Watching on our behalf: TPTB had better not disappoint him …
I never knew our MSM were so … royalist! All the front pages have one theme only: yesterday’s state funeral of the Queen (link). And why not! You cannot proclaim an event as a solemn, ‘only once in generations’ on the one hand and then not report on it extensively. A bit further down I shall add a few personal observations on yesterday’s State Funeral.
Firstly though, in tune with the ‘now we must get back to business’ claims, there’s an opinion piece in today’s Times which made my day! It’s a piece written by the historian Anthony Seldon. You might like to peruse his biography in his bland wiki entry (link), a list of his books included. These books show that he must have had years of access to rather good “sources”.
When I saw the title of his opinion piece: “Scapegoating and purges won’t improve the civil service” (link, paywalled), my antennae for detecting bovine excrement started to twitch. Reading on, I was not disappointed. The 2nd paragraph started with the sentence “Top of the agenda for His Majesty’s government must be the demoralised civil service Liz Truss inherits.” – oh my giddy aunt!
Demoralised, is it? I don’t think Mr Seldon or his sources know what it really feels like to be demoralised! After all, civil serpents are so secure in their jobs that they can WFH without repercussions. It gets better – or worse, depending on one’s attitude to the civil service:
“Yet never before have we witnessed so much systematic hostility and open disparagement of the civil service, with so little improvement. Talk of a “shit list” of top officials is novel. The two best prime ministers since 1945, Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher, would never have dreamt of sanctioning such language, and both knew their historic changes rested on brilliant officials.” (link, paywalled)
No, they would indeed not have sanctioned such language – but that is due to their upbringing and to the times they lived in. “Shit lists” and other choice derogatory labels have grown on the MSM midden that is ‘popular culture’, the ‘yoof culture’ of the Blair generation because it was ‘so edgy’. There’s more:
“The civil service today is losing some of its best, failing to recruit the best and transparently is no longer the best. Suspending fast-stream recruitment was dim. “Under Dominic Cummings then Jacob Rees-Mogg, the civil service had never seen more energy put into criticism and negative briefings without as much as a clear reform plan for improvement,” says Alex Thomas of the Institute for Government. Institutional enhancement isn’t achieved by scapegoating nor purging the top levels.” (link, paywalled)
Oh, the poor, misunderstood mandarins! Criticism, such as that by the arch-fiends Cummings and that other fiend Rees-Mogg, who believes civil servants ought to be seen to work, trying to take away that wonderful WFH scheme.: that cannot be permitted. Criticising the civil service in any shape or form, be it in crude language or the more dangerous soft one employed by JRM, is abhorrent!
The next paragraph however takes the proverbial. It’s a ‘proposal’ for how said civil service should be reformed. Declaring that such reform isn’t rocket science, Mr Seldon proposes:
“Reward and retain the ablest: recruit more specialists, not least data/digital experts; define better what officials, ministers and special advisers do; avoid pointless churn, which sacrifices institutional memory and expertise. Restore cabinet government and committees toco-ordinate government policy properly.” (link, paywalled)
That is precisely what Cummings tried to implement. Does Mr Seldon, do the mandarins with whom he spoke, now embrace that which they so vehemently rejected two years ago? Was Cummings actually correct? How horrible!
The concluding paragraphs document the resilience of Whitehall where mandarins are past masters at pulling wool over government ministers’ and MSM writers’ eyes. It’s what they excel at. They don’t even notice any longer that we know that they live on a different planet:
“The civil service has achieved much in the past few years, from Brexit implementation and vaccine rollout to the Queen’s funeral. Yet top officials are reluctant to speak up for it or raise concerns. Don’t speak truth to power is the lesson they have absorbed, but divergent opinions lie at the very heart of good government.” (link, paywalled)
This one phrase, “speak truth to power”, uncovers the left-leaning (I’m generous here …) attitude of both Mr Seldon and the mandarins to whom he undoubtedly spoke. As for the rest: ridiculous! As if we peasants have already forgotten how Whitehall tried their utmost to sabotage Brexit, from setting up the referendum unto collaborating with Brussels to make it go away!
How farcical this gentle appeal is, i.e. to be nice to the demoralised civil service, becomes clear in the final sentence of the concluding paragraph:
“Truss’s reduction of the size of the bloated No 10, and her determination that cabinet government be reborn, are encouraging starts. But without a well-motivated and professional civil service (and history shows repeatedly it loyally follows clear and consistent political leadership) her plans will never be achieved.” (link, paywalled)
Good grief – a ‘loyal’ Whitehall? Do note the sting in the tail: mandarins ‘follow clear and consistent political leadership’ … If they don’t, it’s the fault of yon leadership. We know what this looks like, for example the experience of Ms Patel which was HO internecine warfare. The fate of us, the taxpayers, were irrelevant.
I leave you with a few impressions, engaging my mind while watching the proceedings. For example, I immediately recognised one of the roses in that magnificent wreath. The deep purple roses is called ‘Munstead Woods’, and I have one of those in my garden.
Then there was the horrible moment when one of those splendid soldiers – dunno what his rank was – saluted when the Queen’s coffin was taken out of Westminster Abbey. The palm of his pristine white gloves was dirty!
