The government has been weak over forests

A very dangerous precedent has been established today over the forest fiasco. Caroline Spelman earlier gave the most extraordinary interview on Radio 4’s PM. “We got it wrong,” she said in the Commons. “How so?” asked Eddie Mair. She wouldn’t say. As he kept asking her, it became increasing clear that she didn’t think they got it wrong. They conducted the U-Turn because they were losing the media war.
 
Really? Is that all it takes to defeat Cameron’s government? A decent two-week campaign with a couple of celebs? The forest policy was a good one: why do we need state-run timber farms? Not that this argument was ever aired. They government just sat mute, and was beaten up by Rachel Johnson and her brilliantly mischievous campaign. It wouldn’t surprise me if she did this just for a laugh – to prove that she could. The Sunday Telegraph was her media partner in this. And other newspapers will be choosing their campaign theme now.
 
If Boris’ sister can defeat the entire British government then what might Bob Crow and his union heavies be able to do? Brendan Barber, the TUC chief, is obviously having similar thoughts. He put out a press release about the forests today (not that the trees are union members), saying simply: “People power has forced the government into a complete surrender.” Translated: “These boys seem to be Heath-style Tories, not Thatcher-style Tories. We like. They appear to u-turn, at the first sign of trouble. Well, let’s see what we can muster.”
 
And what makes it worse: that this U-Turn was announced on the same day that a flagship government policy (welfare reform) was announced. No10 is being shaken up, and I hope the new people have serious political nous. Whoever is arriving needs to be political enough to know why it’s so damaging to stage a U-turn on a day where you also pledge not to U-turn on a massive, long-term welfare reform. (Incidentally it is being said, presumably as a joke, that the new No10 policy chief is an accountant from KPMG).

Today’s forest U-turn should never have happened. To drop a bad policy is a sign of strength. When you’re moving fast, then it’s often better to make mistakes and clear up afterwards. But to drop a good policy, and one that you still believe to be right? It is disconcerting for those of us who support the government’s radical, reforming agenda to see it unable to win basic arguments. As Rumsfeld said, weakness is more provocative than strength. And today, the government has displayed a major weakness. 

UPDATE: Further inquiries confirm that Paul Kirby, a partner at KPMG, is indeed joining No10 at a senior level. Still unclear what his job title is, but sounds to me like a Michael Barber-style ‘delivery unit’. He worked for the Tories in opposition, and his mission is to make No10’s presence felt across Whitehall on public sector reform.