Admit when you're wrong

摘要

In an era of populist leaders, we are getting used to the idea that nobody ever apologises for anything. In the past, the etiquette was clear. If you said something wrong, or you made a wrong call and were reversing your policy stance, you were expected to admit it, apologise, and move on. Sure, the apologies could be limited and hemmed in with weasel words, yet it was accepted that not only was this the right thing to do but it was better electorally than having this hanging over your head for ever. But that playbook has been demolished. Now it seems that if you clearly lose an election, just claim it was stolen from you. If you change your mind on poorer kids having free school meals out of term time, never admit to having thought differently before. If you say a vaccine does not work but all the evidence says you were wrong, just shift position with hardly a look backwards. If one of your ministers is found guilty of bullying, just wait for the fuss to die down and carry on as usual.