Regular readers will already know of the doubts I harbour concerning 'St. Theresa of May'. The Brexit debate was a litmus test for all of our leading politicians including, and especially, her. She chose the soft option of supporting her Prime Minister by admitting that she favoured 'Remain' but then made absolutely no effort to campaign in favour of it. Her silence was deafening! Well, you could say that was shrewd politics but it was hardly brave. Since then, to be fair, she seems to be determined for Brexit but, as 'old Will' put it: "Hence shall we see, / If power change purpose, what our seemers be."
However, my unease is spreading from her to her cabinet colleagues. Perhaps it is unfair - but, heh!, when was politics ever fair? - to slag off Ms. Elizabeth Truss, the Minister of Justice, whose department gives every appearance of being unfit for purpose with prisons looking so cosy the scallywags must sometimes consider breaking in! Or the Prison (non)Service sending convicted murderers out by taxi for minor surgery where they can be 'rescued' by villains bearing guns.
Then there is Sajid Javid, the Minister for Local Communities who keeps disappearing every time the brown stuff hits the fan in his department. I had high hopes for him given that he was from humble origins but managed to work his way up the corporate banking ladder making millions as he went. Also, he was a keen Brexiteer, well, he was up until it came time to choose which side in the referendum when he lost his nerve and ratted out.
I have mentioned before my instinctive dislike of Amber Rudd who was a ferocious and ill-mannered 'Remainer' but clung on to become Home Secretary after Cameron was dismissed. Our less than distinguished Minister for Defence, Michael Fallon, gives the appearance of being a muppet with the hands of sundry Generals and Admirals up his shirt-tails!
The Tory party should be exceedingly grateful that the Labour party is led by a daft, old loony propped up by a gang of Trots.
David, from over here it "seems" as though PM May is awaiting results from upcoming elections on the Continent. From these results the direction of the wind may be determined.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 13:46
Good point, Whiters, and it is certainly true that the new governments in Europe will determine how easy or hard it will be for us to make our escape. There was an interesting report, yesterday, I think, stating that whilst Britain's trade with the EU is fairly heftily in the red, our trade with America is well in surplus. Let's hope 'The Donald' doesn't notice!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 14:14
The effects of Brexit will probably develop over the better part of a decade. A short video summary of both the pluses and minuses is here:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-22/brexit-with-no-trade-deal-insane-former-u-k-envoy-warns
The US economy might also face consequences from limiting ties with Mexico and Mexican immigration. Since Mexican immigrants do many jobs Americans won't we could be seeing rising costs for produce, in restaurants and in construction, just to name the most obvious. Nationalism cuts more than one way.
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 15:50
You are quite right, Bob, that the effects of Brexit will echo on for several years. Happily, I don't need to read your Bloomberg 'expert' given that most 'experts' have been proven wrong so far!
And, of course, nationalism, just like socialism, "cuts more than one way" because their main ingredient is 'PEOPLE' - dread word!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 16:41
David, if experts don't know more than anyone else Britain should let the people that claim to be most loyal make all the decisions, the way the Soviet Union did. What could possibly go wrong?
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 18:46
Now, now, Bob, you're trying to be too clever by half! You know perfectly well that experts might well possess great knowledge but that they also possess judgment is definitely NOT a given!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 20:44
Sometimes an expert is just a drip under pressure?
Or a person with a brief case who has traveled more than 50 miles from home.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 22:27
Half clever or not, you admitted experts can have great knowledge, old chum. Following your reasoning, non-experts can also lack judgement. It therefore follows that the consensus of experts outweighs that of non-experts.
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 22 February 2017 at 22:40
Bob "great knowledge" does not necessarily equate to "great [or even moderate] wisdom" and so your reasoning is flawed.
Posted by: AussieD | Thursday, 23 February 2017 at 01:36
AussieD,
Technically you're right, but how in practice do we determine who has wisdom? Knowledge will have to do.
Posted by: Bob | Friday, 24 February 2017 at 18:53