A reminder of what Dominic Cummings says about UK Cabinet meetings. Many will have seen it, but it is worth revisiting as the Starmer disaster unfolds. Starmer clearly sees himself as a very senior official, not as a Prime Minister ensuring political oversight of government.
7 comments:
It works at all levels of "government". During twenty years of working in schools under council control I realised that once a council "consultation" was announced on any subject the decisions had already been made and the ink was dry.
I'm not sure how far I agree with Cummings on this. The gist is right, but I think he over-eggs it a bit.
I wonder whether Starmer actually thinks he is in control, making radical changes; or whether his terrified expression is due to him realising that he has very little power; or whether he thinks he is safe because he is the first PM to agree with the Blob, so they'll let him stay and accept gifts from Lord Alli and a lot of time abroad.
Jannie - after decades in the public sector, that's my impression too. Consultation is for appearance and just in case a horrible mistake has been made, but generally the decision is made beforehand.
Sam - I think he probably over-eggs it a bit too, as he probably would, but Starmer does seem to show us that the Cummings view fits well with the general idea of politicians as puppets.
Starmer may see himself as part of the Blob, so it doesn't matter how inept Rachel Reeves may be as an economist, her job is to defend the Treasury position. He probably sees Ed Miliband in the same light - there is no possibility of the official position on wind turbines being stupid because stupidity isn't an official position.
Cummings surely lost all credibility when he took the panicking hysterics' side in the Great Covid Cock-up.
dearieme - he doesn't have much credibility, but what he says about Cabinet meetings feels at least partly accurate to me. It helps explain how Starmer and Reeves were landed with the winter fuel disaster.
Ambrose Bierce had it right in his Devil's Dictionary.
To consult :- To seek another's disapproval of a course already decided on.
Doonhamer - pretty accurate too, but Ambrose Bierce usually was. Thanks for the hint, I ought to make more use of his dictionary. .
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