[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ _order=”0″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ class=”cs-ta-left” style=”padding: 0px;”][x_blockquote cite=”” type=”left” class=”introduction”]Liam Watson assesses Theresa May’s refusal to yield in the face of political injury[/x_blockquote][x_image type=”rounded” src=”https://www.rebelessex.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/36679183844_36e0558d91_b.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”” class=”image”][cs_text class=”caption”]Credit: Flickr[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]
ââTis but a scratchâ: this weekâs Cabinet reshuffle shows Theresa May is the Black Knight of British politics.
Since the General Election, Theresa Mayâs political career has, much like Monty Pythonâs Black Knight, taken injury after injury yet, somehow, refused to yield. After a disappointing and surprising general election result, the long and difficult handling of the Brexit Bill in parliament and multiple cabinet resignations, most politicians might have made a new yearâs cabinet reshuffle as smooth and uneventful as they could. But not our Theresa. Oh no, the PM seems hell-bent on ensuring that June 2017 to June 2018 goes down in her personal history as her annus horribilis, with a reshuffle that has a lot more to it than meets the eye. May branded her new cabinet as one that looks âmore like the country it servesâ, hoping to give off the impression that she had created a cabinet more representative of the multicultural Britain of the 21st century. However, in fact 34% of Cabinet members were privately educated, with nearly three quarters male and 96% white.
But this is more than a failed PR stunt, as Jeremy Corbyn branded it. No, this is a failed PR stunt and a failure to give even the faintest impression that Theresa May is leading her party, let alone the country. Justine Greening, now ex-Secretary of State for Education, flat out refused a move to the Department of Work & Pensions, instead resigning entirely from government. This is while Jeremy Hunt, less than a week after the NHS postponed all non-urgent surgery, managed to not only keep the health brief, but get a promotion and take on responsibility for social care as well. When youâve lost your partyâs majority, taken a machete to your approval rating, had to sack your best mate for downloading pornography at work and suffered humiliating parliamentary defeats, the last thing you want to do is let your subordinates make you look weak.
[/cs_text][x_blockquote cite=”” type=”left” class=”quote”]”… most politicians might have made a new yearâs cabinet reshuffle as smooth and uneventful as they could. But not our Theresa.”[/x_blockquote][cs_text]
The top positions â Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary and Brexit minister â were never in doubt. The aim of all this was to brand the Tories as the ârealâ party of the many, and make it as representative as May could without compromising ability. However if youâre a leader trying to maintain your own position, you need to get rid of some of the political bruisers who could cause some damage and replace them with rising stars. Not only would this make those rising stars loyal to you, but it establishes a clear difference in seniority: For the duration of Brexit negotiations, Cabinet needs to project an image of unity, and it’s far easier to boss about people who are still settling into their role and are less experienced politicians.
[/cs_text][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.rebelessex.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/London_-_The_Parliament_-_2779.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”” class=”image”][cs_text class=”caption”]House of Commons and House of Lords Lobby. Credit: Wikimedia Commons[/cs_text][cs_text]This reshuffle was not only a move to propagate a myth of greater representation in Cabinet, but it was a move to consolidate the PMâs position, which is tenuous at best. That was proven to no end by Jeremy Hunt and Justine Greening, who tore Downing Streetâs plans for them to shreds. Although this was pretty embarrassing for the Government, donât expect anything major to happen as a result. It is well known that the only thing keeping Greeningâs misgivings about Mayâs grammar school policy quiet was joint Cabinet responsibility. Thatâs not a factor anymore, so now the PM has two female ex-Cabinet ministers with Nicky Morgan and Justine Greening on the backbenches to contend with. Greening in particular should be expected to cause May all sorts of headaches as she represents the marginal, very pro-Europe constituency of Putney.[/cs_text][cs_text]
This reshuffle is but another scratch for Theresa May, British politicsâ Black Knight: With each new wound she grows weaker, while becoming ever more resolute in her determination to remain in her place.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]