Government By U-Turn

June 8, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

Ken Clarke’s proposals made sense. Among those trying to deal with the problems of the largest prison population in Europe, the cost to the taxpayer of unnecessary trials, the trauma of victims and many other issues, his proposals had wide support. A media centred drama then broke out following a misunderstood remark. Now, following the intervention of the prime minister, this part of the plan is to be dumped.

Reports on the working of cabinet government and harmony of the coalition are very favourable, including those of independent experts who have extensively interviewed ministers and officials. Sharp comparisons have been drawn with the sofa years of Blair, the tempers of Brown and the internecine strife of both. The verdict is that cabinet government is once again working as it should in a parliamentary democracy and the destructive years of the quasi-presidency of Labour are gone.

All of that is good. It is clear that Cameron sees himself as a chairman and leaves his ministers to get on with it. Until they hit choppy water. Then he interferes. Unfortunately the way this interference occurs and is reported is not a seamless process and whilst it rescues the government from unpopularity, makes it look indecisive and, worse, damages the ministers involved. Weak ministers, unwilling to take the risk of sticking their necks out, make for weak government and a cabinet full of cringers who go along with anything, in order to stay safe.

We have too much experience of such cabinets in the past. Whether you approve of its policies or not, this is a much better government than the last several. Its operating standard needs to be encouraged. The Prime Minister gets the credit for this, but he must sort out the way he deals with the politics of his ministers’ initiatives. Apparent U Turns, whether real or contrived, are an indulgence which usually lead to electoral downfall.