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On Europe, David Cameron is in danger of making himself a laughing stock On Europe, David Cameron is in danger of making himself a laughing stock
(5 months later)
According to his biographers, David Cameron "chillaxes" over the weekend by playing a spot of tennis, messing about on his iPad and having friends over for a moderately boozy Sunday lunch.According to his biographers, David Cameron "chillaxes" over the weekend by playing a spot of tennis, messing about on his iPad and having friends over for a moderately boozy Sunday lunch.
Whether, however, he's managed to do anything like that this weekend, and whether, if he has, it's helped him forget about the chaos that's currently engulfing the Tory party on Europe, who knows? Somehow, especially after Michael Gove's "with friends like these" intervention on Sunday morning, I rather doubt it.Whether, however, he's managed to do anything like that this weekend, and whether, if he has, it's helped him forget about the chaos that's currently engulfing the Tory party on Europe, who knows? Somehow, especially after Michael Gove's "with friends like these" intervention on Sunday morning, I rather doubt it.
Perhaps, then, the prime minister would be better off following the example of his predecessor Harold Macmillan, and turning to the classics for solace and sage advice. Jane Austen – Macmillan's favourite – probably wouldn't quite cut it right now. This crisis surely calls for something rather harder-edged. Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince is surely the obvious choice.Perhaps, then, the prime minister would be better off following the example of his predecessor Harold Macmillan, and turning to the classics for solace and sage advice. Jane Austen – Macmillan's favourite – probably wouldn't quite cut it right now. This crisis surely calls for something rather harder-edged. Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince is surely the obvious choice.
It was Machiavelli who famously wondered whether, for a leader, "it is better to be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved". The prime minister has never been loved by his own party, which seemingly gave all it had to give to Margaret Thatcher and has never been able to feel the same way about anyone ever since. But also, because he leads a government that must provide sinecures for Liberal Democrat as well as Conservative MPs, and because an outright election victory looks increasingly unlikely, he can't buy their affection or hold out the prospect that they will be rewarded if only they delay gratification.It was Machiavelli who famously wondered whether, for a leader, "it is better to be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved". The prime minister has never been loved by his own party, which seemingly gave all it had to give to Margaret Thatcher and has never been able to feel the same way about anyone ever since. But also, because he leads a government that must provide sinecures for Liberal Democrat as well as Conservative MPs, and because an outright election victory looks increasingly unlikely, he can't buy their affection or hold out the prospect that they will be rewarded if only they delay gratification.
As a result, inasmuch as he was ever feared by his colleagues at Westminster, no one now is scared of him. In other words, and to move from the classics to the corporate: this is as much a human resources problem as an ideological one – but no more soluble for all that.As a result, inasmuch as he was ever feared by his colleagues at Westminster, no one now is scared of him. In other words, and to move from the classics to the corporate: this is as much a human resources problem as an ideological one – but no more soluble for all that.
On the question of a referendum on Europe, of course, Cameron has been here before. But it's never been as serious as this – so serious that, especially if one knows anything about how easily coalitions on the continent can suddenly come to grief when broadsided and blindsided, one can't altogether rule out the possibility that it's the beginning of the end – both for him and for his government.On the question of a referendum on Europe, of course, Cameron has been here before. But it's never been as serious as this – so serious that, especially if one knows anything about how easily coalitions on the continent can suddenly come to grief when broadsided and blindsided, one can't altogether rule out the possibility that it's the beginning of the end – both for him and for his government.
Those who have put down the amendment to the Queen's speech may be the usual suspects. And many of those who'll vote for it will be exactly the same people who voted for a referendum against Cameron's wishes earlier on in this parliament.Those who have put down the amendment to the Queen's speech may be the usual suspects. And many of those who'll vote for it will be exactly the same people who voted for a referendum against Cameron's wishes earlier on in this parliament.
However, they're almost certainly going to be joined by others, which explains why even members of the government are being given a free vote (in the case of the lowest of the low) and permission to abstain (in the case of the higher ups) – truly the last refuge of the whips when they realise that they've lost all hope of controlling the situation and are seeking simply to render their leader's embarrassment slightly less excruciating.However, they're almost certainly going to be joined by others, which explains why even members of the government are being given a free vote (in the case of the lowest of the low) and permission to abstain (in the case of the higher ups) – truly the last refuge of the whips when they realise that they've lost all hope of controlling the situation and are seeking simply to render their leader's embarrassment slightly less excruciating.
According to Machiavelli, the leader "must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognise snares, and a lion to frighten wolves."According to Machiavelli, the leader "must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognise snares, and a lion to frighten wolves."
When Cameron wielded the UK's veto in December 2011, he was lauded by many Conservatives as a lion. When he made his promise of a post-election referendum back in January this year, they feted him as a fox. Turns out he was neither, and that he's now in danger of making himself a laughing stock. Coming back from that is going to be very difficult indeed.When Cameron wielded the UK's veto in December 2011, he was lauded by many Conservatives as a lion. When he made his promise of a post-election referendum back in January this year, they feted him as a fox. Turns out he was neither, and that he's now in danger of making himself a laughing stock. Coming back from that is going to be very difficult indeed.
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