A German word for Rishi Sunak’s government: Verschlimmbesserung

Rishi Sunak, then chancellor, promotes his ‘eat out to help out’ scheme, which was accused of increasing Covid infections in 2020 while doing little to help the economy – an example of Verschlimmbesserung? Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/PA

In his politics sketch (Rishi Sunak excels in his summer job of making Tories look unelectable, 31 August), John Crace gives us several examples of the wonderful, untranslatable German word Verschlimmbesserung: keeping Nadine Dorries out of the House of Lords, letting Suella Braverman do radio and TV interviews on the “totally pointless” crime-themed week, sending James Cleverly to China and, best of all, appointing Grant Shapps as defence secretary. The definition of Verschlimmbesserung is an attempted improvement that only makes things worse, or to cock it up while trying to make it better. Why do I enjoy a certain schadenfreude when this happens? Thank you, John.
Jennifer Basannavar
Twickenham, London

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