It is easy to find fault with any government, the challenge of running a nation, even a small one like ours depends on decisions or statements made on a scale that can inevitably lead to failure in the margins. However any public failures in key policy areas should be followed by some form of adjustment or acknowledgement at a senior level if the government concerned wants to maintain their political integrity and link with wider humanity. Inevitably the decisions taken by all Governments partly reflect the personal attitudes of those who set the policies and so awareness of ones own strengths and weaknesses should heighten the speed and direction of any such corrections.

This week after some 30 years a senior elder statement of this current government has apologised for mistakes made in the 1980’s. Michael Heseltine has finally apologised for failing to work with communities in the East End of London when homes were demolished during the development of Canary Wharf. Many visitors to the area are impressed by the modern architecture, and have no idea that the land was previously the home of people who have since been rehoused, often against their will. I suspect that some of those moved have benefited in the long run, it is hard to imagine that any who have nursed resentful feelings will have found this apology hidden away in a speech to professional developers very reassuring, coming so long after the event and with so little fanfare. However, the apology by Lord Hesletine should act as a catalyst for his contemporary colleagues to consider their own actions and if they could do something somewhat sooner than 3 decades after the mistakes that they have made. The failure to consult and engage with residents was evident to many people at the time, just as there are many who can see the failures of policy of today. Perhaps with the wisdom of age, the most effective thing for Lord Heseltine to do, might be to challenge todays Cabinet to spot their failings now, rather than wait till 2045 to take responsibility for what they have done. In case he wants some pointers here are two examples from this week.

The news that fit for purpose, modern social housing in Liverpool is to be demolished by a housing association called Magenta Living because of the single room subsidy policy is surely something that should act as a wake-up call for Iain Duncan Smith. Even if he is impervious to the families that are facing social disadvantage by moving from their homes, and leading to social cohesion. The policy is claimed to be one that will ensure that people can find housing that is suitable for their needs. In the overheated South East, people in social housing are struggling to find smaller properties to move into, in order we are told to free up larger properties for larger families. However in the North West it appears that tenants of social landlords have found properties that they can move into. The end result appears to be that larger units are scheduled for demolition where there are no residents requiring them. There needs to be some form of urgent review of this policy as this cannot be the outcome that the DWP had in mind? This social housing was built using public money!

Fridays speech by John Major correctly identifies failure by our society for its willingness to allow a relentless bias towards the middle class and privately educated in selecting the leaders of all sectors of our modern society. I wrote about the speech here. The speech was intended to be an attack on the previous Labour administration, however it clearly reflects badly on the make-up of the current cabinet and it calls for a response from this Government to suggest how it will deal with this terrible social imbalance. Nearly a week after the speech, this morning a response has come from David Cameron. His comments  would be humorous if it was part of a satirical TV programme such as Spitting Image. In that setting one imagines that the aides to Number 10 would be on the phone to the producer concerned, complaining about bias and mis use of public money. Instead David Cameron has proved that reality can be more obscene than satire. He accepts that the lack of people from poorer backgrounds in senior roles within business, the arts, parts of the church and Government is wrong. His response however is to blame those who have been excluded, and suggests that what is needed is higher levels of aspiration amongst those who do not have a wealthy background and have been deprived a private education. The solution Mr Cameron is to make changes in the Cabinet and the Civil Service now, and call on others to do the same. That will raise the aspirations of many people a great deal better than the most eloquent of political speeches.