Recalling the Cabinet—convening ministers during a parliamentary recess—is highly unusual and indicates an extreme-level crisis.
In fact, Cabinet recalls are rare.
In recent times:
At the start of the Falklands crisis in 1982, Margaret Thatcher recalled Cabinet ministers—and later Parliament—from recess to manage the military response.
The Kuwait invasion in 1990 saw John Major summon a Cabinet session during recess, ahead of a Parliamentary recall for a foreign policy debate.
After 9/11 in 2001, Tony Blair convened emergency Cabinet meetings to coordinate the response following the terrorist attacks, before a parliamentary recall to debate our war stance.
These are the closest parallels I can think of—extraordinary foreign-policy or security crises triggering Cabinet reconvening during recess.
On Tuesday, Keir Starmer recalled his Cabinet to address Gaza, Palestinian state recognition, and humanitarian pressure.
Except, he didn’t really ‘recall’ anyone.
BBC political correspondent Harry Farley was in Downing Street and reported:
“… we haven’t seen any cabinet ministers walking up the street, so the assumption is most are joining remotely.”
There are no statements from government sources confirming the physical attendance of ministers at this recall session…
… the Team didn’t Zoom back—they Zoomed in.
I guess in this day and age, it doesn’t matter. If we are to get used to talking to a doctor about our most intimate issues on our phones, then Cabinet Ministers can chat about catastrophic world events from the comfort of their deckchairs.
A chat about world events was about all it was.
Recalling the Cabinet in recess is usually a prelude to action.
This time, it looked more like a dress rehearsal without a play.
Starmer’s recall will be remembered as symbolic optics without substance—so important that Ministers couldn’t be bothered to turn up. The upshot? Nothing.
Leadership in a vacuum is not leadership.
Starmer is probably trying to look engaged and busy in an attempt to pre-empt pressure from Labour backbenchers…
… without any real action, they’re unlikely to be taken in.
International allies? Might be a ‘signal’ to Washington or Brussels. A signal of what? Dunno.
Three things are required:
- food in,
- Hamas out, and
- a two-state solution built on hope, not rubble.
We have precious little influence to achieve any of that.
What we do have are very courageous clinicians and medics who, despite the risks, go to Gaza with organisations such as Medical Aid for Palestinians, Médecins Sans Frontières, and others, trying to save lives.
One of them is Professor Tas Qureshi. He is a General and Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Poole Hospital in Dorset.
He has made repeated trips to Gaza as a volunteer, giving up his free time to support surgeons there, as they deal with the most horrifying trauma injuries, as well as helping to train staff in the treatment of cancer.
His is a personal story, not a political statement—but by telling it, Tas hopes to highlight the plight of all those who are suffering, including so many children.
You can hear his story in our latest podcast.
Listen free.
He gives us a picture of what it’s like to operate—medically and in every other way—in a war zone.
As my podcast colleague Niall Dickson says:
“You will have seen many terrible pictures of the suffering in Gaza, but Tas’ account, with words only, is in some ways more illuminating, more powerful.”
Tas reveals the impossible choices he and his colleagues face…
… which child to treat and which ones must be left to die—sometimes in agony.
The so-called ‘safe-houses’ where the medics stay, which are not safe from bombs and bullets—and the resilience of humans in the face of impossible odds.
Many UK doctors do incredibly valuable pro-bono work, but Tas is one of a smaller band who are also prepared to risk their lives to relieve suffering…
… and like Tas, they are not keen to promote themselves, but are keen to tell the story of what they have witnessed.
So there you have my message for today…
There is a world of difference between actually doing something
and looking like you are doing something…
News and Comment from Roy Lilley
Contact Roy – please use this e-address roy.lilley@nhsmanagers.net
Reproduced at thetrainingnet.com by kind permission of Roy Lilley.
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