Cricket Balls

Congratulations to the England “men’s” team, a gender distinction which the BBC helpfully pointed out, for winning the Cricket World Cup.  The nail-biting success was in contrast to the unmitigated gloom arising from our Government’s failure to get out of the EU over three tedious years.  Whether you subscribe to the conspiracy theory that Mrs May was never really serious about leaving, despite what she said, over and over again, or whether you believe that the negotiating failure was just the result of general incompetence, the net result is the same – we are an international laughing stock.

Cricket success was achieved because we had some very good players but so did the opposition.  The difference was often how the respective teams managed risk.  Batting first or chasing, the possible intervention of Duckworth Lewis, attack for wickets or try to limit the scoring – the cricket risk register is long and comprehensive.  England managed risk very well and triumphed, overall, so well done to the Captain, in particular.   England’s cricket stock is very high.

A lot of people believe that leaving the EU should be risk free but this denies reality.  Any business change, of which Brexit is just one big change, involves risk.  Businesses routinely identify, assess and manage risk for this is their bread and butter.  It seems inconceivable that Mrs May’s team did not compile a risk register and plan to either avoid or mitigate residual risk accordingly.  Thus, there should be no talk of “crashing out” and “cliff edges” – only a manged departure.  Unfortunately, the news that Brexit is, in any sense, being managed seems to be suppressed.  This must be very depressing for all those people who have been working very hard on contingency plans.  But maybe hope is on the horizon? One of the reasons I voted for Boris was his optimism.  After three years of May’s fatalism, we deserve some political good news and encouragement. 

"And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light;
  In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly,
But westward, look, the land is bright."

Vote Cast

The secret location, somewhere in Yorkshire and Humberside, was the Barbican in York.  Convenient geographically but I decided not to go.  I felt I had already heard enough and had made up my mind.  I think my decision was vindicated when a friend, who attended, sent me this report:

“Having seen both candidates last night, and heard the debate extended well beyond Brexit (which I confess was a cardinal omission in respect of my comments below), my own views are firmer than ever. If we want a PM likely to convince the country of the advantages of leaving the EU, achieve our departure on time, deal with violent crime, introduce effective strategies to drive up the growth rate, drive forward economic development beyond London and the South East, restore some confidence in democracy, and have the slightest chance of beating his rivals in the next General Election (and that means not only Corbyn but perhaps even more importantly for us Nigel Farage, from whom we desperately need to win back disillusioned voters) my own personal view is this:

Erase any lingering doubts form our minds that ‘It Has to be Hunt’ and replace them forthwith with ‘It Had Better Be Boris!!”

My Times today reports that Jeremy Hunt is urging members to wait and see – to assess the TV debates and “try before you buy.”  However, the same newspaper, in its editorial, concludes that Boris is “the only candidate with a credible chance of meeting the three challenges correctly identified in his campaign strategy:  deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Mr Corbyn.”  I don’t think there is anything more Jeremy Hunt could say that would convince me that he was the better candidate in these three critical regards.  So that’s it – my vote is cast and in the post.

How could you believe me when I said I loved you when you know I’ve been a liar all my life?

“How could you believe me when I said I loved you when you know I’ve been a liar all my life?”  That used to be the longest song title in the catalogue, a while ago, but Google indicates that there are much longer contenders around today.  It came to mind when thinking about the Conservative leadership contenders and what to make of their respective manifestos to leave the EU by 31 October 2019.  Theresa May was a remainer but she said she had converted to the leave cause.  How many times did she parrot “Brexit means Brexit?”  She did not fulfil her promise.  Jeremy Hunt was a remainer but he now says he can negotiate an exit on 31 October (plus a little wriggle room for contingencies). He sounds sincere and his plans are far more detailed and developed than his rival, Boris.  But Theresa May sounded sincere and look how she turned out?  Will Jeremy revert to type when the going gets tough?  That is my nagging doubt.  Boris, on the other hand, in much more of a “big hand, small map” approach tells us we are leaving on 31 October, no ifs and no buts. Although he kept his powder dry for a while during the Referendum campaign, he eventually declared for leave and has been consistent in outlook since.  I don’t mind the lack of detail too much.  Good leaders don’t, necessarily, need nit-picking qualities provided they enjoy the gift of delegation, and Boris has certainly shown his powers of leadership in complex projects during his time as mayor of London.  But the tie-breaker for Boris, in my opinion, could be that he is much more likely to limit the damage of, nay win, an early general election, than Jeremy.

I haven’t received my ballot paper and I haven’t made up my mind, quite, but I am leaning to Boris.  Meantime, I have been invited to a top-secret location somewhere in Yorkshire and Humberside to listen to the two rivals debate.  I have submitted a question: “would you give a Cabinet appointment that involved safeguarding state secrets to Gavin Williamson?”  I would expect a simple yes or no in reply.