Reflections 15th November

Bridge at Chatsworth.

What's on my mind

That imposing change rarely works.

The meltdown at the heart of Government makes an excellent case study. Regardless of how individually we may regard Messrs Cain and Cummings (C&C), there is no denying they were agents of change, pushing agendas on everything from the Brexit agenda to the reform of the Civil Service. In the 11 months since they were instrumental in getting Boris into Downing Street, over the bodies of MP's and much of the truth, they are out. They stretched the rubber band of tension and kept it taught, until eventually it broke.

What interests me here is not the political issues (fascinating though they are) but the example of forced change. Change has its own rhythm, and forcing it faster than it wants to go ends messily, as here. C&C may have had personal clarity on the change they wanted to see, and a temporarily willing vehicle in a compliant Prime Minister, but without the support, or even tolerance of MP's and Civil Servants…