In an interview today (July 7th 2022) on Channel 4 news, the government minister Jacob Rees-Mogg when questioned on whether or not the MP Chris Pincher should have been given a senior post given that his past comprised allegations of sexual assault indicated that “you can’t govern on the base of rumour and tittle-tattle”.  A sentiment with which many may agree, but which has no bearing here.  Chris Pincher was given a senior government post (Treasurer of HM Household) despite there being instances of allegations, investigations and redress.  This was not his first ministerial post either, he has been a minister on and off for 5 years.  Odd then, that the recruitment process didn’t turn up this information?  Oh wait, hang on a second…  is there a recruitment process for ministers?  Are there criteria for the job?

Even if we assume not (and there is neither a process nor criteria), then surely someone of conscience would want to ensure that the person being employed was suitable for a leadership role – i.e. a good role model?  Now rumour is not of course fact – but when you have been personally briefed about an investigation (as the Prime Minister had been concerning Chris Pincher’s earlier misdemeanours), and that the “private secretary had taken necessary action” – one might think that this is no longer rumour.

Despite the briefing then, Boris Johnson appointed Chris Pincher a minister, so presumably there were other criteria for the post which supersedes being a good role model…  all of which begs the question….  what are the criteria for the job?  Are chief whips supposed to be predators and bullies?  Really?  Is this how we run  politics? Not by reasoned debate, but by cajolery and bullying?

Even more of a shame then, that we don’t have job descriptions for ministerial posts…  or rather, perhaps this is precisely why we don”t.  If we had selection criteria, then we would potentially have a yard-stick against which to compare performance… and who wants that?  Especially for a predatory role like chief whip… It is a parody of itself really, and reminds me of the scene in Blazing Saddles where a gang of thieves and murderers is recruited – each one having to interview by listing their various crimes (of which my favourite is “stampeding cattle – through the Vatican!”).

The whip role in itself is anachronistic, public-school bullying – and one can only surmise that such jobs are filled by people of appropriate character, chosen presumably, for political reasons. (“Well obviously!” you might say…)

But if we approach this scenario logically, the implication of this is that we are not choosing the best people to manage our societies.  Even allowing for the democratic right for anyone to become a representative; surely we should still have a system that ensured the best-qualified amongst them would manage?

Even allowing for the right of the public to choose whomsoever they please, surely the objective remains delivering what the party considers is the best for the country?  But no, as we can see from the parties of all political spectrums – this is the way it is played, and the decisions being taken are not for the good of the country, but for the good of the party: a point further enforced again further in the broadcast…

A later interview was conducted with a minister who had just resigned: Andrew Morrison.  In answer to the question “What took you so long [to resign]?” Andrew Morrison indicated that the 2 recent by-election losses were the reason he resigned… not the lies… not the brazenly broken promises… not the errors of judgement… not the rule-breaking parties… not the political u-turns… not the attempt to break international law… not the watering down of parliamentary standards!  No – it was the fact that the Conservative Party lost 2 seats in the House of Parliament.

It would seem then that Andrew Morrison could live with the narcissistic lying, as long as Boris Johnson allowed the Conservative Party to remain in power.  Nothing about direction or policies or character would be of concern… just whether or not the party lost power.

And there it is… laid bare for all to see: the heart of party politics.  The same can be seen in the United States of America, and I am sure other countries around the world.  What counts isn’t the way a country is run, what counts is being in power!

This political system is a place for power-hungry bullies and idiots…

…and WE are the idiots because we accept it without question.