Sunday 2 August 2020
Has the office of Prime Minister vanished?
Broadly similar global responses to the coronavirus debacle tell us that outline UK response policies were not the responsibility of the UK government. Boris and co merely followed global protocols and gave in to whatever external pressures, media hysteria and technical advice appeared to be politically compelling. They are still doing it even though it has been pointless for weeks.
In one sense it all suggests that Boris and co had no choice but it also suggests they hardly ever have a choice. The office of Prime Minister is merely a clearing house for pressure groups and vested interests and many of those pressures and interests are global.
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2 comments:
Yes, I remember that as the structuralist theory of political leadership. Political leaders are not unique "Great Wo/Men", with special qualities which they use to get to the top of the pile. Rather, impersonal forces push whatever person has the qualities required into the role, and manipulate them into making whatever "decisions" the situation requires.
Sam - it is easy to find examples of that approach too, although some leaders do seem to add a personal element such as Tony Blair and Donald Trump. It is hard to see what Boris adds.
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