Minister’s resignation was a lesson in how to behave
AMINISTER in the House of Lords resigned because he was a bit late and I feel like I should have quit my job about a week after I started. It all developed so fast. The International Development minister, Lord Bates was a bit tardy (mere minutes apparently) – he was absent when he should’ve been in the chamber to answer a question from a Labour peer.
He got there, stood up, and in a fit of shame told his noble colleagues that he was going to resign because he was late, walked out (to cries of “No!”), sent a letter to his boss in China, quickly had his resignation refused by the Prime Minister in a rare moment of clarity and good judgement. appears he’s carrying on in the job.
This is what Lord Bates told peers: “With the leave of the House I wonder if you would permit me to offer my sincere apologies to Baroness Lister for my discourtesy for not being in my place to answer her question on a very important matter at the beginning of questions.
“During the five years of which it has been my privilege to answer questions from the despatch box on behalf of the Government I have always believed we should rise to the highest possible standards of courtesy and respect in responding on behalf of the Government to legitimate questions of the legislature. I am thoroughly It ashamed at not being in my place, I therefore shall be offering my resignation.”
It is making me seriously re-evaluate my actions for the next time I miss the Number 18 bus after running out of the house late because my wallet has mysteriously taken a walk around the house again.
Watch the video of Lord Bates’ quick speech. There is a striking sense of shock in the chamber.
Lords gawped in disbelief at the sudden decision.
It was the first time in years someone has done something as selfless and noble in politics.
And it was a lesson for the rest of us in how we should behave – with a bit more integrity, humility and honour in all that we do.
Baroness Lister, the Labour peer who was asking the original question, wrote a note to Lord Bates asking him to reconsider.
“Of all the ministers I’d want to cause to resign, he’d be the last,” she said.
And it was only because he’d mistimed his arrival.
I quickly Googled, “what you should do if you’re late for work”, because I’m still not sure resigning is the correct course of action.
An article on Business Insider had a few answers: call ahead, apologise, provide and explanation, be truthful.
After a sleepless night with an insomniac 18 month-old a few mornings ago, for the first time in my life I slept through my alarm and made it to work on time by the skin of my teeth – though I did text colleagues ahead to let them know.
This is advice I need. It’s advice, if we’re honest, we’ll all need in our lives at some point.
Another employment website warns, ominously: “Late for work? It could get you fired.”
Or you could get in first and hand in your notice. No all this is too much.
The common sense thing to do when you’re late for work?
Say sorry to your colleagues and make sure you do the first tea round of the day.