British government explained Note 94: The Doctrine of "Cabinet Irresponsibility" One of the central rules of our system of Cabinet government is that once the Cabinet has discussed and agreed on a policy, all the members who feel that their own views had not won the argument should immediately rush out to brief members of the media. They may suggest that the Cabinet colleagues with whom they have just disagreed are "fools", self-serving idiots" and irresponsible morons". Those they are describing in these terms should then brief the same journalists by anonymously describing their detractors as "irresponsible morons", "self-serving idiots" and "Boris Johnson" (surely only destabilizing the prime minister in the hope of succeeding her"?) Under this key principle of modern Cabinet practice, no minister is expected to take responsibility for anything, above all for trying sensibly to run the country. —Private Eye |