Is the cry for civility in politics an attempt to soothe a polarised nation or to shield the powerful from scrutiny? We still do not know who threw orange confetti at George Osborne and his wife, Thea Rogers, on their wedding day. While former home secretary Priti Patel was among those quick to denounce Just Stop Oil – as “shameful, attention seeking, disrespectful low life” – the climate activists clarified that they weren’t responsible, despite applauding the apparent stunt.
When I was asked about this incident on television by wedding guest Ed Balls - Labour’s former shadow chancellor, who is to co-host a podcast with Osborne – reprimanded me for failing to appreciate that “it’s possible, Owen, to be civil to people and disagree with them”. Elsewhere, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher decried “the hate-filled left”, while Labour’s Rachel Reeves denounced the stunt as “counterproductive and rude”.
