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.
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.
Types of Political Apologies
The podcast explores four types of political apologies: the line in the sand apology, the no choice apology, the genuine apology, and the non-apology. Examples of each type are provided, including Nick Clegg's apology over tuition fees, Bill Clinton's apology after the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and Matt Hancock's apology for breaking lockdown rules. It is noted that political apologies can be challenging to get right, and the consequences and reception can vary.
Paths to Redemption
The podcast delves into the different paths politicians take to redeem themselves after a scandal and apology. Neil Parrish discovers a new purpose through volunteer work and later gets involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Brooks Newmark finds solace and purpose through academic pursuits and aiding the evacuation efforts in a war zone. It is emphasized that redemption and rebuilding reputations can be a personal journey, and success is not always guaranteed.
The Art of the Political Apology
The podcast concludes by discussing the art of the political apology and its effectiveness. It suggests that timing and context are crucial, and that there is a delicate balance between taking responsibility and defending oneself. It highlights the different expectations and pressures faced by politicians, and the difficulty in achieving a perfect apology. Ultimately, the podcast emphasizes that the effectiveness of an apology is influenced by various factors, such as public opinion and the individual's sincerity and actions following the apology.
In the week Boris Johnson finally said sorry for the mistakes made by his government during the COVID-19 pandemic, host Aggie Chambre explores the art of the political apology — and asks how politicians can redeem themselves after completely screwing up.
Johnson's former Downing Street aide Cleo Watson analyses her former boss's apology, and why he chose to deploy it this week.
Neil Parish, the former Tory MP who apologized — and quit — after getting caught pornography in the House of Commons chamber, discusses his slow path toward redemption. And former minister Brooks Newmark recalls his bleakest moments after he was embroiled in an infamous sexting scandal in 2014, and why he felt he had no choice but to apologize and resign.
Veteran journalist Steve Richards recalls some of the most famous political apologies of our age. And former Lib Dem aide Sean Kemp explains how Westminster's most famous apology of recent times — his old boss Nick Clegg's "sorry" over tuition fees — actually came about.