Category: Conservative leadership

Differences Of Fit And Unfit Counsellours – 2

…so may also the differences between apt, and inept counsellours be derived from the same.

This continueth from “Differences Of Fit And Unfit Counsellours – 1″:

Fourthly, to be able to give Counsell to a Common-wealth, in a businesse that hath reference to another Common-wealth, It Is Necessary To Be Acquainted With The Intelligences, And Letters That Come From Thence, And With All The Records Of Treaties, And Other Transactions Of State Between Them; which none can doe, but such as the Representative shall think fit. By which we may see, that they who are not called to Counsell, can have no good Counsell in such cases to obtrude.

Fifthly, Supposing the number of Counsellors equall, a man is better Counselled by hearing them apart, than in an Assembly; and that for many causes.

First, in hearing them apart, you have the advice of every man; but in an Assembly may of them deliver their advise with I, or No, or with their hands, or feet, not moved by their own sense, but by the eloquence of another, or for feare of displeasing some that have spoken, or the whole Assembly, by contradiction; or for feare of appearing duller in apprehension, than those that have applauded the contrary opinion.

Secondly, in an Assembly of many, there cannot choose but be some whose interests are contrary to that of the Publique; and these their Interests make passionate, and Passion eloquent, and Eloquence drawes others into the same advice. For the Passions of men, which asunder are moderate, as the heat of one brand; in Assembly are like many brands, that enflame one another, (especially when they blow one another with Orations) to the setting of the Common-wealth on fire, under pretence of Counselling it.

Thirdly, in hearing every man apart, one may examine (when there is need) the truth, or probability of his reasons, and of the grounds of the advise he gives, by frequent interruptions, and objections; which cannot be done in an Assembly, where (in every difficult question) a man is rather astonied, and dazled with the variety of discourse upon it, than informed of the course he ought to take. Besides, there cannot be an Assembly of many, called together for advice, wherein there be not some, that have the ambition to be thought eloquent, and also learned in the Politiques; and give not their advice with care of the businesse propounded, but of the applause of their motly orations, made of the divers colored threds, or shreds of Authors; which is an Impertinence at least, that takes away the time of serious Consultation, and in the secret way of Counselling apart, is easily avoided.

Fourthly, in Deliberations that ought to be kept secret, (whereof there be many occasions in Publique Businesse,) the Counsells of many, and especially in Assemblies, are dangerous; And therefore great Assemblies are necessitated to commit such affaires to lesser numbers, and of such persons as are most versed, and in whose fidelity they have most confidence.

To conclude, who is there that so far approves the taking of Counsell from a great Assembly of Counsellours, that wisheth for, or would accept of their pains, when there is a question of marrying his Children, disposing of his Lands, governing his Household, or managing his private Estate, especially if there be amongst them such as wish not his prosperity?

A man that doth his businesse by the help of many and prudent Counsellours, with every one consulting apart in his proper element, does it best, as he that useth able Seconds at Tennis play, placed in their proper stations. He does next best, that useth his own Judgement only; as he that has no Second at all. But he that is carried up and down to his businesse in a framed Counsell, which cannot move but by the plurality of consenting opinions, the execution whereof is commonly (out of envy, or interest) retarded by the part dissenting, does it worst of all, and like one that is carried to the ball, though by good Players, yet in a Wheele-barrough, or other frame, heavy of it self, and retarded also by the inconcurrent judgements, and endeavours of them that drive it; and so much the more, as they be more that set their hands to it; and most of all, when there is one, or more amongst them, that desire to have him lose.

And though it be true, that many eys see more then one; yet it is not to be understood of many Counsellours; but then only, when the finall Resolution is in one man. Otherwise, because many eyes see the same thing in divers lines, and are apt to look asquint towards their private benefit; they that desire not to misse their marke, though they look about with two eyes, yet they never ayme but with one; And therefore no great Popular Common-wealth was ever kept up; but either by a forraign Enemy that united them; or by the reputation of some one eminent Man amongst them; or by the secret Counsell of a few; or by the mutuall feare of equall factions; and not by the open Consultations of the Assembly. And as for very little Common-wealths, be they Popular, or Monarchicall, there is no humane wisdome can uphold them, longer then the Jealousy lasteth of their potent Neighbours.

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Books

Differences Of Fit And Unfit Counsellours – 1

As the difference of Counsell from Command, hath been now deduced from the nature of Counsell, consisting in a deducing of the benefit, or hurt that may arise to him that is to be Counselled, by the necessary or probable consequences of the action he propoundeth; so may also the differences between apt, and inept counsellours be derived from the same.

For Experience, being but Memory of the consequences of like actions formerly observed, and Counsell but the Speech whereby that experience is made known to another; the Vertues, and Defects of Counsell, are the same with the Vertues, and Defects Intellectuall: And to the Person of a Common-wealth, his Counsellours serve him in the place of Memory, and Mentall Discourse. But with this resemblance of the Common-wealth, to a naturall man, there is one dissimilitude joyned, of great importance; which is, that a naturall man receiveth his experience, from the naturall objects of sense, which work upon him without passion, or interest of their own; whereas they that give Counsell to the Representative person of a Common-wealth, may have, and have often their particular ends, and passions, that render their Counsells alwayes suspected, and many times unfaithfull.

