Truth or Dare? The Quiet Man chose both

Truth or Dare? The Quiet Man chose both.

How can you know if someone is telling the truth or that their motives are honourable? Whether ‘tis a politician or some other mere mortal , in the absence of super powers all we can do is assess the facts as they are presented and trust our instinct.

I trusted (and in general still do) – that the Tories were the best party to manage the UK deficit. I trusted that their budgets would be fair and that welfare reforms would be exactly that – reform rather than a hatchet job.

My unease with this blind faith was triggered by the cut in the welfare cap after the last election. But Ian Duncan Smith (IDS), often referred to as the Quiet Man, was Work and Pensions Secretary and I believed (and still do) that he is a good an honourable man with a genuine desire to improve welfare provision through reform. I was further disturbed by the apparent imbalance in George Osborne’s budget. More cuts for disability benefits, juxtaposed by an easing of corporation tax and other tax concessions. ‘Still’, I thought to myself in my naïve bubble – ‘IDS is in charge of welfare reform so this can be as bad as it seems’.

And then the bombshell dropped. IDS resigned – apparently completely out of the blue two days after the budget. The resignation letter and the Prime Minister’s response both reveal some pretty raw emotions. IDS does not pull his punches in his letter ‘ ..the latest changes to benefits to the disabled, and the context in which they’ve been made are a compromise too far’ . He goes on..’they are not defensible in the way they were placed within a budget that benefits higher earning tax payers..’ The PM states he is ‘puzzled and disappointed’ at the resignation, stating ‘we collectively agreed, you, No 10 and the Treasury – proposals which you and your department then announced a week ago’

Then the knives were out, gloves off or any other ‘et tu Brute?’ type expletive emanating from the blue corner. Worst of these was Pensions Minister Ros Altman with an unpleasant attempt at a character assassination of the Quiet Man. In an acerbic attack which I suspect says more about her than the man she ‘found incredibly difficult to work for’, Baroness Altman accused IDS of using this platform to promote his views against membership of the EU. She is ‘horrified to see him abuse the freedom to take sides….he seems to want to do maximum damage to the party leadership in order to further his campaign to try to get Britain to leave the EU.’ The implication of this petulant outburst is that IDS is putting his own agenda before his responsibilities as cabinet minster  

So what is the truth of this sorry tale? Did IDS indeed comply with the cuts and if he did, why choose the sweet spot of a Friday evening post-budget to deliver his resignation missile – which cut right to the heart of …..well, the right.

I find this whole situation fascinating, not just because Welfare reforms affect us all as they shape the society in which we live, but also the ‘truth’ of the matter. I suspect no-one is actually lying but who is being honourable?

In attempt to solve this weighty conundrum I tuned into Andrew Marr’s programme on the BBC this morning. IDS was to be interviewed and maybe I would have the opportunity to test my truth and honour radar.

There were four points that held most sway for me.

Firstly, the ‘warm up act’ – David Laws, former Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, gave a fascinating insight into the relationship between IDS and the Chancellor, George Osborne. Laws reported that IDS said (to paraphrase)  ‘There was a running sore…..over welfare policy. George Osborne saw welfare as a cash cow to be squeezed into to help to deliver deficit reduction where IDS had a ‘moral purpose of welfare reform to help people back into employment’

This ‘independent’  view (truth radar says this was a balanced opinion) set the scene nicely for the IDS interview as it painted a clear picture of the two main protagonists in this drama – the chancellor squeezing the cash cow of welfare to produce cuts to repair the deficit vs the ‘moral welfare reformer’

The second deciding factor for me the fact that IDS stated that he wasn’t actually at the budget presentation in the House of Commons of Wednesday (the pictures in the newspapers were old images from a previous budget) – he was, in fact, at a funeral. So the criticism directed at him for standing by in silence as the budget was announced is misplaced. I suspect that saying a final goodbye to friend or family member may have served to focus IDS’s concerns about his conflicting views with the Chancellor.

