It comes to something when,

In the cradle of democracy,

Words like “shameful,” “egregious”

And “failure of judgement,” carry insufficient weight,

With the man in question

(Or those who sit behind him,

Avoiding our eyes, studying their navels

And their imperilled majorities)

To bring about the change

Our country craves.

 

What would the Gray Report have to say?

If “failure of leadership” is not enough

To drive a Prime Minister from Office.

Words like “moral” and “cowardice”

Spring to mind. If not that, would

“Arrant” and “hypocrisy” suffice?

The dictionary is huge, its contents vast,

Yet electoral success outweighs

All right-minded considerations

When you have nailed your colours

To a pirate’s mast.