In Power But Not In Control

There are so many proverbs that all cover a similar problem, so I will go for a good agricultural ‘Reap what you have sown’.

Poor beleaguered Theresa May is discovering that, no matter how hard you try, there are much better players of the stabbing in the back, self-aggrandising game that we shamefully have to accept as our political system.

I assume at some stage that being an MP meant accepting the role of public servant. Of prioritising the needs of the people above personal ambition. And where ability was the main driver of success, of promotion, of attaining higher office.

Sadly it seems that this is becoming a rare commodity in the parliament of today. I have no problem with honest differences of view, opinion, political persuasion. I have a real problem with self-serving arrogance badly concealed by platitudinous sound bites.

Now, I am no fan of Theresa May. She has brought a container ship-full of shite on herself, through her own self-serving arrogance.

However, having to tell her cabinet colleagues to behave has got to be the saddest response to totally unacceptable behaviour.

You are in power, just, sort of. You have a totally divided country. You have a self-inflicted wound of a Brexit decision to deal with. But hey, why not try to de-stabilise things even more.

Unless, unless, unless. Conspiracy theory coming up!

Throw the party into turmoil. Bring about a vote of no confidence. Lose the right to hold power, and allow Labour to form a government. Then sit back and expect a shit-storm of problems that you cannot be blamed for. Because you and your chums are safe, no matter what.

But that credits them with more foresight than they have. They see the next step in their scramble for power, and have no consideration for the consequences. As long as their faces appear regularly on the news, on the front pages, the country can go hang.

And, in case you think this is just a UK problem, have a look at the orange powder puff across the ocean.

Trump’s election promise to scrap the Affordable Care Act – Obamacare – has been thwarted at every turn, by his own party, even though they hold power in both houses.

So maybe I shouldn’t complain. Power but no control should lead to, at the very least, a watering down of extreme policies, and therefore inflicting less harm.

But, cynical as I am, I still dream, occasionally, of a time when political office is held by more than a very few honourable people.

I still dream, or maybe I am just going senile.