I know I’m a little behind but think this needs airing.
From Dan Hodges column (published Feb 15)
Let us focus on something that’s been submerged. Namely the fundamentals of probity, rectitude and integrity that we have been told – principally by Sir Kier himself – represent the new guard-rails of our national governance.
a bit later…
Now set those words against three specific things we witnessed over the past week. The first was the ongoing attempt by Sir Kier to insulate himself from the crisis over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Washington ambassador when – by Starmer’s own admission – he was fully aware Mandelson had maintained a relationship with the world’s most famous paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The second was his decision to belatedly remove the Labour whip from Matthew Doyle, his former communications director, after appointing him to the House of Lords. Even though Starmer had again been aware Doyle had maintained a friendship with a man charged with possessing indecent images of children – a charge that was later proven.
The third was the news he had summarily ousted his Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, and replaced him with Home Office Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo. Even though Romeo is the subject of serious allegations of bullying and misuse of taxpayers money from her time at the Foreign Office, and multiple Civil Service sources claimed those allegations have not been properly investigated.
So, as I say, what are the rules?
When Starrmer was elected, they appeared clear. Probity in public office had been grotesquely perverted under Boris Johnson, he charged. So restoring the highest standards of honesty, humility and transparency represented his driving mission….
… Then last week, all thhat suddenly changed. Even highlighting these issues had in itself suddenly become a dereliction of public duty.
Starmer’s allies began berating the media for focusing on Mandelson rather than the Government’s policy agenda.
On Wednesday I was chided by a minister for my own part in focusing on Westminster intrigue rather than the Government’s achievements. So this appears to be the new rule. Or the Starmer Rule, if you like. Under the Tories breaches of standards in public office went to the heart of their mismanagement of the nation. But under him, thhey are of secondary importance. Not to be confused with the serious business of establishing breakfast clubs and preventing teenagers from accessing TikTok…..
… During the Labour leadership election he piously demanded: ‘Hear me out! I had 8,000 staff for five years as the Director of Public Prosecutions …. when they made mistakes. I carried the can. I never turn on my staff and you should never turn on your staff’
(about Johnson) …It’s no good the PM flailing around trying to blame others. It’s time he took responsibility for his own failures’ he railed repeatedly. Yet in the past week, this rule too has been inverted. He has turned on – and turfed out – every one of his most senior officials…… As another senior government official told me: ‘I struggle to think of a PM more willing to throw under the bus those who have been loyal to him’
So this is the other new Starmer Rule. The buck should have stopped with Boris Johnson. But there is no need for it to even pause for breath when it’s in the vicinity of himself.
later about Antonia Romeo ….. The new Starmer Rule? Due process not longer matters. Parachute her into the most senior job in te Civil Service regardless.
….Which when it comes to the crunch, the rules governing the Starmer premiership are as duplicitous and hypocritical and mendacious and self-serving as they always were.
good luck to all
