Photo: Flickr
Former Tory MP and Cabinet Minister Rory Stewart pulled no punches in his assessment of the current government on Sunday morning, after he branded the current state of Westminster’s elite as ‘completely mad’.
Stewart used several choice words during his interview on Sky News. The politician, who famously fell out of favour with the Tories after he turned his back on Boris Johnson, has admitted to feeling ‘a deep shame’ over his time serving in government.
The former Tory leadership candidate believes that the political system is now fundamentally broken, referencing the job-hopping undertaken by Grant Shapps and many other ministers, who have jumped in and out of portfolios over the past few years.
There was also some self-reflection from Rory Stewart, who has admitted in his new book that he had little-to-no experience when he took the role as Prisons and Probation Minister in January 2018 – something that now appears to be a common theme in Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet.
Speaking earlier on Sunday, Stewart jibed that you ‘could not run a fish and chip shop’ how the government is currently operating. He described the situation as ‘insane’, and believes that once appointed, ministers must stay in their roles for a minimum of two years:
“It’s completely mad. As a minister, you put a brave face on things, but the truth is, you couldn’t run a fish and chip shop the way the British Government. It’s insane. I tried to do a good job during my time, but the way these jobs are handed out is mad.”
“Look at how many defence secretaries we’ve had. Grant Shapps has had five Cabinet jobs in the past year or so. We need governments that keep ministers in a position for two years, barring a massive scandal. I’m also attacking myself here, I was also ignorant.” | Rory Stewart
