THE PERILS OF INERTIA

We British are a cautious and slow-moving people, wanting to take time over momentous decisions, not least the looming one on staying or leaving the European Union. I will spare my readers yet another discussion of the merits or otherwise of that matter but prefer to muse on the contemporary national state of mind and the direction in which it is likely to move. For we are inveterate procrastinators, with favourite expressions like A Leap in the Dark, followed by If it ain’t broke, don’t mend it or more generally Leave well alone, not to mention immortal Mr Micawber’s Waiting for something to turn up.  Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3^rd Marquess of Salisbury and 3 times Prime Minister 1885-1902 encapsulated this resistance to change with his mordant comment: Whatever happens will be for the worse, and therefore it is in our interest that as little should happen as possible.

Victorian Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury

In common with most of the Western world, the British are unhappy about the performance of her so-called “political elite”. The Conservatives have hitherto been relatively unscathed but the sharp decline of the Labour Party and the Social Democrats countered by the rise of the SNP and UKIP reflects a major change. The Conservatives are poised for a fractious period, split by the EU Referendum; they may re-unite afterwards but there may be a more permanent rift – the historical analogy is that of the Canningite (who formed a sect within the Party) or the Peelite Tories, who departed in time to the Liberals.

David Cameron well understands this innate conservatism and will play to it in his Project Fear, designed to put the willies up the great British public. Thus we have some captains of industry (rather fewer than expected) expatiating upon the economic horrors of Brexit. Some of the loudest business Europhiles do not enjoy unalloyed public esteem viz Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, Guy Hands of Terra Firma and even mega-bank HSBC has unwisely thrown its pro-EU hat into the ring with a  forecast of a 20% drop in sterling. Shiver me timbers! Then a clutch of field-marshals and senior military men have said how much safer we are within the EU (shhh.. about Ukraine, Libya, Isil!). In retrospect some of the retired heroes complained about the pressure they felt they were put under and distinguished General Sir Michael Rose was included when he had explicitly declined to sign. This campaign will not be fought under the Geneva Convention.

The Leavers have naturally not been silent. Boris’ economic adviser Gerard Lyons evokes the public’s fear of drowning by likening the EU to The Titanic, advising a rapid exit as the only way to be safe as the EU rushes headlong towards its iceberg. Expect taunts that Cameron is a Nero fiddling while Rome burns (actually Nero could only twang his lyre as the fiddle was not invented until 1500 years later!).

Of course the fact is that in leadership you cannot be inert, you cannot sit on a comfortable fence, you need to get off your backside. Most Britons loved Appeasement, which meant a temporary peace, no upset and they accordingly swallowed whatever story Neville Chamberlain peddled. At last Leadership of an effective and vigorous sort was offered, thank goodness, by Winston. It had been our saviour when Wellington faced Napoleon on the field of Waterloo and Drake attacked the Armada of mighty Spain as it threatened England.

Britain could lapse into a catatonic trance mesmerised by the cloying embrace of Juncker, Tusk and Merkel made plausible by David Cameron. Boris Johnson could bumble and snort for England but he is not a purveyor of the effective and vigorous leadership the Leavers need. Which makes us turn to Michael Gove, a fine and clever fellow, with the added plus of being a Scotsman from Aberdeen.


Destiny calls upon you, Michael, to overcome our inertia and lead us to the sunlit uplands:


Screw your courage to the sticking-place and we’ll not fail!

Michael Gove, called to play a Churchillian role

SMD

27.02.2016

Text Copyright ©Sidney Donald 2016