An Irish colleague of mine used to deliberately misquote Churchill. "Give us the job and we'll break the tools," he would say. I am reminded of him when I see what Johnson is doing. He seems to head up the least competent government in my lifetime and probably ever. Managing the pandemic and the economic backlash is not enough and they are intent on driving the wealth creating golden goose of British industry over the cliff edge in about five weeks time. But they are doing it by abusing the massively overstretched civil service on who they rely to do it all. It makes no sense.
Johnson has essentially given the green light to Priti Patel, the foul mouthed harridan of the Home Office to carry on bullying staff with impunity - even allowing his adviser on standards to resign rather than sack Patel who seems as dim a nightlight as you can find anyway.
I suppose when you're totally incompetent yourself, finding subordinates less competent is not that easy, hence Priti Patel holds one of the three great offices of state.
I think Johnson's legacy will be absolutely poisonous but the Tory party don't appear to realise it yet, at least not at the lower levels and higher up people are afraid to speak out, It's a bit like the Republican Party in the USA keeping silent on Trump and his terrible undermining of American democracy for fear of upsetting his base.
David Gauke makes exactly this point in Conservative Home (HERE). After pointing out what's happening in Washington, Gauke says:
"Although not as egregious, there are similarities in the UK. Fear of offending the Conservative grassroots has inhibited too many senior Tories in setting out the realities of our departure from the European Union for far too long.
"At this particular time, the talk of Westminster and Whitehall is that the overwhelming majority of the Cabinet favour a compromise with the EU because they are conscious of the consequences of failing to get a deal. But the ambitious amongst them know that to be seen to be associated with compromise on Brexit is a career damaging move.
"As a consequence, they keep their heads down, content to let others challenge the prejudices of their party’s more extreme supporters. If things ultimately go as badly as they might, history will not judge kindly."
So, there you have it. The "overwhelming majority" of the cabinet favour a deal. No doubt many have been contacted by businesses in their constituencies and will know first hand how difficult things will be even if we get a deal.
To see how the grassroots see things you only have to look at the comments under his article. They are mostly attacking Gauke!!
In another part of his article he says with massive understatement that the deal/no-deal options facing the PM are "sub-optimal" but he has to choose. Johnson, he says, "continues to appear to be undecided as to whether he is willing to make the necessary concessions in order to get a deal (thus upsetting hardline Brexiteers) or leave without a deal (wreaking further damage to the economy and the integrity of the United Kingdom)."
And on this latter point, the FT had a long read on Friday about this very topic which is exercising every sentient human being in the country and possibly the whole of western Europe. It's behind a paywall I'm afraid HERE, but George Parker tweeted it:
Will he, won’t he? Big read on @BorisJohnson and his big Brexit decision. A look at the many reasons why he should take a deal - and why doubts linger. Meanwhile chaos looms under either scenario..with @jimbrunsden and @pmdfoster https://t.co/zBK6SAGIAM
— George Parker (@GeorgeWParker) November 21, 2020
In the article we find this (excuse the blunt language - this is apparently how we are governed now):
"Are Mr Johnson and Lord Frost now ready to make compromises in the next few days to secure a trade deal with the EU — without having Mr Cummings’ favourite refrain 'fuck ’em' ringing in their ears? Or will they double down to prove to Eurosceptics they are willing to embrace the hardest of all hard Brexits in the name of national sovereignty? One senior official says: 'To tell you the truth, we don’t know — and frankly, I don’t think the PM knows either'.”
The nation's future apparently rests on the toss of a coin - I assume he's drafting up two articles for The Telegraph to see how they might look in print and how he can argue the cases best. One rejecting the deal on offer with plucky Brittania standing up to the pen pushers of Brussels and another explaining how he single handedly saved British industry from destruction by the ERG.
Which one will win out will be decided by him and Frost apparently. Some democracy there. The FT say even Michael Gove, Johnson’s most senior cabinet colleague, has been "urging him to agree a deal if possible."
Johnson the risk taker made the wrong choice back in 2016 but can't admit it and he has now left himself another decision between two "sub-optimal" choices. Things can either be bad or very bad. Over to you prime minister.
