'Independence From Each Other'
Hugo Rifkind's My Week column pokes marvellous fun at the Salmond/Sturgeon saga, but he also makes a serious point about the essential gang mentality of party politics.
'Independence from each other' - is a great slogan.
Thursday
The prime minister telephones.
“I suppose you’re calling tae gloat,” I say.
“Partly,” says Boris Johnson. “But I was also hoping you could explain what is actually going on.”
So I sigh, and I say it’s complicated, but the real problem is that there’s just no independence.
“But you’re always saying that,” says Boris.
“Not from you,” I say. “Us. From each other. The problem is that my party, the civil service, and the legal system just immediately do whatever I even vaguely tell them to.”
“I wish I had that problem,” says Boris, wistfully.
Thursday
The prime minister telephones.
“I suppose you’re calling tae gloat,” I say.
“Partly,” says Boris Johnson. “But I was also hoping you could explain what is actually going on.”
So I sigh, and I say it’s complicated, but the real problem is that there’s just no independence.
“But you’re always saying that,” says Boris.
“Not from you,” I say. “Us. From each other. The problem is that my party, the civil service, and the legal system just immediately do whatever I even vaguely tell them to.”
“I wish I had that problem,” says Boris, wistfully.