Thirdly – IDS gave a clear explanation as to how he reached his decision – stating timelines and facts – giving the overall impression of a man who genuinely believed in welfare reform as a long term process, not just a series of cuts. He said that the final blow for him was – yes he knew about the welfare cuts but he didn’t know about the wider tax initiatives to be used in the budget. And I believe him. He said this was nothing about the EU. And I believe him about that too. (Although I must concede that his support of a ‘Brexit’ must be easier from outside the cabinet)

Finally - it wasn’t just what he said, but the way he said it. I was impressed with the manner in which IDS responded to Marr’s questions. He started the interview with a calm, but almost timid demeanour, clearing his throat often and choosing his words with care. But as the questioning continued, with Marr skilfully giving IDS the time a space to ‘speak his truth’, the voice became stronger, the passion clearer and the ring of truth louder. This was a masterful way to counter his critics and set the record straight. And I believe him.

Welfare reform, like the NHS, is always going to be a poison chalice for any politician. Policy must necessarily be about medium to long term strategy, supporting those who need help the most and balancing those costs with encouraging those who can take some responsibility for their own financial and physical wellbeing. Reform should not just be about cuts, it should be about facilitating positive change. Change to encourage the weak to become stronger and while supporting the most vulnerable in our society. All of this should be within the context of balancing the books, managing the deficit and implementing a robust fiscal strategy.

I believe that Ian Duncan Smith became frustrated and despairing of the disconnect between welfare reform and George Osborne’s budget and resigned with honourable intent.

The Quiet Man spoke his truth loud and clear today.

If Public Relations was an Olympic Sport…

There has been a lot of winning and losing going on for the past two weeks – some spectacular achievements and some ‘best forgotten’ moments too. Athletes aside, who has won the Public Relations stakes for London 2012 so far?

Gold medal:
And the winner is…. The Royal Family. Our blue bloods seem to have been playing their own high spec version of ‘Where’s Wally?’. Scan the crowd at any Olympic venue (not just in the Olympic Park) and you could find Princess Anne, Prince Harry, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other more minor Royals cheering and screaming with everyone else. You had to look carefully to spot them– dressed in their casual Olympic Ambassador kit of polo shirt and chinos, the enthusiasm was genuine, the joy was real.
From the moment HM The Queen ‘parachuted’ into the opening ceremony – Team GB Royal have got it absolutely right. PB’s (personal bests) have been coming thick and fast – Elizabeth R’s link up with James Bond was classy and funny – worthy of a world record.
Another PB was Kate and William’s embrace as Sir Chris Hoy won a gold medal in cycling. The intimate shot of two young people clearly in love and completely caught up in the gold rush graced many a front page last week.  Kate’s passion for hockey and her steadfast attendance at each women’s team match has been impressive and Prince Harry capped the family’s medal winning form with his crowd-pleasing performances while maintaining some serious street cred..

Silver Medal:

It was a close call, but just pipped at the tape into second place is our wonderful military and police whose profile has received a significant boost with an event which started as a sprint (to quickly respond to the shortfall in security staff caused by contractor failure) to a marathon throughout the Olympic fortnight. Cheery, courteous and steadfast, these men and women in uniform have embraced athletes and visitors alike with the warm blanket of discreet, but robust security.

Bronze Medal:

Previous entertaining form and early promise demonstrated with his ‘shabby chic’ appearance at the closing ceremony of the Bejing Olympics meant that Boris Johnson was always a strong contender for a London 2012 PR medal. With his infectious joie de vivre, his buoyant enthusiasm and apparent innocence (despite reports otherwise), Boris is a constant source of amusement and yet somehow his considerable intellect shines through. He must be the only politician in the world who could turn the farce of being stuck on a zip wire, dangling in thin air for several minutes, into a PR triumph. The foreign press love him, the camera loves him, Londoners (mainly) love him and I love him.

As our Olympic dream has become delicious reality there will be many other personal and corporate PBs. But there are also the ‘could do better’ in the PR Olympics. These include G4S – the security firm who well and truly messed up, and effectively committed PR suicide. Our coalition leaders haven’t done particularly well either – squabbling about the House of Lords reform at a time when the nation is basking in the happy glow of global approval.

