The Sketch: The denial of a man who cannot accept being wrong
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Friday, 9 May 2008
"Remember," one Labour backbencher murmured to me yesterday, "it's his finger on the nuclear button." He meant the actual nuclear button, not some other sanction of vast destructive power and unlimited casualties, like calling a general election. We were considering, I'm sorry to say, the possibility of a total psychological collapse in the Prime Minister.
Personally, I think there is a small but significant chance it will happen. The PM has one really fatal disability. He can't be wrong. He hates it so much he never allows it to happen. When wrong, his immediate reaction is denial and then obfuscation. He does it to himself first so that he can deny to us andobfuscate with integrity. But the impossibility of facing the fact that you are, have been, wrong... is lethal.
In the shadows of the Treasury, he got away with it for years. But now in the full spotlight, he stammers, stutters and stumbles so much that even when he's right he's wrong. On the Scottish referendum ("Bring it on!"Wendy Alexander had said over the weekend) Gordon was so evasive, the issue is still in the news schedules. Shailesh Vara brought it up in Business Questions. He recapped the evidence thus: the PM claimed Wendy hadn't called for an immediate referendum. But on Tuesday's television, she'd said affirmatively and definitively that Gordon had affirmatively and definitively endorsed her decision to do just that. "They can't both be right, Vara said.
Gordon's answer had begun by claiming she'd never said that about a referendum, and went on (underneath the incredulous jeering) about some damn review reporting heaven knows when. Denial, then obfuscation.
The right answer was: "She was issuing a challenge to the SNP to stop faffing about. She thinks, as I do, that they are a party full of wind with very little substance. I wonder if that reminds honourable members of any other party in the UK?"
They had all week to think of an answer to dispose of the question. Why couldn't he be clear about it? He simply hasn't got the talent for it. The clarity for it. He hasn't the character to be clear, because clarity reveals the truth.
The truth, though, will be revealed for him in the form of the lowest poll ratings in Labour's history. And there will be the mockery, defections, insolences, more mockery, betrayals, collapses, failures, yet more mockery and a resurgent Conservative Party stealing, as he sees it, his treasure, his precious, his political capital.
It will become clear beyond denial that he personally destroyed the coalition that provided election victories. That he never was prime ministerial material. That 20 years of aspiration for the highest office were... wrong. That's what will cause the collapse, if that's how it's going to turn out.
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13 Comments
The SNP manifesto states that they will hold a referendum in 2010,
AFTER proving their ability to govern in the interests of the Scottish people.
An excellent stance if I may say so , and one worthyof adoption by every political party.
We have already had years of the Labour party proving its inability to govern in the best interests of the Scottish people ,joined of course by the Damp Squibs.
Scotland has changed for the better!
I hope England finds the courage to do likewise , because NONE of us have our interests considered by the Westminster Government.
Posted by Disgusted Dorothy | 10.05.08, 15:16 GMT
What I find extraordinary is how someone so obviously devoid of talent, charisma, leadership skills and common sense could have ended up being appointed leader of the Labour Party "by acclamation". It beggars belief. Just what were they thinking of?
This is the man who principle claim to fame is the introduction of the disastrously flawed tax credits system. It is the spinelessness of those people at the top who must have strongly suspected that this would happen but said and did nothing that really troubles me. These people deserve to be thrown out of power.
Posted by Nigel | 10.05.08, 07:33 GMT
lola wrote
The two key philosophers of our time - Adam Smith and Spike Milligan - both say that anyone who wants to be prime minister (or seeks powewr over other men) is fundametally unsuited for the job.
B...ollocks Lola!
It was said by Billy Connolly-Not Milligan!
get the facts right!
Posted by Bil K | 09.05.08, 22:19 GMT
Gordon Brown has spent ten years fouling up in the engine room, while the former skipper sweet-talked the nation; Now that he is skipper he has no place to hide.
It is just a pity that the vast majority of the nations journalists and pundits gave him such an easy ride through out those ten years of increasing taxes and squandering money, whilst announcing "No more Tory booms and busts", etc. ad nauseam.
If we could only get a prime minister and chancellor with the humility not to feel that they and the government have to involve themselves in every detail of our lives, things would greatly improve. Alas, Cameron's principle free Conservative party will only be marginally less interfering than "New" Labour.
Posted by Otto | 09.05.08, 21:40 GMT
The two key philosophers of our time - Adam Smith and Spike Milligan - both say that anyone who wants to be prime minister (or seeks powewr over other men) is fundametally unsuited for the job. Spike's comment was in connection with owning a handgun, but the principal applies. Gordon wanted the job too much and has been found to be inadequate. And he is also Wrong. And I agree (as I have always thought this to be the case) he cannot face being Wrong. So he resorts to deceit. Once the Voter has discovered that he has been deceived, that is now, he does not like it. Hence the poll ratings.
Posted by Lola | 09.05.08, 15:52 GMT
'Ministry of none of the talents'
Gurning Grinning Gay Gordon, Miliblip, Yvette Bollocks, Black is White Byrne, Slapper Flint, I'm Free Burnham, Blinky So What Balls......
Goodbye Britain......for the next two years.
Posted by Tony Blairie, Beanville | 09.05.08, 15:41 GMT
Like Global Warming the infallibility of Gordon has been the meat and veg of the left for 10 years. Prudence? long term difficult decisions for the good of all? Err no, he spent all the money, and more, on good old fashioned state intervention in all our lives. The success of this policy can be measured in the number of kids from the poorest backgrounds who will leave school without any qualifications this year, our bulging prisons and fractured country (think unequal devolution and the bribing of the Scots with Barnett money). I hoped and prayed that Gordon would become the great leader one day - to be exposed for the Stalinist loser he is. Now even his cheerleaders can see it.
Posted by Stephen | 09.05.08, 11:45 GMT
Thank you for the clarity, but you knew this all along and you too denied it. Alternatively, you can admit you have been conned by someone who is nothing more than a malevolent dictator.
Posted by Andy | 09.05.08, 11:32 GMT
Bang On Mr Carr! Brown is a no talent, no charisma, no charm backroom boy whose appallingly bad communication and leadership skills make him completely unsuited to the PM role. Add to these failings his economy with the truth, his inability to work within a team-let alone lead one, his difficulties with colleagues and his disloyalty to Blair and he emerges as a dubious candidate for any important office.
Posted by paul turfery | 09.05.08, 11:15 GMT
There is no way back for Labour to their managed decline of Scotland now. We Scots will simply not accept it.
Salmond was absolutely right when he said after the SNPs 2007 victory, "Scotland has changed, for good and forever"
Even if we vote No, in a referendum which WILL now happen in the SNPs timescale, the United Kingdom will remain in name only. Between the SNP and the Lib Dems alone there will be enough support to ensure Federalism at the very least. Nationalists like me will simple carry on campaigning for the next stage.
When this happens, where will Ulster and Wales go? It will be their time to question.
The good ship Great Britain is holed below the water line, the only real questions revolve around just how long it will sail on before it slides into history.
All British people, who are interested that is, should be considering what kind of state they want to live in soon. Because they will have to before long.
Posted by Andy | 09.05.08, 11:05 GMT
13 Comments