I felt for the poor ratings who had to walk those miles, especially after the service, pulling the gun carriage. Walking on board a RN vessel is, shall we say, restricted. They can never have walked for so long in their lives.
And finally, at Windsor Castle – the corgis. Allegedly, they were sad when seeing the cortege. Well, lemme tell you: they looked dead bored to me, and even before the hearse passed, one of them turned away and tried to get back indoors as quickly as possible. Dogs, even royal corgis, are not interested in rituals, be they ever so grand and important.
The final act in the reign of the Queen, the State Funeral, is over. The organisers, the Armed Forces, did the Queen proud – and so did we, the people. Nobody can ‘do’ this like our Nation can and did. Now it’s time for reflection. As for me: I’m collecting material to mock the mockers who will inevitably come out from under their tables, to have another go at us. I look forward to that!
Nice to see Liz Truss has got her priorities right (not) by agreeing with the Chancellor that the bankers bonus cap should be removed. I mean there must be 1001 other issues which deserve his and her attention right now, and the cap on banker’s bonuses must surely be near to the bottom of that list or indeed at the very bottom of that list. I see nothing yet mentioned about the Northern Ireland protocol or the English Channel migrant crisis. Just two issues that should be at the very top of that list. I know there has been the death of Queen Elizabeth and the subsequent mourning period since her election as Conservative Party leader and prime minister, but she did say upon election that she would hit the ground running. So far, I think it is anything but, and no doubt she will use the death of the Queen as an excuse not to do the things expected of her, just like Johnson did with the Covid 19 Lockdowns etc. I’m seriously trying to give Truss the benefit of the doubt, but I just think she is full of excuses and will not the hit the ground running any time soon, and will use the next two years doing favours to bankers and the like and not doing the things which will be of benefit to millions of people in this country. Haven’t we had enough of this style of government already…………
Getting the Tory party funds ready for the next election is far more important than some piffling bruhaha in the Channel or finishing off Brexit. What she alluded to when she said she would hit the ground running was getting the fighting fund ready for the next election and giving bankers the means to scoop a wodge of bonus money would do that. Times are tough and as Maggie would have said charity begins at home!!!!!!
Free Ntions have just released an article – ‘Corporatism will kill us all’. Well worth reading. Search it as I can not give link. Free Nations is well worth getting in your mail inbox. ‘Subscribing’ costs nothing. Like I said about the daily sceptic.
Search freenations. It is Rodney Atkinson.
Freenations >info@freenations.net>
http://freenations.net/corporatism-will-kill-us-all/
In 1996 I read When Corporations rule the world David C Korten. Which gave me a good understanding of the sheer enormity, power and agenda of corporations. For a bite size introduction to the way corporations pollute everything they touch and their agenda Rodney Atkinson’s article is an excellent introduction.
http://freenations.net/corporatism-will-kill-us-all/
And so, it is reported by the BBC online news site that a trade deal with the USA is not likely in the short to medium term. Isn’t it about time politicians learned that this so called ‘special relationship’ that we supposedly have with the USA doesn’t exist, but it only exists in the minds of certain politicians when giving boring speeches at dinners paid for at our expense, and of course when it suits the Americans when they want the assistance of British forces in their exploits overseas. I say forget the USA, we can live without them and Truss if she has got any sense, should not only make us 100%free of the European Union sphere of influence, but also 100% free of American influence as well. That is what true Independence is all about, standing on one’s feet without outside interference of any sort. And should the American public at some point in the future vote for a president who is half interested in fostering good relations with this country, we can explore whether indeed we want a future fictitious special relationship with that country. Until then we should be as independent with them as we are with say, Madeira.
Colin Hussey, 12.08pm. Complete agreement from me.
Unless those who claim to be on the centre Right grow a pair, stop fearing Labour getting into power and start joining centre Right parties (any, yes ANY) and become active the Tories will not relent in their trashing of this country nor continuing making a monkey out of the pigeon-hearted, listless, centre Right voter who lent them their vote.
Jake…..I agree, but preferably NOT Reform UK. Not a proper political party in my view and not democratically run either.
This offering is splendid and highlights several strategic/political/pivotal nodes.ONE. Green taxes , An unbiased world view is needed. Right now we ( Not royalty ), our country, has the clout to be believed. But we need to be correct or we’ll be overtaken by the Scaninavian countries or American bull***t TWO. Investment. This is paramount. It is usually wasted but ultimately rewarding. THREE. The Civil Service is important. In order to help the country. The Civil sService has to be the target of ruthless pruning and improved value and outcomes. Half a million is a ridiculous number and too well disguised.But they can be good at this sort of thing.BUT. FOUR … BUREAUCRACY. This affects us all in every way and all for the worse. There is value in computers But not that much. { a simple example , one of thousands . :–Add another name to the circulation . WHY ? .. This is pure marketing.Ditto irritating links and idleness etc } Where is education to slow this rubbish down.?
I forgot another important Node ( So many problems. So much wromg.)
