This week has seen yet another demonstration of the dearth of accountability that this government has fostered. Alastair Darling, Ian Blair and now, to add to the horror, Steve McLaren have all failed to fall on their swords and take responsibility for the actions of their department. Ian Blair with the insulting epithet after the MPA failed to act that he was “an honourable man”. He has surely demonstrated he is anything but.
The Chancellor, or the Chief Constable, are not just officials, they are also figureheads. They are responsible not just for policies but also for systems and the ethos within the institutions that they head.
The Blair government gave the signal that the approach to a mistake, error or wrongdoing was to apologise. A quick burst of mea culpa was enough to salve the conscience and a person could stay in post. Brown has sent no signal that this is going to change.
Why? Why is that acceptable? The heads of these organisations and departments have to start taking responsibility. That is not simply a question of saying sorry and clinging on in your post. When your organisation’s systems have failed fundamentally in their duty, be it to protect personal data, or qualify for a major football tournament, it is time for resignations, not meaningless apologies.
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Well said