I am sorry to be cynical but I've come to think it's how Britain works: the purpose of these things is to convey a perception, but only a perception, that we want to expose wrongdoing. The truth is, I assume because we think public confidence in our institutions is more important, we really don't. - ThreadSky

jolyonmaugham.bsky.social • 23 hours ago

I am sorry to be cynical but I've come to think it's how Britain works: the purpose of these things is to convey a perception, but only a perception, that we want to expose wrongdoing. The truth is, I assume because we think public confidence in our institutions is more important, we really don't.

Reposted from Jolyon Maugham

Given the volume of material we hold (and the independent notifications I received from civil servants that the Cabinet Office had instructed them to destroy records*) I am shocked we have not been contacted by the Covid Inquiry and I am assuming it will be a whitewash. news.sky.com/story/potent...

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litterygeniarse.bsky.social•10 hours ago

See also the PPE Scam commission which has still not prosecuted anyone?

iebathrugby.bsky.social•9 hours ago

Civil Servants under current law are not allowed to destroy information. I suspect it's the WhatsApp messages that the Tory's were so keen to use (against Security advice) and then lose. If a Civil Servant has destroyed information then they're culpable and must say who instructed them.

bookworm17.bsky.social•4 hours ago

I am inclined to agree with you, smoke and mirrors.

itsascam.bsky.social•3 hours ago

More like a manufactured fictional confidence.

myndzi.bsky.social•23 hours ago

You're not being cynical. Cynicism implies not caring. It's the institutions themselves that appear cynical, and seemingly at the expense of caring.
#Hypernormalisation
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/adam-curtiss-essential-counterhistories

50sherdsofgrey.bsky.social•20 hours ago

Sounds about right

kateronaone.bsky.social•4 hours ago

Another Quango with a chance for stooges to claim a lot of expenses and eat in a lot of Michelin starred restaurants to come out with a milquetoast report which says absolutely nothing and will be shoved in a filling cabinet. It’s the British way.

anthonyf272.bsky.social•22 hours ago

Why would Keir Starmer want to protect the last lot? Instructions for whitewashing must have come from his government?

stephanierogers.bsky.social•11 hours ago

Because at some point he will become "the last lot" and he doesn't want the next government looking too closely at anything done wrong on his watch.

anthonyf272.bsky.social•11 hours ago

True, but it wouldn't be necessary if politicians were transparent and honest - like most normal people in this world.

mgharris.bsky.social•11 hours ago

The truth is that governance is too hard to get right all the time, most people are not up to the job, mistakes are made because of human fallibility and most people are scared of losing their status/income so they cover things up.
That's not something most people want to accept. So we all pretend.

anthonyf272.bsky.social•10 hours ago

I understand about mistakes made and being covered up, but if corruption and fraud is never prosecuted, it will never end.

tcsouthbank.bsky.social•23 hours ago

As I said last week the British establishment closing ranks to protect themselves, you only have to look at history!!

ew-presents.bsky.social•23 hours ago

Exactly this. Nothing changes.

theeroxycox.bsky.social•20 hours ago

You are almost certainly correct about this. Unfortunate as it may be. How do we hold inquiries to account.

pahq1.bsky.social•10 hours ago

Me: The establishment were loosing their grip in the 70s and it’s been gloves off ever since. Don’t know where you’ve been but If your low down in the pecking order comrades you become aware of this early in life. Some choose to fight others fall in line. Call it cynicism call it self preservation.

calweb.bsky.social•22 hours ago

Public Inquiries exist to give the semblance of action. They have a track record of failing to deliver any meaningful difference. Public Inquiry is a con trick. The trick works every time.

evies13.bsky.social•8 hours ago

Not cynical.
Realistic.

It's all fur coat and nae knickers.

We are starved of honesty, integrity, decency. It underscores general hopelessness and mistrust and it is why your work is so important.

clairebradley.bsky.social•9 hours ago

Exactly. The system is set up in such a way that those who are wealthy and powerful are rarely held to account in any meaningful sense. It's a country that goes through the motions of accountability whilst actually ensuring that the wealthy and the powerful remain protected.

elainewyatt.bsky.social•21 hours ago

They can't investigate criminal activity. They have a duty to refer potential criminality to correct agencies? They're to find any failures of gov processes. 'If' there's proof of missing evidence such as missing WhatsApps from main gov heads covering PPE fast track the suppliers should be asked?

davidjwbailey.bsky.social•4 hours ago

I agree. 13 years as an international forensic accountant, five bruising years dealing with the FBI and US civil courts, multiple interactions with government ministers, and all of that experience tells me there is absolutely no intention within any Government to expose wrongdoing in the UK.

davidjwbailey.bsky.social•4 hours ago

They all operate on the public school rugby club code of Omèrta.

They all operate on a three step process:
1 – offer to help if you give them full disclosure of what you know
2 – regretfully say it is too complicated/too damaging and it has to be buried.
3 - attack you for telling them

cyberspice.bsky.social•23 hours ago

But it doesn’t improve public perception of our institutions. We just think they are crooked and no one cares!

andymacdee.bsky.social•21 hours ago

I recall a senior law lord in the 80s saying that Guildford 4/B'ham 6 convictions were known to be dodgy, but maintaining the image of the state as right outweighed the facts. Plus ca change...

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