Is There Method In This Apparent Madness?
One almost despairs at some of Theresa May's cabinet appointments. The gaffe-prone Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary -- will he have to spend more time apologising to the foreign politicians and diplomats that he inadvertantly-on-purpose offends than actually doing the job? Chris Grayling as Transport Secretary -- having signally failed to master his previous briefs and with an unrivalled ability to make bad situations worse, will he also cover himself in lack of glory in this post? Andrea Leadsom, a climate change denialist and opponent of renewable energy, as the new Environment Secretary? Liam Fox, a man apparently unable to distinguish between paid officials and freeloading friends, now junketing around the globe as an international trade negotiator? Priti Patel, handed "Vacant" as a middle name for her performance during the Brexit debates, in charge of the UK's work on behalf of less developed countries?
On the other hand, there could be a method in May's apparent madness. These are all high-profile Brexiteers: people noted for their opposition to the EU, but not for much else. This, clearly is their reward -- their chance to shine, to show that they can do a proper job -- and a signal to the Tory right that their concerns are being taken into account: that, as May has said, "Brexit means Brexit", and that they can rest easy knowing that these hopeless non-pareils their bosom buddies have been put in charge of major government departments. And the moment they fuck up, thus demonstrating that they're as incompetent at these jobs as they are at making a coherent argument for Brexit, they can be slung out on their ear with an "I gave them a chance" shrug and replaced with someone more sensible.
On the other hand, there could be a method in May's apparent madness. These are all high-profile Brexiteers: people noted for their opposition to the EU, but not for much else. This, clearly is their reward -- their chance to shine, to show that they can do a proper job -- and a signal to the Tory right that their concerns are being taken into account: that, as May has said, "Brexit means Brexit", and that they can rest easy knowing that these hopeless non-pareils their bosom buddies have been put in charge of major government departments. And the moment they fuck up, thus demonstrating that they're as incompetent at these jobs as they are at making a coherent argument for Brexit, they can be slung out on their ear with an "I gave them a chance" shrug and replaced with someone more sensible.