How the government’s desperation to protect itself galvanised the British public

Ahead of the spending review and big announcements about the UK’s course of action this winter, the urge to speak out about this disregard for democracy will grow stronger, writes Kuba Shand-Baptiste

Priti Patel seems to be getting away with breaking the ministerial code (AFP/Getty)

From bullying investigations to Brexit, to growing concern about the economy, we’ve seen the government go to greater lengths to protect itself in recent weeks.  

Calls for the prime minister to punish, instead of vehemently protect, the home secretary following a damning report into her conduct, have, for now, gone unheard. As the PPE contract scandal becomes weightier, our leaders seem to have grown quieter. Other issues, such as lockdown easing, if it is anything like the last, will be likely to draw yet more ire in the weeks to come. Denied of transparency and a positive outlook, the public will become angrier – and more vocal too.  

If there’s one positive to come out of the government’s shambolic handling of the pandemic, let alone day to day duties of running the UK, it’s that. Voters and politicians alike will not forget this relentless barrage of issues. And they will, if they haven’t already, speak out. On the Voices desk, that’s never been truer.  

Since the bullying scandal broke, we’ve had MPs, journalists, comedians, students and more provide their views on various government shortcomings, making it clear in no uncertain terms that the perceived abuses of government power will not go unchecked. 

The PPE procurement scandal is one such issue. Mark Steel provided a scathing yet humorous column on the subject, highlighting the absurdity of the government’s shocking disregard for due process, while comment pieces from the likes of Rachel Reeves have condemned what appears to be blatant cronyism. We’ve had articles looking into the reasoning behind Boris Johnson’s staunch defence of Priti Patel, with Andrew Grice, our political columnist, observing that it is “part of a worrying pattern that includes suspending parliament [and] breaking international law”, and more on what it’s like to be directly affected by the government’s knee-jerk lockdown rules. 

Ahead of the spending review and big announcements about the UK’s course of action this winter, the urge to speak out about the government’s disregard for democracy and the needs of the public will probably grow stronger.  

When that happens, the Voices desk will be here, as always, to give those varying observations and perspectives a platform, rightfully putting responsibility on the leaders who time and again have attempted to avoid it altogether.  

Yours,

Kuba Shand-Baptiste

Deputy voices editor