12th June 2017

Politicians and Pyrrhic victories

As the dust settles on the political mess that surrounds us, I, like you no doubt, have been reflecting on what ‘learnings’ (that wonderful word that those who should be responsible trot out when they have messed up) have been coming out, a little before Thursday and now in the swirling dust cloud of verbal spin, catch phrases, excuses, retributions, pollsters and egos.

My own MP, a junior minister at the Ministry of Justice, visited me last week and expressed his concern that the Tory party had gone ‘off piste’ into danger.  

In skiing parlance this was because the small group of skiers had no guide, had not listened to a weather forecast and had no piste map with them or even an avalanche safety device. 

I tend not to be too political. This is because I have met a few MPs over the years, some on the TSC, some who were not. I have been amazed at their arrogance, general stupidity and lack of any knowledge of real life. 

The nation today should be, in Hector Sants speak, ‘very afraid’.

Why? 

Because it now comes to light that the government, since Brexit, has in effect been run by two unelected individuals. They have excluded many senior ministers and MPs from the formulation of policy, a campaign strategy and manifesto.

That is bad enough.

What is worse is what we find out now. 

Not only do we have an idiot as PM, we have a bunch of spineless ministers who sat there and said absolutely nothing. Not even a whimper of discontent, in effect offering up a ‘Nurnberg defence (we were only acting on orders) in fear of their jobs in the next government that was expected to have a hundred plus majority.

And even worse, the post election complete lack of contrition. Today from Michael Fallon on the Andrew Marr Show, making possibly the best Uriah Heep impersonation I have ever see by a politician. 

Readers of Charles Dickens will know that the character is notable for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and insincerity, making frequent references to his own "'umbleness". 

And this lot want to form a government to see the nation through the Brexit process? 

Once again I am reminded of Bob Monkhouse’s quote about his career aspirations. He said, “everybody laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian. They’re not laughing now”.

In this case think of Mrs May. Nobody laughed when she called an election that was not needed. Well, they’re all laughing now. 

God save the Queen.

Panacea Comment