This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/05/sex-scandals-tories-profumo-affair-sexual-misconduct
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sex scandals will always hit the Tories hardest | Sex scandals will always hit the Tories hardest |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| In June 1963, Frederick Bellenger, a Labour MP who ploughed an independent furrow, wrote to the Conservative chief whip, Martin Redmayne, warning him of the corrosive effect upon Tory party discipline of John Profumo’s resignation: “If I am seen speaking to you again today I shall be judged your permanent spy. Yet I must tell you that at dinner tonight Margaret Thatcher made clear that she was for the prime minister [Harold Macmillan] going at once and stuck to her guns when challenged by Julian Critchley and myself on behalf of the loyalists.” | In June 1963, Frederick Bellenger, a Labour MP who ploughed an independent furrow, wrote to the Conservative chief whip, Martin Redmayne, warning him of the corrosive effect upon Tory party discipline of John Profumo’s resignation: “If I am seen speaking to you again today I shall be judged your permanent spy. Yet I must tell you that at dinner tonight Margaret Thatcher made clear that she was for the prime minister [Harold Macmillan] going at once and stuck to her guns when challenged by Julian Critchley and myself on behalf of the loyalists.” |
| The vignette of Thatcher, an MP for less than four years, conspiring against Macmillan illustrates a truth that holds good more than half a century later. The Profumo affair and Lord Denning’s report upon it helped to ignite the moral and sexual revolution of the 60s. But what concerned the future Iron Lady were the scandal’s immediate political ramifications – for herself, her fellow backbenchers and the survival of the government. | The vignette of Thatcher, an MP for less than four years, conspiring against Macmillan illustrates a truth that holds good more than half a century later. The Profumo affair and Lord Denning’s report upon it helped to ignite the moral and sexual revolution of the 60s. But what concerned the future Iron Lady were the scandal’s immediate political ramifications – for herself, her fellow backbenchers and the survival of the government. |
| The same distinction applies in 2017. Politics and ethics intersect, but they are not coterminous. Though the exercise of power and the creation of the good society are intimately connected, they are by no means the same thing. | The same distinction applies in 2017. Politics and ethics intersect, but they are not coterminous. Though the exercise of power and the creation of the good society are intimately connected, they are by no means the same thing. |
| Scandal destroys those in power when it chimes with a broader perception | Scandal destroys those in power when it chimes with a broader perception |
| So Theresa May’s meeting on Monday with her fellow party leaders to discuss the sexual harassment scandal sweeping Westminster may yield important structural proposals to thwart parliamentary predators and protect victims of unwelcome advances. What it cannot do is contain the political consequences of what has already been, and has yet to be, alleged. | So Theresa May’s meeting on Monday with her fellow party leaders to discuss the sexual harassment scandal sweeping Westminster may yield important structural proposals to thwart parliamentary predators and protect victims of unwelcome advances. What it cannot do is contain the political consequences of what has already been, and has yet to be, alleged. |
| Morally speaking, this is an equal-opportunity horror, one that disgraces all the parties. It has shed light on a gruesome culture of sexual misconduct, blind eyes turned and wicked manipulation. It embraces the whole of Westminster. But – politically – it is worst for the Tories. Why? Because they are perceived, fairly or otherwise, as the party of presumption and entitlement. Just as the left often manifests the smugness of moral rectitude, Conservatives, too, frequently seem to glide through the world as if it has been created for their benefit and capricious use. In the court of public opinion – rather than of natural justice – Tories accused of sexual misconduct are guilty until proven innocent. | Morally speaking, this is an equal-opportunity horror, one that disgraces all the parties. It has shed light on a gruesome culture of sexual misconduct, blind eyes turned and wicked manipulation. It embraces the whole of Westminster. But – politically – it is worst for the Tories. Why? Because they are perceived, fairly or otherwise, as the party of presumption and entitlement. Just as the left often manifests the smugness of moral rectitude, Conservatives, too, frequently seem to glide through the world as if it has been created for their benefit and capricious use. In the court of public opinion – rather than of natural justice – Tories accused of sexual misconduct are guilty until proven innocent. |
| But there’s also the fact that they are in government, at least on paper. Michael Fallon has already resigned as defence secretary. Charlie Elphicke, a former party whip, has been suspended by the Tories following “serious allegations” that have been referred to the police. Daniel Poulter, a former health minister, has been reported to his party’s new disciplinary body concerning claims about his behaviour towards at least three woman MPs. | But there’s also the fact that they are in government, at least on paper. Michael Fallon has already resigned as defence secretary. Charlie Elphicke, a former party whip, has been suspended by the Tories following “serious allegations” that have been referred to the police. Daniel Poulter, a former health minister, has been reported to his party’s new disciplinary body concerning claims about his behaviour towards at least three woman MPs. |
