Westminster Insider
The art of the political apology
Dec 8, 2023
Former Downing Street aide Cleo Watson and former Tory MP Neil Parish discuss the art of political apologies, analyzing Boris Johnson's recent apology for COVID-19 mistakes. They explore the complexity and consequences of political apologies, reflecting on scandals involving pornography, sexting, and more. The podcast delves into the aftermath of apologies and politicians' paths to redemption, highlighting the challenges they face. It also discusses successful political apologies, including those by Neil Parish, Brooks Newmark, Nick Clegg, and Boris Johnson, questioning the potential success of Johnson's COVID apology.
47:35
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Quick takeaways
- Boris Johnson's apology for the government's handling of the pandemic aimed to limit reputation damage, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.
- The podcast explores different types of political apologies and their consequences, emphasizing the challenges in getting an apology right.
Deep dives
Apology in the Covid Inquiry
Boris Johnson apologizes at the Covid inquiry for the government's handling of the pandemic. He acknowledges the pain and suffering of the victims and their families and expresses gratitude towards healthcare workers and public servants. Johnson defends his decision-making and mentions the changing advice he received during the early days of the pandemic. The apology is seen as an attempt to limit damage to his reputation, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.
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