Hey ho – you win some, lose some – but perhaps the most precious prize of all, worth multiple gold medals are the words of Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympics committee who described London as ‘a city partying’ . He continued ‘the kindness of the British people has helped deliver more than anyone expected and the success was very reassuring for the future of sport’

So you see, dear world, us Brits are, in the main, lovely people – really – we are!

Our Olympic triumphs so far (and I’m not talking about medals)

So much for my plan to write a daily Olympics blog! I have been glued to the TV screen and, I’m proud to say, have also attended an Olympic event this week. All the frantic screaming at the telly and cheering in a crowd has left little room for literary pontification. I’ll be bereft when the Olympics finish but at least I’ll get my life back and can attend to the backlog of chores again. The highlights so far have been many and varied, and here are a few of my favourite triumphs.

The opening ceremony: Wow! I must confess that, like many Brits, I was fearful that the overture to the greatest show on earth would be a damp squib. How wrong we were. The director Danny Boyle encapsulated so much of the best of the British psyche – inclusive and diverse, inventive yet traditional, artistic and scientific, but most of all self-deprecating and funny. The James Bond sketch featuring that most famous of leading ladies was hysterical. I received texts and emails from friends across the world telling me how much they enjoyed the joke. Well done your majesty!! Just one duff note – well several actually. I’m sorry Sir Paul McCartney but it really is time to hang up your musical boots. The voice just isn’t up to it anymore and Hey Jude was not a rallying cry worthy of such an incredible night.

London: What a beautiful city, showcased at its very best! The location of some events was inspirational. From the equestrian events at Greenwich Park, the cycling by Hampton Court Palace, to Archery at Lord’s cricket ground, London has proved itself a worthy Olympic host city. The location for beach volleyball (which is a bit like a great party with a medal at the end) is inspired. As the sun set with Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye providing an almost mythical backdrop, a commentator mentioned that this must be the most beautiful location in the world for this great spectator sport.

The out of London venues: Equally impressive. The rowing on a manmade lake just by Windsor Castle, the beautiful Dorset coast and some stunning football stadiums prove that this is not all about the capital.

The BBC: Every sport is being covered, every day. There are over 20 channels with live streams of every event. The specialist commentary, interviews, analysis and human interest stories have kept a nation gripped. I believe the licence payers money has been well spent (for my overseas readers, the BBC is ‘free’ to view in return for an annual licence fee of around £145 ($200) which covers radio as well.). The downside is – all this coverage is very distracting so housework, writing deadlines and general communication with the outside world has been severely limited within my own personal part of the universe.

The tears: Who doesn’t enjoy a good weep of happiness? I seem to be permanently in floods at the moment. Every time the National Anthem is played or there is some story of human endeavour leading to triumph over adversity (any nationality will do) – I blub shamelessly. High spots were Gemma Gibbons (ranked 42 in the world) who looked heavenwards and mouthed ‘I love you Mum’ as she qualified for the Olympic final eight years after she lost her Mum. And the young shooting gold medallist Peter Wilson who broke off in the middle of a post victory interview as he ran towards his father shouting with a voice cracking with emotion ‘Dad’ and fell into his father’s arms. Another heart-wrencher was the very large father of the gold medal winning South African swimmer Chad Le Clos, weeping profusely as he kept saying ‘look at him, he’s beautiful – whatever happens for the rest of my life, it doesn’t matter, just look at him’ . Awwww - surely even the coldest of hearts would melt at such parental pride.

Our Royals: From our parachuting Queen (I managed to persuade one visitor that Her Majesty really DID sky dive into the arena…) to Princess Anne’s silver medal winning daughter the British royals have truly embraced the Olympic Games. Speaking of embracing – in the Daily Telegraph today there’s a charming picture of Kate and William having a joyful cuddle as they celebrate Chris Hoy’s fantastic 5^th Gold Medal. Awwww.(again)

The British weather: So far so good. After a truly dismal June, the sun has been kind in putting in several appearances this week. And the rain, in the main, has stayed away. At least the monsoon-like deposits have stopped anyway.

