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| Alex Stevenson writes: It's been a tough few days for the prime minister - and one in which he's deployed his best skill as a politician. This week, David Cameron exercised the trait which might just keep him in power after 2015. There is something fitting about Cameron being the leader of a country whose sporting teams are struggling a little at present. The prime minister is becoming the man who can take positives from humiliating defeats. In both the two big stories of the week - the Andy Coulson guilty verdict and today's vote over Jean-Claude Juncker - Cameron has found himself on the losing side. But, somehow, he is managing to not just get away with it but even to take positives from what should be unmitigated calamities. It's quite a skill to have up your sleeve. What makes it all the more impressive is that the prime minister's judgement has been under scrutiny this week. That is obviously the case with regard to his decision to hire Coulson, who - as Ed Miliband repeatedly pointed out - turns out to have been a criminal. It's also the case in Brussels too. The decision to take on the rest of Europe over Juncker is ultimately the PM's responsibility. He didn't have to take on this particular struggle. Now he is, and is losing it comprehensively. Is he picking the wrong fights? It was always going to be tough for the prime minister to get his way in Europe. From the moment No 10 declared war on Juncker, everything seemed to go wrong. Angela Merkel's sudden about-turn was decisive, of course. After that the British establishment seems to have belittled itself by coming up with more and more desperate ideas to try and block Juncker's appointment. The Luxembourg Compromise, a far-fetched resort to the rulebook, proved a non-starter. Today's Telegraph headline about Juncker's drinking just seemed petty. So it was that by the time of the summit even Cameron was forced to admit the odds were against him. His hope was that he could turn defeat into victory. But a 'veto moment' only really works when you actually, you know, veto something. Pushing a one-sided issue to a vote is just grandstanding, and everyone knows it. Still, at least it gives the PM something to take away from it. And this is what makes the PM the man who is good at losing gracefully. He is very good at taking positives from setbacks. So it was with Coulson; the defence he offered in the face of Ed Miliband's attacks in prime minister's questions left the press scorning the leader of the opposition as much as his rival. Rebekah Brooks' acquittal meant the extent of Cameron's relationship with her became irrelevant. The apology was nearly unprecedented, but this could have been a lot worse for Cameron. What the Coulson case revealed is confirmation of one of the PM's most interesting traits: his loyalty to his inferiors. As we saw with the furore over ex-culture secretary Maria Miller's expenses, the Cameron proved reluctant to take the decisive step even though it meant taking personal political flak. So it was with Coulson. He is, it seems, a naturally trusting sort of man. He wanted to give Coulson a "second chance". Perhaps his coming reshuffle will see other dear departed ex-ministers from the coalition given another opportunity to return to power. Making the best of difficult situations is a useful trick. Cameron has deployed it this week after the Coulson verdict with aplomb. And now he is shoring up his support among eurosceptic backbenchers by kicking up a stink in Brussels. It's a skill that Cameron's used before. After five years of hard work in opposition, when his big moment came he failed to win an overall majority. His response? That "open offer" to the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition. Where Labour dithered and appeared frosty, Cameron welcomed Nick Clegg with open arms. He was making the best of a bad situation - and it's kept him in power ever since. It was tough for the Tories in 2010 and it will be no different next year. So here's a thought to cheer up any disconsolate staff in Downing Street: maybe by practising his most useful political skill this week, he'll find himself ready to use it again in hung parliament talks next year. MondayCoalition faces 'biggest ever' strike as demoralised local government workers revolt Members of the Unison trade union have backed a one-day walkout set to be even bigger than the 1926 General Strike. Directly elected mayors: A rare case of justified hypocrisy? The public rejected directly elected mayors - so is George Osborne wrong to propose forcing them on voters? Why doctors should stop hating politicians MPs will never stop playing politics with the NHS - however much doctors want them to. TuesdayCoulson guilty: Cameron apologises but Miliband declares government 'tainted' David Cameron's former spin doctor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of phone-hacking - but Rebekah Brooks has been cleared. Between the lines: Cameron's counterproductive EU strategy It's David Cameron's boldest diplomatic move yet - and possibly his stupidest. So why is the PM making an ill-fated bid to sabotage Jean-Claude Juncker's appointment as president of the European Commission? The first step in the criminalisation of cigarettes Finally, the anti-smoking lobby dares to reveal its final objective: a ban on adults buying cigarettes WednesdayPMQs verdict: Cameron uses the law as a shield, but forgets to cover his legs Cameron uses the law as a shield to avoid scrutiny, but he does so with little grace Right-to-die campaigners are wasting their time Parliament is deeply sceptical about changing the law - and might even legislate against euthanasia it if it had to. Coulson case collapses as judge attacks Cameron Remaining case against Andy Coulson ends after jury fails to return a verdict - but not before judge issues a stinging rebuke to the prime minister for nearly causing it to collapse ThursdayIDS loses legal appeal to keep universal credit problems secret Yet more taxpayer money wasted trying to prevent publication of the universal credit risk register Ghosts of WW1 haunt the Lords Amid one of the most moving debates in the Lords, a Labour peer stands up and invites Michael Gove to a fight Grayling's tough justice is as expensive as it is useless We know Chris Grayling's tabloid-friendly 'hang-em-and-flog-em' approach to crime doesn't work. Now we're starting to see how much it costs FridayDismay as Britain accepts just 50 Syrian refugees Just 50 Syrians have been let into Britain since the government abandoned its policy of refusing to accept refugees, it has emerged. Have the SNP tamed their cybernats? The online tone of the referendum debate is vicious and vindictive. But the cybernats may be starting to learn that less is more Prisoner book ban: Are the Lib Dems starting to turn against Grayling? After months of campaigning, the prisoner book ban may finally have irritated the Lib Dems | Birmingham taxpayers’ money used by Council to urge systematic discrimination against non-religious in REThe British Humanist Association (BHA) has uncovered a pattern of systematic discrimination against the non-religious by members of Birmingham’s Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE). Assault on teachers' pay continuesThe 1% pay award continues four years of deep cuts to teachers’ pay. Lenders have met the 2020 interest-only mortgage commitment, says CMLThe Council of Mortgage Lenders is pleased to report that mortgage lenders have successfully met a commitment they gave a year ago to contact their borrowers with interest-only mortgages. Employers urged to build bridges with business schoolsNew report calls for every business graduate to undertake vital work experience as a core element of their course. NASUWT comments on Ofsted reports on Birmingham SchoolsThe NASUWT will be studying the Ofsted reports in detail. Our priority is to support our members who are under great pressure and stress. Bakers Union Leader urges Ed Miliband to end “light-touch austerity” and produce polices that appeal to core votersMr Draper said he had a message for Mr Miliband who has a “hell of a job” to win the general election next year. Bakers Union president calls for a general strike against austerity and a living wage of £10 an hourBakers’ union president Ian Hodson calls for a general strike against UK government austerity, at the opening of the BFAWU annual conference at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. |
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