NODE 5. Spurias New foolish “new”industries with only negative value. :–
IT.,:– More on this another time. HR.:–Idleness bolstered by the so called Agency Industry, Just Foolishness beloved of Theresa May and a flagship of ECHR. and lawyers. ( nuff said .. Get rid. It wont hurt anyone ).
All these are burdens on Growth and rationality.
Formation of a profession of IT etc’s just might be a good start.
I call these “Nodes” as they affect economic change and improvement, rather than society or institutions or Justice or Society sort of stuff.
I enjoyed yesterday’s spectacle (and the choirs in particular), but I do not share in the optimism over what it portends for the future of Britain.
Hindus and muslims are having a mini civil war in Leicester and Ethiopeans and Eritraeans fight outside an embassy in London. In north east London fighting between Armenians and Turks is unreported because it has been going on for so long. These people are indifferent to the death of the Queen to whom no allegiance is felt and for whom no shared identity and experience of nationhood with us exists. In Sweden, also enjoying diversity in the form of explosions, shootings, and rapes, some liberal twerp lamented that immigrants have yet to “absorb our norms”. The failure to absorb norms, in Rotherham, Oldham, Telford has only affected white trash young girls, and so not provoked any care and attention from our elites until very recently, but Swedish style violence which appears to be coming here is going to be a bit of an embarrassment.
Small minorities do absorb our norms not least because they make a conscious effort to integrate, but the doctrine of multiculturalism has ended that. Larger minorities see no need to absorb our norms because our government does not require them to and now does not know how to go about correcting its earlier failures. The number of people bringing different norms continues unabated along the south coast.
Peter Hitchens pointed out that at pageants long ago, police lining a route would look outwards along with spectators. Now they have to face inwards to keep an eye on the crowd that can no longer be trusted. The difference goes unnoticed as the current practice is seen as normal and proper, but it is a significant change.
The reaction of the media has been ‘phew, Britain still exists’. Indeed it does. But just as tides slowly erode the white cliffs of Dover, so demographic changes are eroding Britain as was. Yesterday helped people believe that the white cliffs were still secure, that they stood on an enduring feature of the land. Hooray, 1000 years of history continues is the cry. Alas, it does not continue in the republican majority 18 to 24 year olds or among the growing parallel societies that now inhabit this land. The white cliffs are far from secure. Inch by inch they become smaller.
It is not nostalgia that afflicted Brexiteers. We mourned a future we will not have. There is a difference. But the time for mourning has passed. (Only Queen Victoria turned mourning into a lifestyle and she is not a model for the rest of us.) We can simply draw comfort that Britain will exist in history, to be studied and admired much as Ancient Greece and Rome are.
I’m off to Marseille again next week for sunshine, the deep blue of the med, and some local wines. The south of France was good enough for Monet and Picasso so good enough for me.
Stout. Prior to WW2 the east end of London was packed solid with Jews. They worked hard, doing useful and necessary work. They caused no problems to anyone.
They certainly DID NOT go around smashing monuments like BLM did recently!
Yet Mosely wanted to march his uniformed fascist followers through that area smashing the Jewish homes and businesses.
What a contrast to today’s abject submission to BLM – the ‘taking the knee’ of our present day !!
That bloke Seldon wrote ‘demoralised’ Civil Serpents, he might have been nearer the mark by writing ‘immoralised’
GB News:
“https://www.gbnews.uk/news/liz-truss-commits-uk-to-give-ukraine-at-least-23bn-in-military-aid/368825
Not a good start giving away money which we can’t afford and, it seems from past reports, depleting our own armaments.
The Civil Service:
“failing to recruit the best”: No doubt a result of “woke” selection policies being applied.
“Brexit implementation”: Claiming success when it is still not completed despite Boris’ claims.
In other words totally unfit for purpose.
It is not about ‘best’ – they are all supposed to be the cream of the crop aren’t they – it’s about mind set and group think, a club that believes it is superior and in charge because that’s the natural order. It is a rare minister who has the courage and resilience to shift their pile-driven defences.
The first thing Braverman told her department was that she wanted no more migrants landing on our beaches, now go away and make it happen. The poor fragile ‘demoralised’ serpents had a fit of the vapours and had to sit down for a bit… well, after briefing the press. We have yet to see whether she can break through.
Meanwhile her much maligned, hapless predecessor, Pritti Patel, who could not break that stranglehold, became yet another whose true character emerged over recents days. Rather than queue-jumping like her colleagues, no airs and graces, she became a volunteer crowd marshal for those queues. A decent person thwarted, traduced, chewed up and spat out by the establishment.
Yes, the mandarins May have run rings around her but did Patel have the backing of Doris, the man with the 80 seat majority? In a similar vein Baker has been sent to NIreland by Truss and he may receive little support from Truss and end up like Patel. But they still have a role to play in Tory plc. Leading up to the next GE they will still be encouraged to rally the fence sitting, credulous, centre Right with slogans on how the Tories will be tough on immigration, tough on crime, tough on inflation control etc. And the game goes on, and on…….
The man with the dirty cloves was probably he who bolted the crown on to the coffin. 🙂
Harryagain………..not gloves then?