Is London Burning?
By CLAY RISEN
NYT
A week that began as what many called Prime Minister David Cameron’s “Katrina Moment” ended as, well, what?
The riots that shook London and several other English cities have undoubtedly altered a political landscape already in turmoil over the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. But where they leave a fragile No. 10 Downing Street is anyone’s guess.
When the unrest began on Saturday, Mr. Cameron was on vacation in Tuscany — which is wonderful this time of year, but hardly the place a politician wants to be caught out when commodity riots begin back home. Even worse, Mr. Cameron’s first reaction was to try and manage things from afar; on Sunday he made news by going back to a cafe where he had accidentally snubbed a waitress the day before to apologize. When he hadn’t returned by Tuesday, Shane Stone asked at Dale & Co., a conservative political blog:
NYT
A week that began as what many called Prime Minister David Cameron’s “Katrina Moment” ended as, well, what?
The riots that shook London and several other English cities have undoubtedly altered a political landscape already in turmoil over the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. But where they leave a fragile No. 10 Downing Street is anyone’s guess.
When the unrest began on Saturday, Mr. Cameron was on vacation in Tuscany — which is wonderful this time of year, but hardly the place a politician wants to be caught out when commodity riots begin back home. Even worse, Mr. Cameron’s first reaction was to try and manage things from afar; on Sunday he made news by going back to a cafe where he had accidentally snubbed a waitress the day before to apologize. When he hadn’t returned by Tuesday, Shane Stone asked at Dale & Co., a conservative political blog:
Has Cameron ruined his reputation?(Original here.)
History says that George Bush was too slow to respond to Hurricane Katrina. He was however in country and still working but arguably should have diverted to Louisiana sooner than he did. When the Port Arthur shootings occurred in 1996 John Howard’s response was instantaneous as it was for every natural disaster that occurred during his prime ministership. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was front and centre from the moment the news started to come through of the bombing and slaughter. As I sat watching my television as events unfolded in London I was wondering where the UK’s leadership was; apparently on the continent on holiday.
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