This joke was originally told by Jeremy Thorpe, the Liberal leader about “the night of the long knives” when Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan sacked a number of ministers to save his own position. It’s entered the political lexicon as a go to response to leaders seeking to protect themselves by dismissing loyal allies.
On a side note, political humour is a good and healthy thing. There are boundaries, it can but shouldn’t turn into personal abuse, the kind of so called humour that relies on mocking a person’s facial features or voice or relies on racial stereotypes. That’s not good in any situation. However, politicians are not beyond challenge through humour and satire. We are told to submit to authorities but that doesn’t put them beyond critique.
Anyway, I was thinking of the quote this weekend following Morgan McSweeny’s resignation as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. The press have described this as the Prime Minister ‘s last throw of the dice to keep his own job
McSweeny resigned because he took responsibility for advising the PM to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the USA. However, the adage goes that advisors advise, ministers decide. Starmer already knew enough to make a decision about Mandelson based on his prior track record. This past week, he has hidden behind blaming security services, his advisor and apparently Mandelson’s amazing ability to deceive. At some point, he needs to recognise that the buck stops with him. He is responsible.
Yet, whilst we joke about politicians, the joke often is on behaviour that isn’t unique to them but rather reflects human nature. We all have an in built bias right self preservation, even at the risk of those we love. That’s why self sacrifice is praised as heroic
And that’s why the joke relies on a Scripture quote. It reminds us that Jesus is different because he laid down his life for his friends.
Faithroots 