“The Cabinet Secretary’s revelations about Boris Johnson are shocking. But more shocking perhaps is that a cabinet secretary could be so open in his contempt for his Prime Minister without thinking it undermines the dignity of both their positions @RestIsPolitics”
I’m no fan of Case, for a mirade of documented reasons, but I do have some sympathy for his position here, having also been in various organisations in strategy / delivery positions whilst working with absolute idiots.
I’m not really sure what Stewart would suggest is the respectable thing to do here, I guess putting up with it in silence?
id think that the civil service would keep it zipped yes. Not expecting it would all come out is a huge error, they seem to have clocked this too late and introduced self deleting whatsapp messages at a point further down the line
There is no dignity in a government with Boris attempting to lead it, but ignoring that, the people who lacking dignity is anyone who doesn’t have contempt for Boris. It should be the only feeling ever directed towards him.
What Case said seems true - is telling the truth undignified? This is a very (small “c”) conservative argument - that the Prime Minister’s dignity is more important than the Prime Minister’s actions, and that the tone of Case’s criticism is more important than its content. Entirely in-keeping with Rory Stewart’s world view of course - he is after all very much a small “c” conservative.
Interesting take on it. I don’t think he’s saying the PMs dignity is more important than content, but that the office of PM being at complete loggerheads with the Cabinet Office is undignified and unprecedented. The content reveals this, it’s not about the amount or tone of what’s said but what it tells us about the relationships inside government. ed- for example, Cab Office know perfectly well it shows open contempt but us seeing it is shocking
The open contempt being referred to was in the past, whilst Case was working with BJ.