British Prime MInisters: A succession of failures?

Oh, how we snigger when other countries elect heads of government who we think are not up to the task. The resurrection of Trump is a good example of this, of course. Implicit in this glee is a rather hubristic, some would say xenophobic, view that we do it better than anyone else and we only elect politicians who are fit for purpose. Dream on, British voters, dream on. 

Let’s go back to last Remembrance Sunday and the usual procession of our present and past Prime Ministers. And what a bunch they are. It was Enoch Powell who said "All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics". Here we have the living proof.

We, like many countries, have not been blessed with great Prime Ministers or leaders. Ones that put the country and we, its people, first, ahead of party politics and personal wishes. In fact, in my lifetime, apart from Clement Attlee, it is difficult to think of anyone else who comes up trumps. Winston Churchill during the war time years? However, he showed his true colours in 1945 and was unceremoniously dumped. But that was just before my time.

Turning back to the Notorious Nine in the photo above, although I’m leaving the present incumbent out of the discussion, all that is left of them are their shadows which hang across the country like Dracula’s cloak. Collectively, an unkind assessment would be of a self obsessed bunch of wrecking balls who would all have had their heads cut off in Tudor times. Lest we forget, just look at some of the sh** that they rained down on us. And, yes, I know this is a very partial view.

Tony Blair (1997–2007)

1. Involvement in the Iraq War – Blair’s decision to support the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 remains one of the most divisive actions in recent British history, criticized for destabilising the Middle East, leading to loss of life, and damaging trust in government.
2. Expansion of Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) – Blair’s Labour government heavily promoted PFIs to fund public projects, which critics argue saddled public services, particularly the NHS, with enormous long-term debt and poor-value contracts.
3. Mass Surveillance and Erosion of Civil Liberties – Blair’s government introduced several measures, such as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which broadened the government’s ability to monitor citizens and was widely seen as an infringement on civil liberties.
4. Increase in Tuition Fees – In 2004, Blair’s government introduced tuition fees for universities, initially capped at £3,000 a year, making higher education less accessible and burdening students with debt.
5. Encouragement of Mass Immigration – Blair’s policies led to a significant increase in immigration, which many argue put pressure on public services and infrastructure, contributing to social tensions. Immigrants were seen as a cheaper option to fill the gaps in employment and enable greater exploitation by employers.

Gordon Brown (2007–2010)

1. Financial Deregulation – As Chancellor and later PM, Brown promoted ‘light-touch’ regulation of the financial sector, which some blame for exacerbating the 2008 financial crisis due to risky practices by banks.
2. Gold Sales – Brown sold nearly 400 tonnes of the UK’s gold reserves at historically low prices between 1999 and 2002, a decision often criticised as it led to a considerable financial loss as gold prices later soared.
3. Failure to Address the Housing Bubble – Brown’s tenure saw a significant housing price increase, which fuelled the bubble that would later contribute to financial instability and make home ownership increasingly unaffordable.
4. Mismanagement of Public Spending – Brown’s increase in public spending without adequate reforms is seen by critics as unsustainable, creating a deficit that contributed to austerity under subsequent governments.
5. Lack of Response to Bank Bonuses – During the financial crisis, Brown’s government bailed out banks but was criticised for not placing restrictions on bonuses for bankers, leading to public resentment towards bankers perceived as responsible for the crisis.

David Cameron (2010–2016)

1. Austerity Measures – Cameron’s government introduced sweeping austerity policies, leading to severe cuts to public services and welfare, which are widely criticised for increasing poverty and social inequality.
2. Brexit Referendum – Cameron’s decision to call a referendum on EU membership without a clear contingency plan led to years of political and economic uncertainty, especially after the public voted to leave the EU. The country has never recovered.
3. NHS Reforms – The 2012 Health and Social Care Act restructured the NHS to introduce more market-driven elements, which critics argue led to fragmentation, inefficiency, and an increase in waiting times and privatisation concerns.
4. Failure to Address the Housing Crisis – Cameron’s policies did little to address the chronic lack of affordable housing, with schemes like Help to Buy often criticised for pushing prices up and benefitting property developers.
5. Cuts to Local Government Funding – Cameron’s government drastically reduced funding to local councils, resulting in reduced services and increased strain on communities, especially in poorer regions.

