The prevailing sentiment among parliamentary Labour members these days echoes Edgar's law. It declares that the scale of each adversity can only be measured in comparison to yet-to-come catastrophes. As Shakespeare lets the banished son of the blinded Earl state in King Lear: “The worst is not, provided that we are able to utter ‘this is the worst’.”
A Succession of Intensifying Problems
According to Edgar's law, there is no survey so dismal regarding the party that cannot be succeeded by another more depressing; no economic projection so bad that the exchequer cannot worsen via conflicting messages about levies; no reservations concerning the Prime Minister that won't be heightened through malicious leaks concerning a bid for power.
Asylum Policy Declaration
Against this backdrop, this week's declaration of measures designed to reduce the amount of refugees allowed into the United Kingdom, patterned after a notoriously mean Danish system, was received better with Labour MPs than predicted. There appeared glimmers of MP frustration yet no wildfire of opposition.
Tightening asylum rules is far from the party's natural territory, but the current system is clearly failing and the public is enraged. The majority of representatives grasp the reasoning that open-mindedness and community cohesion are simpler to foster when there is confidence that the country's boundaries are secure.
Growing Discontent
Reserved MP positions may also represent ominous. MPs have learned that each issue is discussable with a directionless leader of malleable conviction. Today's declarations might be reversed shortly. There is no need to advance hastily if successes can be achieved through persistence.
A frequent grievance concerns the Prime Minister is hardly managing the government whatsoever, after assigning strategic choices to his principal advisor. That isn't to say the leader lacks executive dynamism, he merely chooses to avoid arbitrating between ministry conflicts or engage in protracted arguments.
Management Method
The Prime Minister entered organized political activity at an advanced stage, originally joining the legislature when he was fifty-two. He lacks instinct for Labour lore – the canon of past debates, drives, personalities and traditional touchstones that bind a head to the wider movement and its perception of shared purpose.
His innermost beliefs remain unknown even to the cabinet. Per a high-ranking Labour figure puts it: “The Prime Minister is quite different in his role in giving the impression that his private opinions are not for public consumption.”
Electoral Repercussions
The persona marketed representing the leader in last year's election campaign has likewise failed to provide its promised advantages: managerial competence leading to societal regeneration. Assuming Britain possessed a dual-party structure, the remembrance of previous difficulties during Conservative rule may continue acceptance of the administration.
It indicates a devastating defeat among government contenders during local and regional polls in the coming spring. It shall represent a moment of extreme peril for the leader, provided he remains that long.
Future Considerations
Missing from these evaluations appears unity on the identity of a successor and their proposed policies may differ with existing administration plans. This defect within succession arrangements is cited by those backing the incumbent as one of many reasons to remain with the incumbent.
Although discontented representatives could hesitate regarding such cautions, they also hear within them the recognizable, empty ringing of limited aspiration which causes hopelessness at the status quo. It represents the noise of lack of success to characterize the leadership as merely a set of methods for maintaining position.
Concluding Thoughts
It is hard to inspire faithfulness for such an objective. And most Labour MPs have tried. They have adhered to established policies, supported it during canvassing, obeyed the whips, believed assurances that their worries were considered.
Regicide is fraught with risk, however, does it present greater hazards than pretending that the current ruler has answers about important matters which he doesn't identify? Edgar's law suggests prudence regarding the replacement of a sitting prime minister. The replacement may turn out poorer.
“The weight of this troubled period we must obey; Express genuine emotions, not what we ought to say.”
