Order in court! Here comes the judge!

Theresa May’s decision to sack Gavin Williamson is, in her terms, the end of the matter. He says he has been unfairly treated. Regardless of whether you think the guy is an arsehole, there does seem to me to be an important issue at stake. If he did do what May thinks he did, then he should be charged with a criminal offence and put on trial. By all accounts he has suggested this remedy himself. So why would May want to very publicly crucify him but then resile from engaging in the norms of our justice system? Innocent until proven guilty? But she wouldn’t want a criminal trial, would she, where in all probability she would embarrassingly be called as a witness. Far better in the current context (not least with elections taking place) to appear decisive and tough, and to deliver a verdict which smacks more of politics than it does of open justice. You’ve got to hand it to her, she can be ruthless when it comes to self-preservation. Unsurprisingly, I think Williamson is an arsehole, but nevertheless he should be due his day in court. Right now I suspect various grey suited people will be telling him to keep a low profile and take his punishment like a man. And that is very likely to be the end of the matter.