There is a misconception about U-turns, that they are inherently bad. This is patently not the case. If you are travelling in the wrong direction, it is perfectly sensible to change course. The same is true in politics.
David Cameron’s premiership, generally considered a successful political project (until, erm, it wasn’t) was famous for jettisoning key policies in the face of backbench opposition. From tax credits to Sunday trading, forced academisation to the sale of the forests, Cameron understood that strategic retreats were sometimes necessary to keep the show on the road.
