August 1, 2024 • 2hr 1min
#819 - Dominic Cummings - The Secrets Behind A Crumbling British Government
Modern Wisdom
Key Takeaways
- The inside of government is far more incompetent and dysfunctional than most people realize. Even critical issues like nuclear weapons are not taken seriously.
- There is a major disconnect between London/Westminster and the rest of the UK. Most politicians and officials only care about London and neglect other parts of the country.
- The civil service and political system in the UK is set up to preserve existing power structures rather than serve voters or implement effective policies.
- Brexit was meant to reduce immigration concerns, but the Conservative government has since allowed unprecedented levels of both legal and illegal immigration.
- Boris Johnson squandered a historic opportunity to reform government and implement major changes after winning a large majority in 2019.
- The media often presents a distorted picture of what's happening in government. Much of political news coverage is "fake" and disconnected from reality.
- Drone technology poses a major security threat that governments are not adequately prepared for.
- Cummings is considering launching a new political organization to try to force change from outside the existing system.
Introduction
Dominic Cummings is a political strategist who served as Chief Adviser to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from 2019-2020. He previously led the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum. In this wide-ranging interview, Cummings provides an insider's view of the dysfunction within the British government and political system. He is highly critical of both politicians and the civil service, arguing that the system is set up to preserve existing power structures rather than serve voters or implement effective policies. Cummings also discusses the aftermath of Brexit, the Conservative government's failures, media distortions, and potential future threats like drone technology. Throughout, he emphasizes the massive disconnect between the political class in London/Westminster and the rest of the country.
Topics Discussed
State of UK Government and Civil Service (4:06)
Cummings paints a bleak picture of incompetence and dysfunction within the UK government:
- Even critical issues like nuclear weapons are not taken seriously by officials and politicians
- Most talented people at building things are excluded from the civil service
- Ministers have no real power to hire, fire or incentivize civil servants
- Government operates on opposite principles to successful organizations - slow, unclear responsibility
- MPs focused on daily media cycle rather than voters or good governance
- Civil service priority is preserving existing power/budgets, not serving public
He states: "If you think of the most fundamental principles that lie behind the most successful organizations in history, principles like extreme speed and clear responsibility, then our government works almost totally on exactly opposite principles."
Brexit and Immigration (5:01)
Cummings discusses how the Conservative government has failed to deliver on Brexit promises regarding immigration:
- Brexit was meant to reduce immigration as a political issue
- Initially successful - immigration concerns declined after referendum
- But since 2021, Conservatives have allowed unprecedented levels of both legal and illegal immigration
- Legal immigration hit ~1 million/year, far above previous "unprecedented" levels of 300,000
- Government has failed to stop illegal Channel crossings
He argues the government "sabotaged" immigration control: "The Tories, actually I give up all immigration control of legal immigration, have unprecedentedly high legal immigration, then open, basically, like surrender to the f**king insane, stupid, retarded dinghies coming across the channel."
Disconnect Between London/Westminster and Rest of UK (46:55)
Cummings emphasizes the massive disconnect between the political class in London/Westminster and the rest of the country:
- Politicians/officials only care about London, neglect other cities/regions
- All money and infrastructure focused on serving London
- UK now more centralized than any other European country
- Historically UK was much more decentralized when it was a world power
- Current centralization is deeply damaging to the country
He states: "When Britain had a powerful navy, when Britain was the center for Science, for Technology, for industrializations, et cetera, we were much, much more decentralized. And there were different power centers all around the country, specializing in different things and doing world class things in different places."
Boris Johnson's Failures (1:55:21)
Cummings is highly critical of Boris Johnson's failures after winning a large majority in 2019:
- Had historic opportunity to reform government with 80 seat majority
- Initially planned major changes with Cummings/Vote Leave team
- But Johnson abandoned reform plans after a few months
- Decided he could coast to re-election without major changes
- Removed Cummings/Vote Leave team from government
- Squandered chance to change trajectory of the country
In Cummings' view: "You had this huge historic moment, opportunity to change the trajectory of the country, an eightyc majority and people desperate for it to happen and then, you know, he walks up to the penalty spot and moves sa the stadium."
Media Distortions and "Fake News" (57:24)
Cummings argues much political news coverage is disconnected from reality:
- Compares political news to WWE wrestling - more fake than real
- Media often presents completely false narratives
- Example: Insisted Biden was mentally sharp when it was obvious he was declining
- Creates "narrative whiplash" - suddenly reversing previous positions
- People closest to power often most deluded about reality
He states: "The closer you were to being an editor of the New York Times or the Washing Post or CNN Bureau in DC, the more likely you were to say completely insane things about Biden's mental health."
Drone Technology Threats (1:18:33)
Cummings warns about the security threat posed by advancing drone technology:
- Drones in Ukraine war show rapid advancement of capabilities
- Technology will spread to domestic terrorism
- Current security measures for politicians/VIPs will become obsolete
- UK government is unprepared and not taking threat seriously
- Could lead to major changes in how politicians interact with public
He predicts: "At some point, we're going to see that crazy s**t happening over here, and then you're going start asking questions like the whole format of how Trump had that event, right? It's just not doable."
Plans for New Political Organization (1:55:21)
Cummings reveals he is working on launching a new political organization:
- Not a think tank or political party initially
- Aim to represent voters who are disillusioned with all existing parties
- Try to force change from outside the existing system
- Bring in talented people from outside politics
- Build support base larger than major parties combined
- Could potentially evolve into a party in the future
He explains the rationale: "Westminster, left to itself, can't rejuvenate itself. And history says that usually what happens is these kind of broken systems just, like, keep going until they hit a massive crisis of some kind and then they break it, then there's a disaster. So the question is, like, can we build something that can force change short of some terrible disaster?"
Conclusion
Dominic Cummings provides a scathing insider account of dysfunction within the British government and political system. He argues the system is set up to preserve existing power structures rather than serve voters or implement effective policies. There is a massive disconnect between the political class in London/Westminster and the rest of the country. Even on critical issues like nuclear weapons and immigration, incompetence reigns. The media often presents a distorted picture disconnected from reality. Cummings sees little hope for change from within the system and is working on launching a new political organization to try to force change from the outside. While highly critical, he still sees potential for major reform if the right approach is taken to shake up the existing order.