MORE OF THE SAME

 

“S/He’s made a mistake and has apologised and we believe in second chances”.  This appears to be the continuing refrain to excuse any problems arising from the actions of Conservative members of Parliament. I’m not sure how this started but I believe it began with either Boris Johnson, or, perhaps, Priti Patel over her breach of the ministerial code. In Boris’s case it was an outright misrepresentation to Parliament. Nevertheless it is hardly mitigation. It would not matter if the mistakes were in respect of some minor misdeed, but when a mistake made by a senior member of the Government, over quite serious matters, such as lying to the House of Commons, breaching security, bullying in the workplace, conflicts of interest and inappropriate behaviour, it is altogether a different matter. A simple I’m sorry doesn’t cut it. The ministerial code of conduct is there for a reason. It is not like being late for a meeting, bumping into someone in a lift, or cutting in front of a queue.   The rule of law is the bedrock of our society and should not be flouted by people in highly responsible positions of trust with a simple ‘sorry, let’s move on”. Indeed, in our courts, people in a position of trust who abuse their position are dealt with more harshly. It is a written into our common law. This video is worth a view:

   

As to the mistake of crashing the economy, we have not had exactly the same excuse, but certainly no apology. Instead we have had “I am right, but we moved to far too quickly”. A phrase that has been taken up by all the defenders and supporters of what was clearly lunacy. It also allowed for an ‘I told you so” moment, and “Mistakes were made and I will fix it”. Do not be fooled.  Mr Sunak is no different.

There is at present The Public Order Bill for 2022 which is an atrocious concoction to imprison people protesting. It extends the powers of stop and search without suspicion and can impose electronic monitoring, in other words tagging protesters. Our Home Office is desperate to pass this legislation and should be stopped. The current economic situation is shielding the public from scrutinising this repellent repressive legislation.

There is a moment in the film The Great Escape where Senior British Officer Group Captain Ramsey (played by James Donald) is speaking with Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett ‘Big X’ (played by Richard Attenborough). I have adapted their exchange of words: 

Ramsey

No matter how unsatisfactory, this government may be, the conservative members

 have left us in the hands of Rishi Sunak, not Boris Johnson or Liz Truss. 

Bartlett

You talk about the conservative members of parliament and Rishi Sunak,

 then Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. To me they’re all the same. 

We’re fighting the bloody lot. There is only one way to put it. 

They are the common enemies of everyone who believes in freedom. 

If they didn’t approve of this government why won’t they call for a general election.  

So yes, the right wing agenda of this government will be pushed through at every opportunity. They will create legislation that will turn any opposition into a criminal activity.  What is really sad is that the British public, the people one sees on newscasts being interviewed in various constituencies, to find out opinion on the current situation, want to bring Boris back. Some are upset, some want a general election, but many just acquiesce as they did with Ms Truss “Give them a chance”.  They have had 12 years of chances. Four chances in fact Cameron, May Johnson and Truss and now number 5, Mr Sunak. How many chances do they need. The same faces are back with the same excuses and incompetence

 

Here is a video concerning one of Boris Johnson’s Secretaries of State for Health, Steve Barclay,  who was shuffled out but has now been reappointed to the role, by Mr Sunak: