While I was an MP, I often went to village fetes with my children and, mainly thanks to the generosity of the stall holders, they would win blow up toys; hammers and swords and such like. For a few days they would be much used, sometimes even to launch an attack on me, but they would then deflate and be of no further use.
I fear this government is proving to be one of these toys, and is losing its air even faster than they did. This is regrettable, as the country needs decent government and a sense that the new leader is in control.
The failures started almost immediately after Andy Burnham had kissed hands. A schedule of sackings and appointments was promised to the media and not met. Delays began to creep in as the hours went by and the plans, such as they were, failed to take shape. The reshuffle was a mix of vengeance and hubris, showing a lack of care and attention, with important roles being offered about as if they were mere baubles, rather than instrumental in running the country.
The best example of this is the treatment of Rachel Reeves. It is not unkind, merely truthful, to say that she was not a success at the Treasury. It proved to be beyond her, but it is one of the most difficult jobs in government, so failing as the Chancellor is not a particular disgrace. However, when the nation faces a serious security threat, the Defence Secretary is even more important, so to offer this role to someone who had failed is rather scandalous. It shows a shameful disregard for the security of the nation, and raises questions about the seriousness with which Burnham approaches not just defence, but the whole of government. Is it just an elaborate game for him?
Vengeance was shown by the number of loyal Starmer supporters who were fired. On his election as leader, Burnham called for unity and an end to factionism, a call he repeated at the beginning of his first cabinet meeting. But he started his term in office by promoting his faction and damning everyone else. This is the same mistake Liz Truss made when she became Prime Minister. She hardly appointed anyone who had backed Rishi Sunak, which was an error. They included, among their number, some able people who then had little to do on the backbenches other than to plot against her. Burnham is taking the same risk.
The new Prime Minister, who has been spinning his spider’s web in Manchester to entrap and devour Starmer, will find his appeals for unity now fall on deaf ears, as he has not shown the magnanimity that is worthy of his high office. In a mean-spirited reshuffle he has sown the seeds of dissent, which will be husbanded by any policy failures or missteps that Prime Ministers inevitably make.