The general air of happiness: I was at old Trafford for some Olympic football matches last week and even though Team GB wasn’t featured in either match there were over 70,000 spectators. And to a man, woman and child we all had the best of times. We whooped and cheered, oohed and aahed just as though each team was our personal responsibility. And the players responded in kind. At the end of the New Zealand, Egypt match they stayed on the pitch for ages, waving and thanking the crowd. Yes, security was a bit slow and we got wet as we queued to have our handbags checked but so what – we all had a great time and came away happy.

And maybe that is the best triumph of all so far. Despite all the carping and whinging from many UK residents in the build-up to the games, the events of the past week have made most of us happy.  Happy to see our country showcased in all its glory. Happy to see sport and sportsmanship at its best. Happy to recognise that we really are good at organising things. And maybe best of all – happy to have something to be happy about at last!

Crisis? What Crisis?

Has Olympic fever completely taken a hold yet? Not quite – the temperature has certainly risen – but that’s the weather – a high of 32 centigrade signalled that summer really is here.

So far so good – ish.

The traffic chaos isn’t quite as bad as predicted as the dedicated Olympic road lanes are in put into action. But drivers are getting frustrated as VIP’s and official vehicles speed past as they queue in reduced number of lanes, risking a £130 ($85) fine if they stray into the exclusive channels.

As visitors and competitors continue to flood into our airports, there has been a national sigh of relief as the border agency staff have called off their strike, planned for tomorrow. The government challenged the legality of the balloting process leading to the call to industrial action and the PCS union came to their senses as the weight of public opinion was leaning heavily against them. But this victory was tempered by the embarrassing story of an 11 year old boy who found his way through UK security, passport check and boarding scrutiny (not) to take off on a flight from Manchester to Rome, with no ticket, no passport and no boarding card! Even more embarrassing was the fact that the diminutive stowaway was spotted by fellow passengers as airline staff failed to notice that he didn’t even have a seat! Oops..

Rather oddly, the sport started in earnest today – with the women’s football tournament kicking off – three days before the opening ceremony on Friday evening. The good news is that Team GB started with a 1 – 0 victory over New Zealand – go girls!

But again this positive start was nearly overshadowed by another ‘oops’ moment as the North Korea vs Colombia match was almost cancelled as the flag of South Korea, not known as a best friend of their neighbours North Korea, was shown in error alongside the team announcements. The North Korean women stormed off the pitch and could only be persuaded to return after an hour’s grovelling. I know it is a serious issue, but I can’t help smiling as I imagine the heart stopping moment as officials were told of the faux pas….

Still, as my grandmother used to say. ‘Worse things happen at sea’. Everything seems to be on track - apart from our triple jumper Phillips Idowu, Team GB’s triple jumping medal hope, who is not only not on track, he seems to be nowhere near any track as he failed to join the team at their training camp in Portugal.

As the Nation holds its collective bated breath and start to enjoy the greatest show on earth, we can only hope that any other ‘oops’ moments will be equally minor. Crisis? What crisis? All is well – after all – us Brits are usually pretty good in a crisis any. Aren’t we?....

2012 Olympics – the good, the bad and the ugly (so far)

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. All around us ‘The greatest sporting event on earth’ unfolds. Olympic fever is abound and I seem to sway from enthusiasm and excitement to embarrassment and despair in equal measure – much like the rest of the UK population I suspect.

The good:

‘And the 2012 Olympics games go to…… London’.

Winning the bid to host the games was a fantastic achievement. The UK pitch was spot on – the right mix of history, emotion, technology, youth, celebrity and the ‘L’ word – legacy. A much deserved victory.
The Olympic Park.
Finished on time, within budget. An impressive vista with plenty of green space, some soon to be iconic buildings and, a prerequisite for most public spaces – a controversial sculpture. The Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Velodrome and Basketball Arena all look well worth a visit, even without the sport. This regeneration of the shabby and neglected East London landscape is stunning.
The Torch Relay.
What a wonderful idea. The young and old, strong and not so strong, superfit and unsporty, the good and the great,  famous and revered, the humble and charitable, the physically challenged and previously unsung heroes have all been worthy couriers of this precious cargo. By the time the flame completes its 70 day journey the Olympic stadium it will have been carried by 8,000 inspirational human beings. It will have travelled within 10 miles of 95% of the population of the UK. A truly ‘once in a lifetime’ event.
Our police force and our armed forces.
The lads and lassies who are stepping into the breach after the security debacle will provide the best security we could wish for and add some class to the occasion. Bless ‘em all!

