A Conservative Government is an organized hypocrisy.

Disraeli once said, "A Conservative Government is an organized hypocrisy." The Trial of Christine Keeler on BBC1 would seem to bear out that analysis.

I will avoid spoilers but all the main events are in the public domain already. The politicians, press and police all come out of this disgracefully tarnished.

On the one hand, Profumo (played by Ben Miles) lost his job in the government. On the other of course, he remained a millionaire who did a bit of charity work on the side to salve his conscience. He received a CBE in 1975. You will be astonished to learn that Christine Keeler did not receive any such honour.

Christine Keeler (played by Sophie Cookson) and Mandy Rice-Davies (played by Ellie Bamber) both got jail time. Christine Keeler was accused of perjury. Yet the series suggests that the police pressurised both of them to give fake evidence against Stephen Ward. If that isn't perjury what is?
The casual racism of the Met Police is a feature of the series. If only things had changed!


The press routinely referred to them (without evidence) as "prostitutes". Prostitution was not a criminal offence. They were vilified in the media and the Conservative Party have never forgiven them. The scandal contributed to the loss of the 1964 election by the Tories.

Stephen Ward (played by James Norton) found the ruling class closing ranks against him. The extraordinary waste of police manpower in "gathering evidence" against him caused his patients to seek help elsewhere. He was driven to suicide and for many people, his blood is on Conservative Party hands.

All of the performances are superb and bring this bit of history to life. But is it history or is the Conservative Government an organised hypocrisy to this day?

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Not so clever

James Cleverly, Conservative Chairman, had a tough time on the Today Programme on Radio Four.

First, he had to defend Jacob Rees-Mogg for his casual insult to the victims of Grenfell Tower. Cleverly said it was OK because Rees-Mogg had apologised.

Next, he had to defend Francesca O’Brien, Tory candidate for Gower, who said that people on the reality TV show Benefits Street needed to be "put down". He brought out the somewhat tired Rees-Mogg defence that she had apologised.

Finally, he had to defend a fake video which the Tories used to attack Labour. On that there was no apology and he finally managed to get in his key phrase "Get Brexit Done". He said that the real video was also available as well as the fake one.

Not a good day for him. It was a good day for Boris Johnson who managed to get his ludicrous comparison of Jeremy Corbyn with Stalin published in a nice impartial article in the Daily Telegraph written by one Boris Johnson.

Corbyn can win with socialist policies!

 

 

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