And therefore we may set down for the first condition of a good Counsellour, That His Ends, And Interest, Be Not Inconsistent With The Ends And Interest Of Him He Counselleth.

Secondly, Because the office of a Counsellour, when an action comes into deliberation, is to make manifest the consequences of it, in such manner, as he that is Counselled may be truly and evidently informed; he ought to propound his advise, in such forme of speech, as may make the truth most evidently appear; that is to say, with as firme ratiocination, as significant and proper language, and as briefly, as the evidence will permit.

And therefore Rash, And Unevident Inferences; (such as are fetched onely from Examples, or authority of Books, and are not arguments of what is good, or evill, but witnesses of fact, or of opinion,) Obscure, Confused, And Ambiguous Expressions, Also All Metaphoricall Speeches, Tending To The Stirring Up Of Passion, (because such reasoning, and such expressions, are usefull onely to deceive, or to lead him we Counsell towards other ends than his own) Are Repugnant To The Office Of A Counsellour.

Thirdly, Because the Ability of Counselling proceedeth from Experience, and long study; and no man is presumed to have experience in all those things that to the Administration of a great Common-wealth are necessary to be known, No Man Is Presumed To Be A Good Counsellour, But In Such Businesse, As He Hath Not Onely Been Much Versed In, But Hath Also Much Meditated On, And Considered. For seeing the businesse of a Common-wealth is this, to preserve the people at home, and defend them against forraign Invasion, we shall find, it requires great knowledge of the disposition of Man-kind, of the Rights of Government, and of the nature of Equity, Law, Justice, and Honour, not to be attained without study; And of the Strength, Commodities, Places, both of their own Country, and their Neighbours; as also of the inclinations, and designes of all Nations that may any way annoy them. And this is not attained to, without much experience. Of which things, not onely the whole summe, but every one of the particulars requires the age, and observation of a man in years, and of more than ordinary study.

The wit required for Counsel, as I have said before is Judgement. And the differences of men in that point come from different education, of some to one kind of study, or businesse, and of others to another. When for the doing of any thing, there be Infallible rules, (as in Engines, and Edifices, the rules of Geometry,) all the experience of the world cannot equall his Counsell, that has learnt, or found out the Rule. And when there is no such Rule, he that hath most experience in that particular kind of businesse, has therein the best Judgement, and is the best Counsellour.

(which contineth as “Differences Of Fit And Unfit Counsellours – 2“)

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Books

The contenders of 2022

It seems only yesterday that I was pondering those contesting for the Conservative leadership, to choose one who would forthwith be wheeled in a barrow to the Palace to be appointed as PM. Then there was never really a question about it: Boris it had to be.

Now he has been driven off his perch, the new contenders must be taunted by the understanding:

“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.”

I can be fairly sure that by the time anyone reads this, it will be out of date.  Even as I started to write it, some candidates had withdrawn and others were hinting at a late run, and didn’t.

At the moment we are down to eight, who will start dropping out this afternoon and in the weeks ahead as first votes are taken, deals are done, and polls are scrutinised. For the record, as a snapshot of the moment, we have:

  • Kemi Badenoch
  • Suella Braverman
  • Jeremy Hunt
  • Penny Mordaunt
  • Rishi Sunak
  • Liz Truss
  • Tom Tugendhat
  • Nadhim Zahawi

Trying to give descriptions is impossible.  I do not know them; I have not meet any of them, and their public profiles have been so dimmed, behind the brilliance of the Sun, that we do not know their public profiles either.  Perhaps Rishi Sunak is a mighty statesman, but for most of us he is Mr Tax; perhaps Suella Braverman is wisdom personified, but who on earth is she? Kemi Badenoch makes brilliant speeches which the faithful lap up, but how would she carry the responsibility?  Boris taught us that sharp intelligence and sharper rhetoric do not mean a steady hand on the tiller.

The suspicion is there, immovable, that we cannot replace Boris.

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Books

Put not your trust in princes

Solomon we know as the wise king, his very name indicating ‘peace’, but the opening of his reign was drenched in blood; a warning to those who hope to rise by deposing a ruler and seeking favour with his successor.

It was the same with King David. He became king when Saul was defeated in battle on Mount Gilboa and threw himself on his own sword. The Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 1) tells us that an Amalekite youth ran to Ziklag and told David that he had slain Saul out of mercy:  David did not reward the young man for removing of this last step to make him King, but had the youth killed at once for his regicide.

David’s position was secured when Rechab and Banaah slew Saul’s son, Ishbosheth. David had them executed for it, though he must have been relieved also.

