For more than 12 years, Labour has abused the patronage system. Ah, they all do, you will say, and you would almost be right. Like many features of our lives, this has become worse in our lifetime. We seem determined to go back to the 18th century, despite our supposedly being in a "progressive" age. People get jobs because they are mates and cronies or even close relations of mates and cronies. Ability does not necessarily enter into it, other than the ability to oil and to grease, or to be reliable in the eyes of a patron. When ability and merit should be the only considerations – which we thought had been proved was the case – we now revert to jobbery. It is as shocking as if bear-baiting had been reintroduced, or we had started cropping the ears and slitting the noses of those who attempt freedom of speech.
I am sure that Maggie Atkinson, a trusty of Ed Balls, the Schools Minister, is immensely able, and had certain qualities to commend her for the post of Children's Commissioner. However, the view of the select committee that vetted her appointment was, unanimously, that whatever those qualities were, they were insufficient. The committee said she lacked "independence of mind". Of course she did: for otherwise she would not be considered reliable by the "bullying" Mr Balls. I have often had cause to write in these pages of the epic unloveliness of Mr Balls, who matches doctrinaire ignorance with a malevolent thuggery not normally to be expected of a privileged ex-public schoolboy.
I have always supposed he does this in order to obtain street credibility with his proletarian comrades, while working for the political equivalent of an Asbo. So it is heartening to see that a select committee that does not merely include several of his colleagues from the working-class movement, but is even chaired by one of them (the redoubtable and splendid Barry Sheerman), has also identified the problem with this lout. They have protested very publicly at his decision to override their view of Miss Atkinson, with Mr Sheerman likening Mr Balls to one of those pathetic bullies who must always have his own way, and who will use the force of his position rather than of his intellect to get it. With Labour now in the terminal ward and with the machine about to be turned off, it is a bit late in the day for a crisis of conscience on the abuse of patronage: but better late than never.
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