Resignation
In Britain, the traditional response to anything bad happening is to call for someone to resign. Ideally this will be the person in charge of the organisation responsible for causing or failing to prevent the bad thing, although they don't have to be. A resignation convinces the public that Something Has Been Done about the bad thing and it won't happen again, regardless of whether or not any of the actual causes of the bad thing have been addressed.
Politicians are quick to exploit this psychological quirk of the British public. Oppositions use it to try to pick off Government ministers, and prime ministers use the resignations of their subordinates as a lightning rod to defuse criticism of mistakes or unpopular policies.
Ministers and shadow ministers can also use it to make themselves look good and to rally public opinion against party policies they don't like. Since the Government and the Shadow Government are bound by collective responsibility, ministers can only vote against a policy if they resign their positions. Doing this makes them look brave and principled and focuses media attention on the controversy over the policy, whatever it is.
Prominent resigners include:
- John Bercow
- Nye Bevan
- Rebekah Brooks
- David Cameron
- Douglas Carswell
- Robin Cook
- Mark Harper
- Peter Mandelson
- Alex Salmond
- Tom Watson
- 46 members of the Labour Shadow Cabinet and ministerial team in June 2016
Oppositions take this concept to its logical conclusion by shouting "Resign!" at the Chief Whip and the relevant Cabinet minister every time the Government loses a vote. This habit does not always enhance the reputation of the House of Commons, especially when the vote is on something serious like war and peace.
