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…
Inside Right Politics 