Government by cabal

Whatever happened to cabinet government in this country of mine? Where all cabinet ministers are consulted, talked to, sought advice from, kept in the loop, regarded as trusted partners for the good of the country? It's all done by cabal these days, tiny groups of co-conspirators who plot and plan the way forward - or backward - and come up with things like manifestos without cross-government debate. Tony Blair had his relaxed "sofa cabinet", his main buddies around him, Gordon Brown, well he had his demons to keep him company, David Cameron was all cosy cosy, cosy with his inner circle and then along comes Theresa May who seemed to be more likely to embrace her cabinet and bring a greater sense of democracy to her style of government. But, no. She soon had her praetorian guard around her, keeping everyone else at bay. The bad-mouthing, rude Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, the Norwegian-hill-walker-lookalike with his long beard, acting as her joint chiefs of staff. Instead of masterminding administration at Number 10, they took on the role of governing and moving Theresa May around like a chess piece and making decisions that turned out to be disastrous and writing unbelievably curt emails to any minister who wanted to play a role in decision-making. So, Fiona H and Nick T and Theresa's husband Philip who actually looks a decent bloke, made up the prime minister's chief advisers. She'd fallen out with Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, was so wary of Boris Johnson she must have prayed each morning for deliverance, regarded Amber Rudd at the Home Office as her main female rival, probably vaguely regarded Michael Fallon at Defence as a supporter but had a nasty feeling he might have ambitions, knew she could trust Damian Green at Work and Pensions (now promoted to First Secretary of State) and all the rest were a waste of space. So government by cabal. Of course, now that the election result has made her position about as comfortable as a ride in a bumper car, and she has got rid of Fiona H and the Norwegian look-alike, she will start consulting everyone before getting up in the morning. Or at least, she better, but I bet it won't be long before she has a new cabal around her because that's the only way the modern UK prime minister feels safe. It's the same with Trump. He has this vast array of advisers and cabinet members, this mighty inter-agency machine. But actually he puts his trust more in his daughter and son-in-law for advice. This is great democracy. In my humble view, Theresa May, facing the start of the Brexit talks in a matter of days, should put the country first and create a national Brexit committee which should include serious people from the main opposition parties to thrash out what is best for the nation. This is our future, and the future of our children, we can't have a Brexit deal negotiated by Theresa May's cabal, whoever is in it.