Subscribe to The Spectator

Friday 10 February 2012

Latest issue

Buy the current issue

Jobs at Telegraph

And another thing

4 October 2008

From Hadrian to Gordon: sublime to ridiculous

Since then, all has turned to ashes in his greedy mouth. Everything has gone wrong for him and his party and of course for the country too. He has been relentlessly revealed as a pitiful failure quite unsuited for his office, a person who will go down in the remorseless records as among our worse prime ministers. Yet still he clings on. And it all shows in his face. The gargoyle has become daily more grotesque. The forced, coffin-plated smiles, the infinitely weary waves of cheer, the glutinous, tortured words of false optimism his speechwriters gum together for him, all leave their marks. This moral disintegration before our eyes, as day by day we watch his inevitable self-destruction, gives one a disgust for the whole business of power-seeking and exercise. Of course he will have to go in the end, probably quite soon. But before that how many more indignities and humiliations will be his portion? We should be spared such agonies.

However, I shall end this painful sermon on power and its futilities on a positive note. Despite its penalties, the exercise of public responsibilities offers moral rewards too. Someone has to rule, and we should not hurry to criticise those who take on the job, whose motives may be decent and pure. After all, God has to rule the universe. He can’t leave it just to nature, and He therefore has some sympathy for any altruist who does it on earth. So should we, provided they know when to go. It is the final mark of a good ruler. Only God has to stay for ever.

More articles from: Paul Johnson | this section

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Comments Post comment

Cogito Ergosum

October 2nd, 2008 9:56pm Report this comment

Brown and Blair reminded me of the two-consul system in the ancient Roman Republic. Similarly with Thatcher and Lawson, Wilson and Callaghan.

Maybe readers can suggest other examples.

Post comment

Back to top

Cartoons

In this section

The Spectator's Notes

The present Queen succeeded to the throne 60 years ago…

The City is used to ignoring MPs, because they don’t matter. Or at least they didn’t

It’s not strange that bankers have so much more money…

Ancient and modern: Call that a spectacle?

The Grand Olympic Opening Ceremony will apparently inform us ‘who…

Status Anxiety

I write this having just returned from the BBC, where…

The Wiki Man: The best thing since wheeled suitcases

I had a Land Rover Discovery once. It was expensive…

sponsored links

Spectator recommends

Spectator classifieds

THE PRESENT FINDER

1,700 Unusual Christmas Presents Request Catalogue 01935 815 195 Quote SPEC10 for 10% discount www.presentfinder.co.uk

OLIVE BRANCH FLORISTS

Pimilco based Florist with online ordering Web: www.olivebranch.net Tel: 020 7630 1868 Fax: 020 7233 8844

RUFFS Bespoke Signet rings

62 Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FT Telephone: 01489 578867 Web site: www.ruffs.co.uk