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Huawei leak highlights collapse of discipline in May's cabinet Huawei leak highlights collapse of discipline in May's cabinet
(32 minutes later)
Leaks from deep within Theresa May’s bitterly divided administration have become widespread and common: as one despairing official remarked recently, “this government is a sieve”.Leaks from deep within Theresa May’s bitterly divided administration have become widespread and common: as one despairing official remarked recently, “this government is a sieve”.
But the revelation of the highly sensitive news that ministers have decided to set aside cybersecurity concerns and involve the Chinese firm Huawei in the creation of Britain’s 5G network is regarded by many as a leak too far.But the revelation of the highly sensitive news that ministers have decided to set aside cybersecurity concerns and involve the Chinese firm Huawei in the creation of Britain’s 5G network is regarded by many as a leak too far.
The decision was taken at the national security council, on which ministers sit alongside officials and members of the security services. The secrecy of its discussions has never before been breached.The decision was taken at the national security council, on which ministers sit alongside officials and members of the security services. The secrecy of its discussions has never before been breached.
A full-scale inquiry is now expected to be launched, but a slew of other briefing and counter-briefing from private meetings in recent weeks and months has not just gone unpunished but become almost unremarkable. A full-scale inquiry is now expected to be launched, but a slew of other briefings and counter-briefings from private meetings in recent weeks and months has not just gone unpunished but become almost unremarkable.
There are several, allied reasons for this pervasive culture of briefing and counter-briefing, which means multiple competing accounts of cabinet meetings are available shortly after ministers walk out of Downing Street.There are several, allied reasons for this pervasive culture of briefing and counter-briefing, which means multiple competing accounts of cabinet meetings are available shortly after ministers walk out of Downing Street.
One is simply the ready availability of instant electronic communication – a string of WhatsApp messages is a lot quicker and more straightforward than the old-fashioned gossip over lunch or in a Westminster bar (though that still happens too, of course).One is simply the ready availability of instant electronic communication – a string of WhatsApp messages is a lot quicker and more straightforward than the old-fashioned gossip over lunch or in a Westminster bar (though that still happens too, of course).
Another is the historic significance of the issues at stake and the lack of trust on both sides of the Brexit debate, which means all the key players want to ensure their point is heard even if they lost the argument in the room.Another is the historic significance of the issues at stake and the lack of trust on both sides of the Brexit debate, which means all the key players want to ensure their point is heard even if they lost the argument in the room.
There has been a complete breakdown of discipline. Theresa May long ago passed far beyond the journalistic cliches of embattled or beleaguered, and entered some new state in which her authority is smashed and her promises are distrusted on all sides.There has been a complete breakdown of discipline. Theresa May long ago passed far beyond the journalistic cliches of embattled or beleaguered, and entered some new state in which her authority is smashed and her promises are distrusted on all sides.
That makes it all but impossible for many of her colleagues to summon the sense of loyalty, the hope of preferment or the fear of punishment that usually keep the lid on tittle-tattle – all the more so because it is clear she won’t be around for long.That makes it all but impossible for many of her colleagues to summon the sense of loyalty, the hope of preferment or the fear of punishment that usually keep the lid on tittle-tattle – all the more so because it is clear she won’t be around for long.
May’s imminent departure has meant the leaks have taken on a more pointed edge in recent weeks and months. The Tory party is engaged in what is rapidly degenerating into a kind of 24/7 political beauty parade in which each contender is keen to show off to the two audiences they will need to win over to become the next prime minister: Conservative MPs and grassroots members.May’s imminent departure has meant the leaks have taken on a more pointed edge in recent weeks and months. The Tory party is engaged in what is rapidly degenerating into a kind of 24/7 political beauty parade in which each contender is keen to show off to the two audiences they will need to win over to become the next prime minister: Conservative MPs and grassroots members.
The prisons minister, Rory Stewart, became the latest potential candidate to muse about how keen he was on the job in a Spectator interview this week, but plenty of others have been rehearsing their views on subjects far beyond the day job.The prisons minister, Rory Stewart, became the latest potential candidate to muse about how keen he was on the job in a Spectator interview this week, but plenty of others have been rehearsing their views on subjects far beyond the day job.
It is hard to find a cabinet minister who will definitively rule themselves out of the running, which means many of them – and their entourages of advisers and hangers-on – want to play up their backstory and political nous and throw shade at their rivals.It is hard to find a cabinet minister who will definitively rule themselves out of the running, which means many of them – and their entourages of advisers and hangers-on – want to play up their backstory and political nous and throw shade at their rivals.
One exasperated minister said it was obvious when colleagues around the polished cabinet table in Downing Street were making the strident, often over-long intervention they would then allow to be briefed to the press later.One exasperated minister said it was obvious when colleagues around the polished cabinet table in Downing Street were making the strident, often over-long intervention they would then allow to be briefed to the press later.
The chief whip – May’s enforcer – recently described his colleagues as the “worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history”.The chief whip – May’s enforcer – recently described his colleagues as the “worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history”.
Every remark, every decision, every press interview, every new haircut or crisper-than-usual suit is viewed through the prism of the Tory leadership.Every remark, every decision, every press interview, every new haircut or crisper-than-usual suit is viewed through the prism of the Tory leadership.
It remains to be seen whether the source of the NSC leak will be identified as coming from the camp of one such sharp-elbowed contender – and whether it will result in a heavy, perhaps even criminal sanction.It remains to be seen whether the source of the NSC leak will be identified as coming from the camp of one such sharp-elbowed contender – and whether it will result in a heavy, perhaps even criminal sanction.
But even when May departs and the corrosive leadership contest is over, it may prove extremely difficult to reassemble the shattered pieces of government-as-usual, which include not just collective responsibility but also party discipline and loyalty.But even when May departs and the corrosive leadership contest is over, it may prove extremely difficult to reassemble the shattered pieces of government-as-usual, which include not just collective responsibility but also party discipline and loyalty.
ConservativesConservatives
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
Theresa MayTheresa May
analysisanalysis
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