The prevailing mood among the party's representatives these days echoes a literary maxim. It affirms that the extent of any misfortune can only be gauged in comparison to unknown future disasters. As the playwright has the banished son of the visionless lord declare in King Lear: “The direst is absent, so long as we can say ‘this marks the bottom’.”
A Series of Worsening Crises
As per Edgar's law, there exists no survey so dismal for Labour that won't be coming after one even bleaker; no budget prediction so bad that the Treasury cannot worsen through conflicting messages on tax; no reservations regarding the leader that can't be amplified by malevolent briefing regarding a contest for leadership.
Asylum Policy Announcement
Considering this situation, this week's announcement of plans designed to restrict the quantity of displaced persons admitted to Britain, modelled on a notoriously mean Danish system, was taken better by representatives than might have been expected. There appeared glimmers of backbench anger but no conflagration of opposition.
Strengthening refugee regulations is not Labour's comfort zone, yet the existing framework is obviously flawed and the public is enraged. The majority of representatives understand the argument that acceptance and community cohesion are more readily developed if assurance exists that national frontiers are secure.
Growing Discontent
Silent parliamentary rows can also be foreboding. Representatives have discovered that each issue is discussable under an aimless chief with flexible principles. Current proclamations may be unannounced tomorrow. There exists no necessity to charge forward provided triumphs can be secured through persistence.
A common complaint concerns the Prime Minister is scarcely operating the administration at all, after assigning political judgment to his principal advisor. However, this doesn't mean the head of government misses managerial vigor, he simply favors not to mediate in departmental disputes or undertake extended discussions.
Management Method
The Prime Minister entered political parties during later professional life, originally joining the legislature at the age of 52. He misses understanding regarding party traditions – the canon of former discussions, drives, figures and traditional touchstones which link a chief to the larger group and its perception of common objective.
His innermost beliefs are a mystery even to the cabinet. According to an experienced Labour figure puts it: “The Prime Minister is quite different in his role by creating the perception that his individual beliefs is none of your business.”
Political Consequences
The persona marketed representing the leader in last year's election campaign has likewise failed to provide its claimed rewards: executive proficiency culminating in societal regeneration. If Britain still had a binary political arrangement, the recollection of past problems under the Tories might prolong patience with Labour.
That presages a crushing loss for party representatives in council and devolved elections during the upcoming vote. It would constitute a time of great danger for the leader, provided he remains through that period.
Succession Concerns
Not present within these calculations exists consensus concerning the individual of a successor and their proposed policies may differ with existing administration plans. This weakness regarding changeover preparations is cited by the prime minister's defenders as one of many reasons to stick with the current leader.
Although discontented representatives may flinch at those warnings, they also hear through them the recognizable, meaningless sound of low ambition that induces despair with current conditions. It is the sound of failure to describe the approach as simply a series of strategies for holding power.
Final Considerations
It proves difficult to summon loyalty to such a cause. The majority of representatives have attempted. They have stuck with official positions, supported it during canvassing, followed party discipline, believed assurances that their issues received attention.
Prime ministerial ousting is fraught with risk, however, does it present greater hazards versus acting as if that the existing prime minister holds responses to big questions which he doesn't identify? The literary maxim recommends carefulness regarding the replacement of an incumbent leader. The alternative may turn out poorer.
“The heaviness of this sad time we need to follow; State true sentiments, rather than expected statements.”
