The Left dominates public appointments

Norman Lamont once accused the Major administration, from which he had resigned, of being in office but not in power. A party in government has the opportunity to shape society in its own political image. But this is not possible if key public posts are in the hands of those who do not share its views. In the eight years the Conservatives have been in government, either as a minority administration, the biggest partner in a coalition or (briefly) holding a majority, it is hard to recall anyone from the political Right landing a top public post.

The one exception, perhaps, was William Shawcross at the Charity Commission, succeeded recently by Lady Stowell, former Tory leader in the Lords. Even her appointment was opposed by the Commons culture committee, whose objections had to be overridden by ministers. But that was a rarity. The latest public appointment, that of Max Hill QC to be Director of Public Prosecutions from November, is not obviously political one way or the other; and nor should it be, since this is a strictly non-partisan function.

Yet no one arrives without ideological baggage, and Mr Hill, the Government’s counter-terrorism “watchdog”, has made pronouncements on the subject that suggest he takes a more liberal approach than most people. He is doubtless eminently qualified for the role; but so are many others. We wait to see how he handles what is a particularly hot potato.

Unlike Labour, the Tories have been poor at filling public posts, which is why it is easy to find figures in influential positions ready to trash any number of Conservative policies. Real power is in the hands of quangocrats who do not necessarily share the outlook of ministers or are positively hostile to it. A few years ago it was estimated that three quarters of politically active appointees were Labour supporters. The Conservative Party continues to punch below its weight, mainly because Tories do not apply in the same numbers for these roles.

The Conservatives since Thatcher have won the economic arguments, though even these are now being challenged by Jeremy Corbyn’s revivalist socialism. But the Left has been winning the cultural arguments because so many posts, whether in academia, the arts, the broadcast media, the civil service or elsewhere in public life, remain dominated by a progressive, liberal elite out of step with the majority in the country.