Letter: The incredible Lamont
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: It is not the Prime Minister who decides who holds cabinet positions but the acceptance of these ministers by the key audiences upon whom they depend. The real reason Norman Lamont had to go was not that he was 'brought down by the media' but that the media reflected general public opinion and much private advice to Mr Major that Mr Lamont had ceased to be credible - certainly after the ERM debacle. We are seeing the same confusion that existed around David Mellor and it is ironic that many journalists should use him to comment on the downfall of Mr Lamont.
At the highest levels in UK industry, there have been very cold attitudes towards Mr Lamont and this has made it impossible to get the essential business/public consensus that would have allowed him to succeed. The concept of public credibility seems to be a factor that completely eludes the Prime Minister. He claims to be loyal to colleagues but many interpret this as a hesitancy to take decisive action, which can only reinforce perceptions of lack of leadership.
Certainly, no one at the top in industry with the lack of credibility that Mr Lamont achieved could have expected to have lasted days, let alone months.
Yours faithfully,
ROGER HAYWOOD
London, SW19
28 May
The writer is a past chairman of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments