To think that Gillian Keegan has done one thing right at least?

[Starsinthenightskytonight]

Ok. Feel free to tell me you think I am being unreasonable if that’s what you think. The way the DfE and the government have handled this is very far from perfect BUT if there is one thing Gillian has done right then that is the fact that she has put herself out there (by speaking to the media/doing multiple/many interviews) and taken the heat herself/faced the music herself! Far too often the government and in particular ministers like to try and hide from the media and refuse to do interviews (like when they boycotted Good Morning Britain at one point)! Her department (DfE) could have hid behind a pre prepared statement from a “spokesperson” but instead of doing that Gillian has put herself out there to speak to the media herself and to face the criticism herself and has took the lead on ensuring that the DfE now (finally!) deals with this. That being said, the DfE do still need to ensure that they now deal with this properly because it does need dealing with! I know this post won’t be popular (as no one will agree with the opinion that I have shared in this post) but honestly I do think she has done some things right here at times/tried to do her best at times! To be clear, I do agree that the DfE should have dealt with this sooner and I do also agree that they do need to deal with it properly now! I just feel it’s important to point out that she hasn’t hidden from the media like most government ministers have in situations like this, she’s put herself out there and spoken to the media and taken the criticism herself instead of hiding behind a pre prepared “statement” which she could have easily done but instead she chose to speak to the media herself and face the criticism herself instead of hiding from it. To be absolutely clear, I am not a conservative! I just feel she’s been more transparent (speaking to media herself and facing the criticism/music herself) than other ministers sometimes are in similar situations as often in difficult situations they hide behind pre prepared statements and don’t speak to the media/public themselves.

Aibu for having this viewpoint/opinion though?

There used to be a political doctrine called Individual Ministerial Responsibility, whereby ministers would resign if any aspect of their department/brief had come up short. Estelle Morris resigned as Education Secretary when KS2 targets weren’t reached (on her watch).

I can’t think of one Tory minister who understands this, and who has resigned as a result of ‘the buck stops here’.

Gillian Keegan isn’t fit for purpose.

YABU! GK is overpromoted and should resign! She doesn’t deserve any credit whatsoever!

like I said in my post I agree that all this should have been handled much much better but I just feel she has tried to be transparent in the media whereas other ministers may have just hidden behind pre prepared statements but she hasn’t

Facing the criticism? She deflected it to headteachers not replying quick enough to the DfE RAAC questionnaire. They’ll be no additional funding to sort it out so passing buck for existing school budgets to manage.

And her attempts at transparency and ‘goodness it’s not my fault, I’m just picking it up now guv’ seem to me to be more about positioning herself as human and making herself more visible ahead of leadership/reshuffles. She’s still sticking to lines and not taking ultimate responsibility.

Self serving politician through and through.

It is a very low bar to reach.

Ministers should always be responsible and visible.

She has come out in the press and blamed head teachers!

No, I don’t think that was the right thing to do.

Heh. Are you Gillian, @Starsinthenightskytonight ?

If you lie with dogs you get fleas. Keegan might be the loveliest, most effective politician who ever lived, but she’s been part of the worst Tory government in modern history, and nodded through every one of their contemptible policies.

Nope sorry. She doesn't get credit for doing the most bare minimum aspect of her job. She couldn't have "hidden away" behind statements on something this big and from what I've seen she's woefully unqualified and lacks any gravitas or heft. I don't want a slightly harassed, school gate mum "one of us" heading up the DofE, I want a professional, well informed, cool headed, knowledgeable and effective political operative who know how to use influence to get things done quickly and hold the relevant people to account.

No. She should resign and give someone who gives a damn to take over.

You're entitled to your opinion OP, so not unreasonable, but I don't agree. GK got angry the media had the audacity to scrutinise a secretary of state over a major cock-up.

Personally, I think you're confusing her complete lack of self awareness with braving it out.

I rather like her and have a bit of sympathy with the fact that she is getting flak for doing something after 30 or so years of others ignoring it. I think she may be one of the best of the current bad bunch of politicians

She's out there blaming everybody else but herself.

I'd think that her being on TV is more because a) she's desperately trying to deflect away from any responsibility and b) because everybody else has said 'nope, on holiday, not available, it's your department, have fun'.

From John Crace's excellent column today ...

"You might have thought that after her adventures the previous day, Gillian Keegan would have wanted to go to ground. But the education secretary has the overwhelming self-confidence that you find only in stupid people who don’t know how stupid they are. So she decided to give a lunchtime interview to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2. Another train wreck. It’s almost as if she is desperate to get sacked.

Keegan was completely unrepentant. She didn’t regret anything. No one could possibly have predicted that out-of-date concrete might be out of date. Any responsible politician would have done nothing and hoped for the best. She was the fucking best. And she had never meant to imply that RishGPT had sat on his arse. Which he had. The people she really wanted to have a go at were the schools."

It's one thing to come out and face the public. It is something quite different to attempt to brazen it out with a combination of bullshit and gaslighting. Keegan is person who, like other politicians before her, demands to know who is responsible and is then astonished to learn that it is actually her. Cue desperate attempts to deny, distract and deflect.

No, she can swivel.

You keep repeating the same phrases, are you drunk?

Still Tory scum.

Hello Gillian OP,

I'm sorry but you are being very unreasonable. That nonsense she spoke when explaining why she was so angry for a start! So 5% of school providers are yet to return her survey as if this is the cause of this major disaster!! Deflecting as usual away from her deoarment's incompetence.

ToryBot HQ: "Right, we need you all out on the social media platforms today to try and drum up some support for Gillian. She's desperate for a pat on the back and someone to tell her she's doing a good job".

But - others did not ignore the situation.

The last Labour government had a school rebuilding plan in place and in operation to address the issue of school buildings reaching the end of their useful and safe lifespans.

It was one of the first programmes cancelled by Gove after the Conservatives came to power - what is being witnessed now is a direct consequence of the cancellation of this programme, which the Conservatives replaced with ... nothing.

Keegan is an overpromoted airhead with an puffed up view of her "abilities"

It’s truly disgusting how the Tories are trying to leave all these problems for Labour to have to deal with, so that the handful of Tory MPs left after the next election can bitch and gripe from the back of the chamber. They have improved NOTHING over the last 13 years, and EVERYTHING is so much worse.

It’s a fucking scandal.

surely any minister including GK should understand she is just a figure head for the dept.

anyone with half a brain knows GK alone is not personally responsible for this mess but as the figure head in post now she is representing the dept and government in sorting out this shit show

whingeing in her interview about not getting enough pats on the back for doing abit of work now and taking some flak as the minister in situ is not a good look at all

shown herself up as an arrogant entitled fool - just like most politicians

the clip makes me crossed every time i hear it - the sarcastic comment after the swearing being worse...no sign of that? no?

no there's no party and bloody cake for u cos you've had a hard few days ffs