Bagehot Michael Portillo's moment

摘要

"Who dares wins!" declared Michael Portillo, the Conser- vatives' defence secretary, at the Conservatives' 1995 party conference. Back then, simply to hear the blood-curdling motto of the Special Air Service on those dangerous Spanish lips was enough of a thrill to make the good ladies of Conservatism totter to their feet and cheer him to the rafters. At a critical juncture, however, Mr Portillo did not dare. That same year, when John Major challenged his grumbling cabinet to back him or sack him, the daring Mr Portillo took soundings, counted friends, made preparations—and then held back. Mr Major limped on until 1997, when the voters put the Conservatives out of office and Mr Portillo out of Parliament.