The Bad:

Team GB Football.

How can David Beckham NOT be selected for Team GB football? That’s the David Beckham who played a massive part in winning the bid for the games in the first place. The David Beckham who is such an iconic sportsman and global celebrity that he was first choice to welcome the flame into the UK as it was helicoptered in to the furthest tip of Cornwall one miserable and wet day in May. The David Beckham who wears his heart on his sleeve and his country in his heart. The David Beckham who, by his presence in the team alone would most likely have prompted the sale of at least another 100,000 tickets for the undersubscribed football matches. The David Beckham who is a motivator, play maker and, most significantly who scored a fantastic goal from 35 yards in an LA Galaxy match only 10 days ago. Stuart Pearce – the Team GB football manager who didn’t select the best loved footballer in the world – shame on you.
Trying to get on with your daily business in London.
I am fortunate enough not to have to go to London too often but even last week – it was seeeething with tourists. Yes, we welcome you and your dollars/yen/euros and even enjoy your company.  But we do not enjoy your rucksacks or your pull-along suitcases. I am short so every time a traveller with a rucksack turns round on the tube I seem to get smacked in the mouth. Last week a visitor (to be fair she may not have been here for the Olympics) wheeled her suitcase over my feet and then side swiped me with her holdall as she sat down. Enough already!
The Olympic Traffic Lanes.
It’s probably a wise move to dedicate lanes to Olympic traffic but it is very confusing and the re-phasing of traffic lights is a nightmare.
G4S Security.
Yes it’s old news now but to award a massive security contract for the games to only one firm seems naïve at best – downright folly at worst. What a monumental c*ck up – and how embarrassing to find that just 2 weeks before the main event the security firm of choice have underperformed to the tune of around 5,000 personnel. Is this such a disaster though? Will we miss the dodgy looking geezers in ill-fitting uniforms, many of whom would have a limited command of the English language and security backgrounds that would make ‘Del boy’ look like Mother Theresa? I think not.

The Ugly:

The British Press:
Always focussing on the negative - the traffic, the security, the ticketing. Come on chaps – we’re not doingthat badly – some good news stories please.
Team GB (again)
How can a team that excludes aforesaid David Beckham, include drugs cheats Dwain Chambers and David Millar. To be fair, the British Olympic Association did try to maintain the lifetime ban but were overturned by the Court of Arbitration for sport, but they didn’t have to select these bad examples. Like they didn’t select the Taekwondo world number one Aaron cook, apparently just because he chose to train independently from the GB team. Shocking and disappointing.
The home affairs select committee.
The public verbal mauling of G4S security firm managing director Nick Buckles at a specially convened committee achieved nothing apart from feeding some dubious egos of also–ran politicians. If you have a crisis, you get together and fix it. Then you have the inquiry and post mortem. The public humiliation of the G4s boss, who accepted responsibility for the potential security debacle simply highlighted the vacuous and self -serving nature of this type of inquiry.
The striking UK border agency staff.
The public and commercial services union have called a strike on Thursday – one of the business days for incoming Olympic visitors. This action is planned on the basis of only 1 in 10 members voting for to strike. Will the public will support them in this sabotage? I doubt it.

And to all the nay sayers about London 2012…….As Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, said the other day ‘stop whingeing and put a sock in it’

To my overseas readers, he meant - ‘stop complaining and shut up’

Hear hear…

How to mess up your National Team – according to the FA school of bad management.

What an interesting day for English football! Fabio Capello, the England manager who has been consistent only in his ability to disappoint, has resigned from his post just 4 months before a major tournament. Harry Redknapp, the much loved Spurs manager and heir apparent for the England job has been acquitted of tax fraud, reputation intact and immediately employable for the top job on the very same day. Kismet? Fate? Divine intervention? If Harry has any sense (and of course he has a great deal of nouse) he should be thankful for British justice, give even greater thanks for the amazing English Premier League but run a mile from the English Football Association.

The Capello tenure and the FA’s part in this has been a comedy of errors from start to finish.

