Righteous indignation is an appropriate response to bad government, except when it comes from the cabinet, in which case it is absurd. Suella Braverman is right that the failure of police to investigate thefts is “completely unacceptable” and the comment would have been a stinging rebuke to the relevant minister if it had come from someone other than the home secretary herself.
Denouncing policy failure from the pulpit of incumbency has become a speciality of the Tory right. Lee Anderson, deputy chair of the party, says immigration is “out of control”. A chorus of backbench MPs laments that high taxes are suffocating economic growth. The Conservative party is appalled by the state of a country it has been governing for the past 13 years. Who could be responsible?
