Rank stupidity

Published on 20/07/2012 00:00

Isn’t it time to put the myth of the primacy of the private business sector to bed for good? Shamefully, now we have tired squaddies, newly returned from war, ordered to cancel their leave to defend the London 
Olympics, filling gaps left by the failure of yet another private company to deliver on a government contract.

What makes this situation even more crazy is that the army (and police forces all over the country) knew that this would happen, and put in place contingency plans months ago, enabling them to deploy resources to London at the last minute.

If the leaders of the public services now stepping up to the plate could see this coming, why couldn’t the government? Will Theresa May and Jeremy “Nine Lives” Hunt fall on their swords after this latest humiliating failure of their departments?

Of course not. David Cameron will defend his beleaguered ministers till the last ministerial adviser has gone for the chop. The country does not deserve another two years of this, it needs a new government: one without obligations to private-sector paymasters, monopolistic unions or felonious bankers.

The stables need cleaning, and a general election before the end of the year – which could also cast the independence vote in a new light – is the way to do it.

David Fiddimore

Calton Road

Edinburgh