Coalition fails to secure a reputation for competence

Monday 16 July 2012

There must be a distinct sense of schadenfreude in Delhi.

Custom byline text:

Remember the furore prior to the 2010 Commonwealth Games about the state of the athletes' accommodation? The Indian organisers were given something of a kicking for the parlous state of the rooms and a general lack of preparedness, not anticipating that in two years' time the boot would be on the other foot.

The drafting in of the army to make up a shortfall of security personnel for the London Olympic Park – and now claims of a lack of experienced border officials – could have been scripted for the BBC sitcom Twenty Twelve. The reality, however, is rather less amusing than fiction. Coming to light just two weeks before the Games begin, the whole fiasco is something of a national embarrassment.Fortunately, we can live with that; such concerns will be forgotten once the starting pistol is fired. What will linger, however, is the question mark over the proficiency of the Government and its ability to make sure these problems are rectified in time.It now seems ministers were warned 10 months ago in a confidential report about the state of security planning for the Games. While Home Secretary Theresa May insisted to the Commons last week that the shortfall in security personnel came to light only last Wednesday, the Government had received a report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary last September highlighting problems.It's clear that, as with any project on the scale of the Olympics, some last-minute difficulties are to be expected, but the complacent tone of Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's remarks on the matter yesterday – suggesting it was "completely normal" for firms to break their contractual commitments on large projects and describing security company G4S as "quite honourable" – will be drastically at odds with how most members of the public view it.Coming after a bruising month in which the Coalition's internal divisions have become embarrassingly public due to the Conservative backbench rebellion on Lords reform and scorn having been heaped on the Chancellor for performing yet another U-turn on his much-criticised March budget (the latest was on fuel duty), the handling of the G4S affair will not reassure those who doubt the Government's competence.All efforts now must be focused on ensuring there are no gaps in security provision come July 27. The fear that revelations about security planning problems could embolden terrorists intent on targeting the Olympics for their own destructive ends is worrying. Providing a full complement of security staff must be the overriding priority for the next fortnight. Let us just hope there are no further glitches to come.

Contextual targeting label:

Local government

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Coalition fails to secure a reputation for competence

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED