In era of social media politicians don’t think enough before they act

WHETHER it’s a brilliant idea that morphs into a failed stroke, or a cock-up that started with the best of intentions, there’s a time to raise the hands and say you got it wrong.

That rarely happens. The deafening collective volume of criticism any controversy generates in a multiple of media outlets tends to deafen the people at the centre of the problem and militate against them coolly considering their options.

Nobody should ever underestimate the real effect of criticism. Everybody believes they welcome and learn from criticism. Almost nobody ever really does. For the most part, even dressed up as “constructive”, criticism is experienced as a personal assault without justification or evidence which, left unopposed, will further reflect on the one being criticised and make them appear cowardly. Leaving an accusation unanswered on a major radio or TV programme seems impossible. The view is taken that to be absent would be to empower the enemy.