There are things we know about politics in the UK.
Boris Johnson is a liar.
A civil servant resigned because a case of bullying was dropped against Priti Patel.
Dominic Raab is incompetent.
Liz Truss is way out of her depth.
Rishi Sunak wants to impose callous cuts in government spending that will hit those least off the most.
Gavin Williamson was given a knighthood despite leaking secrets.
But apparently the biggest villain in politics is John Bercow, who has been found to have thrown a mobile phone onto a desk so hard it shattered into hundreds of pieces of shrapnel, which I suggest very unlikely if you have any experience of dropping mobile phones.
Am I defending Bercow if he really was a bully? No, of course not.
But am I saying that this feels like a very odd case when we are well aware that he was politically hated by many Tory MPs? Yes, I am saying it feels like that.
And, candidly, I'd rather we focussed on the incompetence of those now in office.
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Anyone disagrees with you on here they get banned.. is it also true you have banned over 20,000 people from Twitter? … pot calling the kettle?
You’ve made 11 comments here
All disagree with me
And you’re not banned
So your argument is?
As for 20,000 banned in Twitter – every now and again I ban someone who issues threats or is vile. Everyone with a significant number of followers has to do this. What would you do?
Whilst I would describe Richard’s written self on here as ‘robust’ and direct (and since he’s not orthodox he has to be) just look at his videos Jason? Or read some of his books.
Richard’s no bully in my view if that is what you are suggesting Jason.
One of the things I’ve learnt in the civil service/local Government is that if you take a position at odds with the prevailing view one of the tactics used against you is to portray you as a bully or of browbeating people when all you are doing is holding your position in the face of evidence. It’s done to undermine you and shut you up – to marginalise you. He’s not always right and will say the same, but he does his homework Jason – loads of it – because its his job.
Do you?
I share your observation that the portrayal of the person seeking change is often characterised as a bully
Those with expertise are also often characterised as such by those who want to preserve their status without having the knowledge to justify it
Indeed …I was just thinking if John bercow can be banned from parliament for being a bully and a liar why not Boris Johnson? why not Priti Patel? How can this hypocrisy not be evident to all?……day after day the lies continue…
If you wish to tackle both bullying and incompetence, it is easy to do both. It is typical of Westminster to tackle an issue only long after it has much relevance. I would suggest the best place to start is Priti Patel. Alex Allan, Johnson’s (independent) adviser on the ministerial code, resigned last year after Johnson refused to implement his investigatory report of Patel.
Allan investigated Patel, found unacceptable behaviour, and had been guilty of “behaviour that can be described as bullying” . The Guardian (12th November, 2021) reported that Dave Penman, the Fist Division Association’s (the senior Whitehall civil servant’s trade union) General Secretary, said: “Civil servants should expect to work with ministers without fear of being bullied or harassed. “The prime minister’s decision, which he said reflected the home secretary’s assertion that her actions were unintentional, also potentially allows ministers to avoid the consequences of their behaviour in future by pleading that it should be the intent of their actions which is important, not the consequences. The result is that civil servants’ confidence in challenging unacceptable behaviour from ministers has been fatally damaged.”
Patel’s incompetence, meanwhile is demonstrated every day in the Home Office, which is now a major public, international embarrassment for Britain throughout Europe and the world, because of the catastrophic failure to implement a serious Ukraine refugee policy that actually works. It is indefensible, shameful, and I am confident that the British electorate will not forget the Conservative defence of the totally unacceptable Patel.
Patel must go. We then need to think very seriously about how easily incompetent bullies rise to the top in Britain; presumably because bullying has been found to be the easiest and most successful way for the incompetent to build a big career.
Sky is now reporting a new British visa centre opening in Lille is not taking ‘walk-in’ appointments, and is apparently operating in terms contradicting what the PM had announced. Could it be the Home Secretary is, in the vernacular jargon “doubling down” on what whe said in Parliament yesterday? But not defending yesterday’s dross and today’s unspeakable failure where she should be prepared to justify the unjustifiable; at the Despatch Box.
Patel must go.
BBC also pointing out the failures in Poland
Ironic all those Tories saying the bully and liar Putin needs to be stood up to but they turn a blind eye to their own in house bullies and liars
Wonderful Bond nickname for Priti Patel in the comments to Steve Bell’s cartoon in the Guardian today,
Queue.
🙂
I wrote to Bercow to support him in his time as Speaker. I always got nice appreciative replies back. He seemed to me to be sticking up for the reputation of parliament at a time it was being wrecked. He was assertive and robust and he had to be dealing with bunch of Tory MPs behaving as if they were in a sixth form common room.
It’s obvious to me that the Tories wanted some one like the current chap (Hoyle is it?) – who to me is a bit of push over. We know the Tories are nasty and don’t forget so I’m not surprised that this has surfaced. They’re not going to let a war in the East and and cost of living crisis stop them settling their little scores. Just like it’s not going to stop them destroying the NHS. And to think we’d be trying to negotiate with people like this? Extremists who make themselves out to be victims of an assertive Speaker? Only fascists can think like that.
There was a youngish chap I think who was a Tory intern researcher who was bullied and I think killed himself as a result not so long ago. What happened to that complaint I wonder? John Warren’s reminder about Patel is also relevant.
I had a colleague once who got so fed up one day that he smashed a laptop on his desk and showered people with keyboard shrapnel. He went on ‘gardening leave’ as we call it. He’d had enough, was under pressure and was also offered counselling and a month’s leave and support to calm down. Other than that he was good bloke to work with. He just cracked that’s all in exceptional circumstances at the time.
I wonder if the HoC does things like that for people who work there who crack every now and then? Did someone talk to Bercow about it or offer help? How lonely was that role whilst he was in it? A place where you cannot breastfeed a baby nor call an obvious liar a liar.
I’d love to know how Parliament itself should deal with these matters as I suspect there are failings there too that need an airing.
In my experience in tackling work place bullying incompetence and bullying often go together. After all what kind of person needs to bully to get a task completed (or to get the ‘best’ out of their colleagues and staff).
Where there is a widespread culture of bullying, in effect the employer/organisation itself becomes the bully, it is not unusual for a sacrifice to be made of one of the more unpopular or less subtle offenders.
Tackle incompetence, start at the top, and standards, including the levels of bullying, will improve.
From personal experience in the Civil Service incompetence and bullying go hand in hand.
True anywhere
It is far too commonplace in academia
And much targeted at those who have the temerity to do things differently
I met John Bercow in the 1992 General Election.
I can certainly understand that he might not be a very nice person, but as others have said he certainly isnt the only one and having left he was an easy target.
I expect that having resigned from The Conservative Party & joined Labour didnt help either.