Spelman: I got this one wrong

Caroline Spelman has just told the Commons that ‘I am sorry. We got this one wrong.’ The forests u-turn is now complete. Rachel Johnson has successfully duffed up the government.

The coalition is trying to make the best of the situation, stressing that this shows that this is a ‘listening’ government. But there’s no getting away from the fact that this is an embarrassing u-turn and one that will encourage other opponents of the coalition’s reforms to redouble their attacks. The coalition cannot — and must not — continue making u-turns like this.