The title comes from a cabinet minister admonishing his own cabinet colleagues. It is a neat summary. The Conservatives in government are infuriatingly becoming an embarrassment.

Let’s just recount the last two years. Cameron won a surprising election victory and then with a cavalier approach which was such a hallmark of his premiership, embarked on a Brexit referendum, posing a simple question about a highly complex issue.

Several of today’s cabinet subsequently drove the debate to the lowest common denominator. All this to bind the wounds of the Conservative Party over Europe. It was, of course, a disastrous gamble, leaving the Conservative Party more divided than ever, whilst casting a dark shadow over the political and economic future of the UK. If that wasn’t enough, the same Conservative Party held (perhaps with the benefit of hindsight) an entirely unnecessary election which weakened the government at the very moment it needed strength, and in doing so succeeded in making Corbyn’s Labour Party electable. Quite some feat.

Then comes the aftermath. As if the Conservative Party had not toyed sufficiently with the future of the country, we now have the unseemly positioning of cabinet ministers undermining the Prime Minister, insulting and contradicting each other in public and leaking cabinet meeting discussions at will. It is a disgrace. It is as if politics is simply a game, taking no account of the consequences of pursuing individual ambition at any price. What must floating voters at the very least be thinking…

None of those in cabinet who currently see themselves as a successor to Theresa May deserve the job. It would be easy to name names but we all know who they are. So go away for the summer, rest, recuperate, repent and then give the Prime Minister space and time to negotiate what must be a Brexit with a lengthy transition period. As for her successor, he or she must surely come from the next generation of MPs who can create a centre right narrative away from the curse of Europe. In doing so, they will put distance between themselves and the perceived reckless stewardship of many currently in government.

Happy summer holidays…

 

 

If the Conservative Party stands for anything it is sound finance so it is puzzling when Cabinet Ministers, seemingly hustled by Corbyn’s agenda, recently wanted to dilute a commitment to securing the country’s financial future. The debate over relaxing public sector pay is a legitimate one but from the Government’s perspective it is an issue for the Prime Minister/Chancellor and not set in the context of panic or a possible cynical display of’ leadership ambition.

We should make an effort to ban the word austerity or at least put it in the context of what it really means. The UK is still borrowing over £50 billion a year to make ends meet. Debt interest is over £40 billion per annum which is 3% of GDP that can’t be invested in public services. To relax a grip on public finances would damage the very people that more expenditure is meant to help. Cameron’s rare intervention to make this point is welcome. Nobody likes austerity. It is unfortunately essential.

It is legitimate to assess the impact of cuts versus higher taxes but in reality we currently need both. What we also need is cross party co-operation. The country faces unprecedented peacetime challenges. In addition to Brexit and the consequent Repeal bill, the rapidly accelerating pressures on social care provision and a struggling NHS require more consensual solutions. Then there is making capitalism work more fairly for all stakeholders starting with workers’ rights. We have had the Dilnot Report, party manifesto proposals and now the Taylor Review to name but a few initiatives covering these areas. None have attracted any consensus even in a post election world.

It is easy to see Theresa’s May’s initiative this week to reach out to other parties for solutions as a sign of weakness, particularly given her pre-election aggressive stance. But politicians need to grow up and understand that some issues are bigger than their own ambitions and ideologies. Only if they recognise this will the reputation of the political class show even the slightest hint of recovery.