Here is a quick guide on how to reduce a great footballing heritage to a shambles in a few easy steps:

1)   Appoint a manage who has excellent overseas club experience but doesn’t understand the culture of English football

2)   Don’t worry about the fact that the manager fails, even after 4 years, to master the language of a nation that is paying him around £4 million a year

3)   Despite mediocre performances by the team, re-negotiate his contract prior to the World Cup, even though you have the ideal opportunity to get stop the rot at the end of his contract.

4)   Witness a pitiful showing at the World Cup, precipitated by extremely bad man management by your chosen leader, including such poor judgment as failing to share the team selection with the players until the day of the match.

5)   Overlook the fact that on one occasion when the English team scored, your chosen manager sat motionless on the side line, arms crossed.

6)   Oversee a massive public humiliation during the World Cup bid process, involving the extreme lack of courtesy shown to the UK prime Minister and Prince William. Fail to implement damage limitation.

7)   Fail spectacularly in opposition of Sepp Blatter further weakening the voice of English football overseas.

8)   Finally, just when chosen manager stands  by his man (albeit the man that he unceremoniously sacked for infidelity and then reinstated when he realised that Terry probably was the best man for the job) – fail to support him and precipitate a resignation that would have been handy a couple of years ago.

I actually feel quite sorry for Fabio Capello. He was always the wrong man for the job, great credentials – yes, but wrong nationality, wrong personality and inadequate understanding of the English culture (and language).

I also feel sorry for the English team. They haven’t had a decent manager for over a decade.

But Harry – if I was you, don’t be seduced to take up the poisoned chalice. Wait for the FA to get their act together first.

FIFA get the President they deserve

It was announced today that Sepp Blatter, the incumbent President of the International Football Federation, will be re-elected unopposed for a fourth, four year term.

The original election was planned between two equally unsavoury candidates. The other one being Mohammed Bin Hammen who is now suspended whilst under investigation for bribery and corruption. (But I thought bribery and corruption was the mission statement for this organisation?)

Mmmm – Blatter vs Bin Hammen – a bit like choosing between Hannibal Lecter and The Pied Piper to babysit – either way it was going to end badly…

There was a faint glimmer of hope that the election fiasco would be halted when, in a remarkably convenient development just prior to the election, Blatter’s opponent was suspended. Step up the Brits – calling for a pause while another suitable candidate is found. Alas only 17 other associations had the guts to support this motion.

So FIFA get the President they deserve. The President who has presided over scandal after scandal and allegations of corruption, fraud and bribery. The President who has presided over football’s governing body as International football is at its lowest ebb. Dirty play on the field and even dirtier play behind the scenes. A refusal to embrace goal line technology and a warped approach in choosing the hosts for the World Cup. Even Jerome Valcke, the FIFA Secretary General has admitted that he believes that Qatar ‘bought’ the World Cup bid vote.

This is the President who pleads innocence in the same way that the family dog looks up at you with an ‘it wasn’t me’ expression as the Christmas dinner goes missing – despite turkey juices dripping out of his mouth!

Even if Mr Blatter was an innocent bystander with all these scandals – he remains culpable as the man in charge. A headmaster may be a veritable saint but if the pupils in his school display constant bad behaviour and the reputation of the organisation falls into disrepute, eventually the school’s governors will give him his marching orders. Standing by and looking the other way in some cases means you are just as culpable as the perpetrators.

Football has not grown in reputation one jot since Sepp Blatter and his cronies have been at the helm. And now those of us who are still struggling to love the beautiful game have been dealt yet another blow. If you don’t play fair in the boardroom how can you expect fair play on the pitch?

So what can be done? Not a lot. The only way to get rid of diseased tissue or an infestation is to either cut it out or treat it with strong chemicals. Alas, neither of those are feasible or legal.

How refreshing it would be to have an ‘anti-corruption candidate as President. To have a governing body that includes representation from the fans, players, sponsors and football management. In your dreams, wisebird, in your dreams.

So it’s business as usual. Sepp Blatter is apparently committed to cleaning up FIFA’s act. There is one other thing that will receive Sepp Blatter’s constant commitment and loyalty. Sepp Blatter.