May has only herself to blame for this Brexit mess

I could go into detail about the deficiencies of the draft Withdrawal Agreement but before going there it is apt to think about the style of government and particularly the operation of the Cabinet system, and how, in my view, has been corrupted over the years by hubristic politicians and arrogant elitist and unaccountable Civil Servants.

There was time BT (before Thatcher) when Cabinet meant a collegiate approach to governing. A string of fairly strong PMs – Thatcher, Major (not as strong as he would have liked), Blair, possibly Brown and then Cameron who thought this was the way things should be but remains deluded about his premiership being successful.

A few examples of disasters brought about by this way of governing – Poll Tax, Maastricht, Iraq War, the bombing of Libya and Syria and the EU Referendum and now the Withdrawal Agreement.

They confuse power with real leadership. Real leadership is so much more than taking decisions in the national interest (a self serving definition if ever there was one!). Real leadership does of course involve having competence in the decisions you take but it is much more than that: How you reach decisions - are you inclusive?- do you inspire trust and confidence - do you enthuse people in your way of dealing with issues. Our present PM does not have any of those attributes.

It is said that you should not attack Civil Servants because they cannot respond. However this form of governing is much beloved of the Sir Humphreys in the British Civil Service. Shorter lines of communication – quicker decision making – less nuisance in having to consult others. They therefore are complicit in this debacle. It has been reported that Esther McVey was shouted down by the Cabinet Secretary when she asked for a show of hands at the end of the discussion on the proposed Withdrawal Agreement. No Civil Servant pip squeak would have done that to me! 

Time to get some backbone in Parliament and Cabinet because the compounding weaknesses of deluded Leaders and devious Civil Servants will otherwise take this country to another disaster.

The Withdrawal Agreement (draft) is an abysmal document but no more than one should expect from economy and trade protectionists. It does not genuinely and honestly address the referendum result as it traps the UK in a Customs Union and the Single Market both of which were identified in the referendum debate as the inevitable result of leaving the EU. In all truth the country faces a stark choice sovereignty or humiliation. Time to stand up for the UK!