, Columnist
The UK Cannot Afford to Look This Ridiculous
The Bank of England may have saved gilts, but scorn and political danger for Truss and Kwarteng still have a long way to run — and could cut their careers short.
Ridicule is something politicians need to be very, very scared of.
Photographer: Dylan Martinez/WPA Pool/Getty
This article is for subscribers only.
To get John Authers’ newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, sign up here.
Adam Ant once sang that “ridicule is nothing to be scared of.” He was wrong. For a politician, all kinds of crises can be survived. Ridicule cannot. Once you’ve looked truly ridiculous on the public stage, you’re done for.