Andy Burnham’s new government, barely 24 hours in power, is in danger of collectively losing its marbles. The fault lies largely with the new PM who appears unable to shake off the habit of a lifetime of being all things to all people, and eager for cheap applause whenever the opportunity presents itself. How else to make sense of the unseemly haste with which he reprimanded two senior cabinet ministers for a poor joke about the early prisoner release scheme? A public and humiliating rebuke handed out for the ‘crime’ of a joke in poor taste. Stupid and insensitive, maybe, but nothing more. What is politics coming to?
Is this a free country or is it a place where any public misstep deemed inappropriate must result in immediate public recantation of the most demeaning kind?
The comments – what passes for banter in the largely humourless world of our rulers – by Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, and Wes Streeting, the Defence Secretary, were caught on a ‘hot mic’ as ministers mingled in the Downing Street garden. Apparently unaware of the presence of live microphones, Mahmood, a former justice secretary, approached Alex Norris, who was given the role in Burnham’s cabinet reshuffle. The exchange went as follows:
‘Can I be like a proud mum?’ Mahmood said, approaching Norris for a hug. Streeting interjected to say: ‘You know he’s the enemy now.’ Although Mahmood replied ‘no, he’s not’, Streeting added ‘he wants to let them all out!’ before the pair laughed. Cue a bizarrely over-the top response from Burnham when asked whether the comments were acceptable: ‘No, it’s not, and certainly that’s been acknowledged, and apologies have been made.’ It is enough to make one weep. Hasn’t the new PM got more important issues to focus on? What exactly was the great offence here, beyond a risible attempt at humour by a couple of bored politicians?
Streeting was the first out of the blocks when it came to eating humble pie on social media: ‘I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the Justice Secretary… But I appreciate these are very serious issues and a sorry for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity.’ We get it, Wes, you appreciate these are serious issues and levity of any kind is forbidden. How humiliating.
Mahmood too was all apology, writing on X: ‘I appreciate this is an extremely serious issue and do not want anyone to mistake this moment of levity for a lack of serious intent.’ So, there we have it, two of the most senior ministers in the government on their hands and knees over a joke, a moment of ‘levity’ that in no way meant they did not take these ‘extremely serious issues’, well, seriously.
Is this a free country or is it a place where any public misstep deemed inappropriate must result in immediate public recantation of the most demeaning kind? The ministers involved were making light-hearted conversation, no more. Who has not made a daft or ill-judged remark in such circumstances? Yes, perhaps it shows a lack of self awareness on the part of two senior politicians but should it be a hanging offence? Hardly.
The pearl-clutching response from Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, does her no credit either. One expected better of her than a sanctimonious attempt to exploit this non-event for political gain. She accused Burnham’s cabinet of ‘joking about letting criminals out early’. Is Badenoch seriously deploying the same sanctimony too often seen on the left, in which everyone is eager to be offended by the smallest thing, and where humour, even poor humour as in this case, is frowned upon? No wonder politics attracts so many dullards.
The early prisoner release scheme is highly contentious and nothing said in the Downing Street garden by chuckling ministers changes that. Under the Sentencing Act, due to come into force in September, around 6,000 prisoners are set to be released under the scheme.
The latest row has been prompted over concerns that Andie Bowers and Jessie Cole, the two men given 13-year terms in 2020 for manslaughter over the killing of PC Andrew Harper, could be released early. His widow, Lissie, condemned the prospect as ‘deplorable’. The Prime Minister is right to signal that the decision is under review.
More broadly, the storm over this issue demonstrates that grown-up political debate is becoming increasingly hard in this country. There are far too many people shouting insults at each other, or taking offence at the first opportunity. Are we seriously suggesting that serving senior ministers must be careful not to say anything in public that might be misconstrued as inappropriate or causing offence? That politicians should simply stand and stare whenever a camera or microphone is nearby? That way lies the tyranny of po-faced conformity.
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