Solomon, according to 1 Kings 2, ascended his father’s throne in peace, only to unleash bloodshed to secure his authority.  On his first days as King, in revenging wrongs done to his father and potential threats to his position:

  • Joab the son of Zeruiah, the mighty general, was dragged from the Altar  and slain: David condemned him in his last breaths for the murders of Abner and Amasa in peacetime, and Joab lost any chance of forgiveness from Solomon when he was accused of adhering to Abijah’s claim to the throne.
  • Shimei the son of Gera received mercy for a while: David wanted him dead for having cursed David when he fled into temporary exile after Absalom’s treason, but Solomon left him under house-arrest, killing him when three years later he fled Jerusalem.
  • Abijah, the king’s own elder half-brother was executed as  threat, if proximately for requesting Abishag the Shunammite as his bride
  • Abiathar the priest was driven into exile with the threat of death were he to return.

A new ruler is in a difficult position: all the expectation and all the jealousy; a wish to be loved in order to secure the throne now, against the need to assert  authority to secure it for the future; the desire to reward ones followers but the knowledge that rewarding past betrayal will encourage new betrayal.

David took the throne from the House of Saul but would not promote those who put him there. His descendants inherited, but only with effort and ruthlessness, exercising wisdom or foolishness in their methods.

It is not just princes but political demarchs who swirl in dangerous intrigue, though their risings and deposings, in our society at least, are generally less sanguineous.

The plotter is in a poor position. Buckingham (in the play at least) helped Richard of Gloucester to depose his nephews and seize the throne, but once  Richard III was crowned, he had no need of Buckingham, who could demand no favours: he rebelled and was executed. In politics an intriguer is in the same position:  he works to place a friend in Number 10 and that favoured candidate will be a close companion of mutual dependence, until the moment that black door closes. Why would a new PM trust a man proven to be a scoundrel and a betrayer? As candidate he must encourage supporters to turn against their masters, but when he or she is in place, then they must crack down hard on betrayers.

It has been the same since the first tribal chief took his place. The contradictions of political power, responsibility and intrigue have not changed and cannot be reconciled.

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Books

 

Borisdämmerung

I like Boris. I have never met him but I have seen the unbridled enthusiasm he used to inspire in those who did. I think he has been brilliant. He inspired, uplifted the nation and challenged dull assumptions the way no one else would do, When he was accused by establishment figures of breaking the rules, it was generally their rules and they needed tearing down in order to enable the Government and the Commons to do what they were elected to do.

I was frustrated more when he allowed himself to be bullied and bowed down by bureaucracy and ‘polite opinion’.

Now though it is just getting embarrassing. He cannot sit at the Cabinet Table alone, however tempting it is for that aspect of his deepest character that is not well known – “O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count myself a king of infinite space.”

I would far prefer it if he could stay, and recover that ebullience which made us love him, and drive out all those underlings whose antics have caused embarrassment and scandal, which he was too ready to overlook as a forgiving, hands-off paternal figure.

It was going so well until COVID.  I gasped when he called a lockdown, assured only that it was to be brief, to “squash that sombrero”, but once the lockdown hawks had their teeth into his Cabinet Office, they did not let go.  The overcaution left us shut down in some way or another for nearly two years, and that wrecked the economy structurally.  The opposition parties wanted the lockdown to be harder and longer, which would have made for a deeper recession that ever before since Attlee’s or Wilson’s, but that will not be remembered – just that Boris had his hand on the tiller.

Even if he had not shut the economy down, the rest of the world was shutting themselves down and shutting off the customers which trade needs.  He could not help the war either. which has put the knife in further (well, he could have treated it like a civil war between Russian states and traded with all sides as if nothing had happened but the press cycle doesn’t work like that these days).  His is the face seen in the reflection of the petrol prices.

The scandals were petty, local, nit-picking and nothing all the others were not doing. With the outraged, ousted establishment out to get him though, it was bound to be relentless. What always shocked me though was where the stories came from: Conservatives affected by a gropey MP or a creepy whip, or tales of boozy misconduct – why speak out when they knew it would damage the party and put the levers of power into dangerous hands?  There is something sick about the thought processes and emotions of the political bubble.

He has deep faults, that would have sunk any politician long since in a previous generation.  Some of his faults I can forgive (if it were up to me, which it is not) because they allowed him to think  outside constraints and to achieve what accepted opinion would not believe could be done. The remoaners were right that Brexit could not work if their narrow ideas of possibility were to remain:  Boris broke those preconceptions; he ripped out their Overton window and put in an open-plan window on the world. You have to love him for that.

His irredeemable fault though is that his inner shyness makes him afraid of conflict with those close to him, and they ran rings about him.  The liberty that was necessary to achieve the previously unthinkable became licence to behave badly.  He could not keep a cap on this, and from this followed all the petty scandals – the parties, the groping, and whatever else we have forgotten about.

I will miss him. I hope that whomever Her Majesty selects to fill his place in due time will have that same dash and refusal to be constrained by convention, but all the same, a control over those who would abuse that freedom. Otherwise it will be a long recession, an ignominious election defeat, and the ruin of what was becoming again the greatest nation of the Earth.

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Books