| Meanwhile, Sue Gray, head of propriety and ethics at the Cabinet Office, is investigating claims that Damian Green, made improper sexual advances towards a much younger female journalist. Gray’s in-tray is now further burdened by reports in the Sunday Times that police found “extreme” porn on one of Green’s parliamentary computers in 2008. | Meanwhile, Sue Gray, head of propriety and ethics at the Cabinet Office, is investigating claims that Damian Green, made improper sexual advances towards a much younger female journalist. Gray’s in-tray is now further burdened by reports in the Sunday Times that police found “extreme” porn on one of Green’s parliamentary computers in 2008. |
| It must be recorded that the first secretary of state vehemently denies all these allegations, and clearly believes he will be exonerated. But No 10 has questions to answer, too. Was anyone now working in Downing Street tipped off about Green’s alleged conduct when he was appointed work and pensions secretary in July 2016 or to his current post – effectively deputy prime minister – in June? And, if so, how did they respond? | It must be recorded that the first secretary of state vehemently denies all these allegations, and clearly believes he will be exonerated. But No 10 has questions to answer, too. Was anyone now working in Downing Street tipped off about Green’s alleged conduct when he was appointed work and pensions secretary in July 2016 or to his current post – effectively deputy prime minister – in June? And, if so, how did they respond? |
| It is in the nature of such incendiary stories to spray political shrapnel everywhere. To change the metaphor: they absorb far too much of a government’s limited bandwidth. How can Green, such a central figure in this government and its daily management, possibly get on with his job against such a backdrop? Brexit was already distracting ministers from the ordinary business of running the country. Now they don’t even have time for that. As Ted Heath told the then Conservative whip, Gyles Brandreth, in the dying days of John Major’s premiership: “You whips are so busy now controlling the vermin you have no time for controlling the government.” | It is in the nature of such incendiary stories to spray political shrapnel everywhere. To change the metaphor: they absorb far too much of a government’s limited bandwidth. How can Green, such a central figure in this government and its daily management, possibly get on with his job against such a backdrop? Brexit was already distracting ministers from the ordinary business of running the country. Now they don’t even have time for that. As Ted Heath told the then Conservative whip, Gyles Brandreth, in the dying days of John Major’s premiership: “You whips are so busy now controlling the vermin you have no time for controlling the government.” |
| Scandal destroys those in power when it dramatises something deeper; when it chimes with a broader perception. The Profumo affair was not the single, indisputable cause of Macmillan’s resignation or the Tories’ defeat in 1964. But it epitomised the Conservative government’s fatal loss of grip and its growing obsolescence in an age of sexual liberation. | Scandal destroys those in power when it dramatises something deeper; when it chimes with a broader perception. The Profumo affair was not the single, indisputable cause of Macmillan’s resignation or the Tories’ defeat in 1964. But it epitomised the Conservative government’s fatal loss of grip and its growing obsolescence in an age of sexual liberation. |
| Naturally, the present scandal deepens the crater of political incapacity in which May has languished since the exit poll on the night of 8 June. But it has added to the charge sheet, sharpening the perception that the present cohort of governing Conservatives do not know how to behave decently and respectfully in the modern world. To point out that most Tory politicians manage not to abuse their power for sexual ends has become a political irrelevance. Too many of them stand accused of doing so for some of the mud not to stick. | Naturally, the present scandal deepens the crater of political incapacity in which May has languished since the exit poll on the night of 8 June. But it has added to the charge sheet, sharpening the perception that the present cohort of governing Conservatives do not know how to behave decently and respectfully in the modern world. To point out that most Tory politicians manage not to abuse their power for sexual ends has become a political irrelevance. Too many of them stand accused of doing so for some of the mud not to stick. |
| The stench of nastiness, of a repulsive droit du seigneur, fills the nostrils. But it is also a spectacle of absurdity: all these grey men trying it on, missing the point, pathetically indifferent to the damage they cause. I call it Woltz’s law. In The Godfather, that key political text, the studio boss, Jack Woltz, browbeats the mafia consigliere Tom Hagen thus: “A man in my position can’t afford to be made to look ridiculous!” | The stench of nastiness, of a repulsive droit du seigneur, fills the nostrils. But it is also a spectacle of absurdity: all these grey men trying it on, missing the point, pathetically indifferent to the damage they cause. I call it Woltz’s law. In The Godfather, that key political text, the studio boss, Jack Woltz, browbeats the mafia consigliere Tom Hagen thus: “A man in my position can’t afford to be made to look ridiculous!” |
| And that is precisely how they look right now, these floundering Tories: loathsome and ridiculous. There is no due process in the unfolding of political history, no lofty notion of justice. It is a savage business. On this government limps, dragging behind it nothing more than a cargo of suspicion, contempt and justified self-loathing. | And that is precisely how they look right now, these floundering Tories: loathsome and ridiculous. There is no due process in the unfolding of political history, no lofty notion of justice. It is a savage business. On this government limps, dragging behind it nothing more than a cargo of suspicion, contempt and justified self-loathing. |
| Politics | Politics |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Sexual harassment | Sexual harassment |
| Christine Keeler | Christine Keeler |
| comment | comment |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |