‘Silly season’ is supposedly upon us. Traditionally, the parliamentary
recess marked a brief lull in political news. Ministers retreated to
their constituencies, MPs disappeared on holiday and newspapers,
deprived of Westminster intrigue, filled their pages with escaped
llamas, giant marrows, seagulls stealing chips on Scarborough seafront
and other harmless absurdities. The absence of serious political news
was taken as evidence that, for a few weeks at least, the machinery of
government had slowed to a crawl. As a teenager, I remember wondering:
“If the news stops when Parliament stops, perhaps less government would
mean less news.”
Silly season no longer seems to arrive. Every
summer now brings another existential crisis demanding constant
commentary. Brexit negotiations gave way to Covid and lockdowns. Covid
gave way to Ukraine. Ukraine gave way to inflation, leadership contests,
small boats, riots and a seemingly endless succession of emergencies.
Westminster has become a theatre in permanent performance. There is no
interval, and the actors never leave the stage. There is only crisis....<<<
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