Tuesday, May 18, 2010

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I recently saw for the first time a photograph of Norman Lamont announcing late at night that the UK had fallen out of the ERM, at the end of a day when interest rates had been raised from 10% to 12%, then to 15%, to no avail. Only history will tell whether this was truly a lucky break, in the longer term; for now it certainly seems that way, given all the problems with the euro.

The photo was of interest because it shows a young David Cameron off to one side, looking almost unperturbed by this devastating turn of events as his master made what must have been a shatteringly demoralising appearance before the tv cameras. I remember Peter Jay on Newsnight asserting that the Permanent Secretary under whom he had served as a young Treasury official would never have allowed things to happen in such a humiliatingly disorganised way.

Political opponents have often tried to capitalise on Cameron’s association with this debacle, but in other walks of life the ability to get right up, dust yourself down & start all over again is regarded as a strong plus point.

The Conservatives are making a determined effort to present a more flattering picture of this new government – taking a leaf out of Obama’s book they have an official Conservative party photographer, Andrew Parsons.

Coincidentally, A History of the World in 100 Objects is back on Radio 4 this week, looking at how charismatic leaders in the ancient world knew as much about public relations as any modern politician.






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