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On the two big issues of the day, the Govt has shown that it is incompetent. It has no semblance of a coherent strategy. Instead, it is intent on the elimination of sites of possible opposition and constraint. THREAD. 1/17 (sorry)
First, Brexit. @chrisgreybrexit's latest blog captures the latests twists of the descent into political insanity. Do take the time to read it.
https://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-descent-into-political-insanity.html 2/
https://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-descent-into-political-insanity.html 2/
Since 2016, the Govt's core thinking has not evolved beyond the desire for sovereignty and freedom from the tyranny of EU law *coupled with* unfettered access to the EU's markets. It has not appeared to realise that something has to give... 3/
The oven-ready, election-winning Brexit deal, which solved the problem of the Irish backstop, is now said by the PM to be a 'disaster'. It is difficult to see where we go from here. 4/
Second, coronavirus. To list just some of the highlights: the protective ring around care homes, test-and-trace, PPE procurement, the mutant results algorithm. Cases are rising sharply, as schools and universities reopen. Winter is coming. 5/
What has been the strategy underlying the rules on masks or on quarantine? The Govt has progressively distanced itself from 'the science'. The UK has been unable to speak with one voice. 6/
This is far from the world-beating response of the Govt's imagination. 7/
While the Govt appears to have not been paying sufficient attention to the crises it faces, it has determinedly set out to consolidate its own power, removing potential sites of accountability and constraint. 8/
The attacks on these sites of accountability are not only hugely concerning in and of themselves; they have also had significant negative effects on the Govt's responses to Brexit and and COVID. 9/
We see concerted attempts to constrain Parliament. Prorogation is the prime example (to limit scrutiny of, you guessed it, the Withdrawal Agreement Bill). We also see sweeping powers accorded to Ministers in relation to both Brexit and COVID. 10/
We see assaults on the Civil Service, where tensions have been exacerbated by the COVID response and by Brexit (notably this week's brazenly declared breach of international law). Dominic Cummings plans to do things his way. 11/
We see attacks on the courts (in the aftermath of Supreme Court Brexit rulings); on the devolved governments; on agencies (eg PHE, Ofqual); on the media; on universities etc etc. 12/
We see Russian interference in the EU referendum, a rash of procurement scandals, and all manner of connections emerging between those the Govt has chosen to promote. All coupled with a new-found interest in state aid. 13/
The Govt seeks not to unite, but to divide. It pours scorn on 'remainers' and 'activist lawyers'. It stokes a culture war - on statues, Land and Hope of Glory, taking the knee etc etc. 14/
I was writing about this in February. Re-reading the blog it now feels very out of date. There are new examples every week. 15/ https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2020/02/25/power-for-powers-sake-johnsons-profoundly-alarming-premiership/
At the end of the blog, I asked some questions about what the opposition should be doing.
So far, not a lot. On both big issues, it appears to struggle to find its voice, making arguments relating to competence rather than principle. 16/
So far, not a lot. On both big issues, it appears to struggle to find its voice, making arguments relating to competence rather than principle. 16/
It is, as @Freedland has also said here, time for it to make itself heard. 17/17 https://twitter.com/Freedland/status/1304452591703785473
