Not so splendid isolation

Standard

Image: Stefan Wermuth, Reuters ……..The Mays in Downing Street, 9.vi.17

You don’t have to be that long in the tooth to recall Election Days +1 where the victor, hundreds of party members and well-wishers are pressed into the Downing Street cul-de-sac, their throng thrilling to the vibration of victory with the glorious prospect of power ahead: humanity spilling from windows in cheering-wreathed smiles, bobbing heads of the prime ministerial team wholly refreshed from weeks of 18-hour days by winning #generalelection.

For the Prime Minister and her husband on Friday, the street’s echoing emptiness must have felt even more shocking and isolating than it looks.

The knives were out long before the last Count had counted. Yet her two advisors, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, responsible for the puzzling Team Theresa approach – nothing short of a doom-laden no-brainer – appear to have Teflon armour and firm friends across many sectors of media.

Is discerning those to whom we listen from those we listen-and-act not a function of being an adult? Yet, it seems these advisors saw an opportunity for self-aggrandizement to which Mrs May was immune or deaf.

All of us are subject to areas in which our judgement is poor. Naturally enough, these are not those we ought pursue. Politicians need sound political judgement in order to take their Constituency seat and a spot on the green benches.

For the country to flourish, the categorical imperative implicit to goodwill and selflessness has to inform action from here on in. If you’re unfamiliar with Kant, I’m referring to doing the right thing. If familiar, waft warm wishes to Downing Street. They’re needed.

~~~~~

The above was posted this morning, Saturday Tenth June. The Two o’clock News told me this puzzling pair of Advisers had resigned. Hadn’t realized these pages carried such suasive weight.

Possessing vertebrae

Standard

© Jonathan Bachman, Reuters Ieisha Evans standing for her principles

Last July in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Police Department was confronted by a nurse, Ieisha Evans, who decided to step out from the thronged Black Lives Matter protestors and show her strength when told that not keeping to the sidewalk would result in immediate arrest.

At this moment of Mrs May having called an Election for Eighth June, one is reminded of what motivates taking or making a stand. We can’t yet know the full reasoning of this change of heart but like as not, a show of strength will be in the mix.

Thousand words painted by these images: taken as read?

© Jonathan Bachman, Reuters                                            Moments later