May’s Coalition Of Chaos

Europe this morning looks on in disbelief at the extraordinary spectacle of a complete political collapse of the government of the United Kingdom as its wounded leader, described as a dead woman walking by the former Tory Chancellor, struggles to glue a fix with the most reactionary political party in Europe, in order to cling to power with, if it agrees, a majority of two. The DUP may have a constituency for its outrageous platform in the peculiar sectarian environment of protestant Northern Ireland, but its recorded views on a range of social and human rights issues are repellent to millions upon millions of people in the United Kingdom. Significantly for those who value democracy over the political fix,  fewer than 300,000 votes gain the DUP ten Westminster MPs, whereas the Greens have only one MP with over 500,000 votes.

This is not strong and stable leadership to get the best for Britain. This is a betrayal of all that is best in Britain. It is power at any price, informed by delusional reasoning and paid for by moral bankruptcy. Already it is in disarray with statements from Downing Street being corrected in the night as to whether there is or is not a deal agreed. To lose an election is an accepted political outcome. And in the context of what she had before and what she asked voters to give her, May lost this one big time.

To form a minority government and move forward on a broadly acceptable programme, very different from her previous opaque aspirations but acceptable to parliament, would be worthy, if humiliating. But to be willing to engage in the political equivalent of supping with the devil, will inflict a mortal blow upon the credibility of the Tory party in the country and the authority of her government all across the world and, most particularly, in Europe.

May will indeed be a dead woman walking. But she will not walk far.