Frank Field has already floated the idea of politicians forming a national government to lead Britain out of the economic crisis. But now, on his blog, he has started to write about what he would like it to look like.
Mega-crises sort the men out from the political boys. Michael Oakeshott in his famous lecture on political education drew distinction between practical and technical knowledge. He talks of how 'the boys might acquire the technical knowledge, but only the men would combine this with practical knowledge of affairs'. Over the past week I couldn't but recall Oakeshott's famous words. The economic crisis is just beginning. Maybe a few more people now are accepting, as I did at the beginning, that it would be surprising if the recession/slump becomes as severe as I fear that our political institutions will remain intact. I suggested there might have to be a national government. Three members of that national government are beginning to identify themselves. Vince Cable, obviously. Peter Mandelson, who is thriving in current circumstances and must be kicking himself at not having a seat in the Commons. And the return of Kenneth Clarke, who has been through this twice before will quickly emerge in the views of politicians (he's already there with voters) as one of those who might form this new government.
Cable, Mandelson and Clarke. It sounds more like a board meeting of Britain in Europe to me. Other people like fantasy football. Field, I think, is playing fantasy politics. But we live in strange times and unprecedented things are happening, so I suppose you never know ...
