Reputations have again been in the firing line this week. Whilst the FIFA scandal shows no sign of letting up, the Chief Executive of Merlin Entertainments, Nick Varney, has been leading from the front as Alton Towers deals with the devastating Smiler rollercoaster crash. FIFA continues to appear self-serving, whilst Merlin have put the crash victims and their families first.
So what can we learn from the political news this week?
- The cuts are coming. George Osborne has started to say where the axe will fall but more detail will come in the Budget but there is no real escape even for the protected departments.
- There is no substitute for an eyewitness. Following the crash at Alton Towers the media was filled with reports from eye witnesses talking about what happened. The media seemed keen to place fault in how the aftermath had been handled but clear communications direct from the top meant there was no vacuum to fill.
- Politicians claim credit. Despite the howls from politicians across the world, they had little influence on Sepp Blatter’s decision to step down from FIFA. The apparent interest in him by the FBI seems a more likely explanation.
- Charles Kennedy was widely respected. His untimely death showed that there are some politicians who the public, and other politicians, really respect and genuinely like.
- Europe will dominate the political and media agendas. Not a day now goes past without one or more insider, commentator or politician having a view of what renegotiation deal is likely or what can be achieved.