Theresa May (2016–2019)

1. Mismanagement of Brexit Negotiations – May’s handling of Brexit negotiations was widely criticised as ineffective, resulting in repeated rejections of her proposed withdrawal agreement and political stalemate.
2. Windrush Scandal – As Home Secretary, May’s “hostile environment” policy led to the wrongful detention, deportation, and denial of rights to Windrush generation citizens, causing significant public outrage.
3. Increased Pressure on the NHS – Under May’s tenure, austerity continued to strain the NHS, leading to shortages in staff, longer wait times, and increased privatisation of services.
4. Inability to Unite Her Party – May struggled to balance the various factions within her party over Brexit, weakening her leadership and contributing to ongoing political divisions within the Conservative Party.
5. Lack of Action on Social Care Reform – Despite initially proposing reforms, May was criticised for not addressing the mounting social care crisis, leaving vulnerable people and the elderly without adequate support.

Boris Johnson (2019–2022)

1. Handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic – Johnson’s delayed lockdowns and controversial decisions during the pandemic are seen by critics as leading to unnecessary loss of life, economic impact, and public confusion.
2. Brexit Implementation – Johnson’s approach to Brexit, especially the Northern Ireland Protocol, created trade friction and political instability, particularly affecting Northern Ireland and the UK’s relationship with the EU.
3. ‘Partygate’ Scandal – Johnson faced backlash for gatherings at  Downing Street during COVID-19 lockdowns, undermining public trust in government at a critical time.
4. Economic Mismanagement – Johnson’s government was criticised for high levels of public spending during the pandemic without clear accountability, contributing to inflation and rising public debt.
5. Push for Culture Wars – Johnson’s administration was accused of promoting divisive “culture war” issues, which some argue detracted from addressing critical issues like economic hardship and environmental policy.

Liz Truss (2022)

1. Mini-Budget and Market Fallout – Truss’s mini-budget included unfunded tax cuts, which triggered financial market chaos, devaluation of the pound, and a spike in borrowing costs.
2. Destabilising Pension Funds – The mini-budget’s impact led to a near-crisis for pension funds, as interest rate volatility forced them to sell assets, leading to broader financial risk concerns.
3. Alienation of International Investors – Truss’s economic policies led to a loss of confidence among global investors, raising questions about the UK’s economic stability and reputation.
4. Cuts to Public Services – To counterbalance tax cuts, Truss proposed significant cuts to public spending, which would have further strained already underfunded public services.
5. Short-lived Leadership Turmoil – Her brief tenure was marked by internal party turmoil, deepening Conservative Party divisions, and reducing government effectiveness.

Rishi Sunak (2022–2024)

1. Cost of Living Crisis Response – Critics argue that Sunak’s measures have fallen short in addressing the cost of living crisis, with limited support for struggling families amid inflation and rising energy costs.
2. Backtracking on Climate Commitments – Sunak’s government has been criticised for weakening environmental policies, which undermines the UK’s climate commitments and reduces momentum on sustainable energy.
3. Continued NHS and Public Sector Strain – The NHS remains under significant strain, with Sunak accused of underfunding and insufficient staffing support amidst record wait times and strike actions.
4. Inability to Control Inflation – Inflation and rising interest rates have led to a mortgage crisis for many homeowners, with Sunak’s response criticised for being reactive rather than preventive.
5. Push for Controversial Migration Policies – Sunak’s approach to migration, including the Rwanda asylum plan, has been divisive, drawing both human rights criticisms and legal challenges.

All of them have underachieved but, maybe, that's the nature of politics. Over-promise and under-deliver. And then scarper off with loads of loot and honours. Let's reserve judgement on Keir Starmer and how he will eventually feature in the Pantheon of Mediocrity. We deserve better than what we get but, as we collectively fail to engage seriously in politics, we probably get what we deserve. But, sniggering aside, we probably do better than most, although, self-evidently it's not a very high bar to jump over.