has more briefs than a branch of Marks & Spencer. Sadly, she is an almost complete non-event."

Ouch! These political heavyweights don't pull their punches, do they?

As it happens Letts was not grinding a political axe, for he entertainingly sketch-writes writes for a Government-supporting newspaper, the Daily Mail.


As he suggests, Miller may not have a point. But as a humble student of politics myself – though strictly the sporting variety – I tend to agree that he certainly has.

When Miller took over from the lambada-dancing Jeremy Hunt at DCMS last September she came over initially as a pleasant and inoffensive motherly figure, though obviously knowing naff-all about sport.

Hunt's own knowledge of the subject wasn't that much greater, but at least he showed an interest, even taking a refereeing course to learn more about football at the grass roots. But a little knowledge became a dangerous thing, his ultimate meddling riling those he worked with and many in sport.

The DCMS was not a happy ship under his unpopular stewardship and few mourned his "elevation" to oversee the Department of Health.

Alas, it appears that Miller has not upped her own game and, according to the acerbic Letts: "What a milky-blancmange zone of nothingness her department has been under her so-called leadership."

Certainly, her impact in sport has been negligible.

That is, apart from one contribution, and an unpleasantly negative and vindictive one at that.

She personally put the kybosh on the recommended appointment of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as chair of Sport England, thus embarrassing not only Tanni but also the Sports Minister and the Government. Not to mention herself.


Insiders allege it was a calculated act of revenge because the bold Baroness had dared to get the better of her in a row over disability benefits. Whatever, it was a shameful piece of political chicanery.

Isn't it time the Prime Minister, who sadly himself seems to care less about sport since the Olympic bandwagon stopped rolling, took the ball away from the hapless, hopeless Miller.

Her responsibilities range from fine art to football, from hi-tech communications to civic libraries, from historic houses to the National Lottery; her portfolio embraces tourism, gambling, architecture, fashion and the written and broadcast word.

I make no judgement on her capability as governess of such other accoutrements but as far as sport is concerned she is a dead loss.

Sport may well benefit at top level from a woman's touch but she is no Tessa Jowell or Kate Hoey.

I understand that lobby groups associated with some of those other elements, notably the arts and the media, share sport's disenchantment with her performance.

Miller is fortunate in that she has at her elbow a decent press office and Sports Minister who is rather good at his job. We should pray that it is one in which Hugh Robertson remains in any coming reshuffle, even if Miller loses hers.

It is a role I know he cherishes, and has turned down promotion in the past in order to keep.


These past few months Robertson has been wearing copious hats, engaged in matters other than sport, such as taking the lead role in promoting tourism; and significantly he was more prominent than Miller was in assisting the Prime Minister push through the Equalities Bill, legalising gay marriage.

It was her brief but curiously she was almost invisible during the debate.

Robertson continues to be highly regarded by David Cameron and may again soon be under pressure to take on a more substantial ministerial role.

Politics apart – and I have never voted for his party – he has my respect, as he knows sport and how it works across a wide spectrum. I think he has been one of Britain's best Sports Ministers.

One who is able enough to look after our sporting interest without the doubtful supervision of an ineffective boss way out of her depth.

Surely, after the impact of the Olympics, the Government must realise that sport's days in the political toy department have long gone.

It is now not only one of the biggest influences on society and national well-being but a major industry bringing in billions to the Exchequer.


As such, is it not time to give sports a full-blown ministerial department of its own, instead of lumping it in with culture, media and other bits of flotsam?

And to give the Sports Minister a seat in the Cabinet, as it happens in several other countries.

Successive Governments have shied away from doing so, though I hear it is an idea to which a future Labour administration will give serious consideration.

Hopefully, however, any future incumbent would be better qualified to be sport's parliamentary czar than the present shadow Culture, Media and Sport overlady Harriet Harman – about as much a sports buff as Miller.

Baroness Thompson is one name that springs to mind. What a delicious irony that would be.

Sport needs a strident voice in Downing Street, one that speaks rather more cogently on its behalf than Miller who, according to Mr Letts, "is the dud in the Cabinet".

Give Hugh Robertson the armband, PM.

For sport deserves better than this Miller's tale of woe.

Alan Hubbard is a sports columnist for The Independent on Sunday, and a former sports editor of The Observer. He has covered a total of 16 Summer and Winter Games, 10 Commonwealth Games, several football World Cups and world title fights from Atlanta to Zaire.