Pieter Lawrence 248 what would be the point, and what about Mr. Brightwell? “But Would he agree?” no problem there,” said Blake. is always in “Jack favour of restricting information. He’s a bureaucrat, he does it by instinct.” Chris persisted. still don’t see the point. Everyone accepted “I the first idea, so why should there be any problem with compulsory powers of requisition? It’s the logical way forward.” Blake smiled patiently "You think that’s why people do things, because it’s the next logical step?” if they don’t, they should.” “Well back,” said Blake. Treasury objected to the credit “Think “The scheme but the Prime Minister overruled them. Why do you think he did that?” got the faintest idea what goes on in his head.” “I well I have. He took up your idea because it got him out “Yes, of trouble. It gave him a new hold on power and he’s thriving on it now The TUC agreed because they were scared of being isolated by the Campaign. The Campaign agreed because they didn’t want the TUC taking over their role. The business people agreed because it was voluntary and because it averted upheaval. From their point of view it was a safe way of preserving the existing state of things. In other words, they were all thinking of their short-term interests and none of them considered the practicalities.” seems a hell of a messy way to get things done,” said “It Chris, the only way we know,” said Blake. react to “It’s “People pressure not logic.” Chris persisted, can’t just sit here and do nothing.” “We
248 Pieter Lawrence “But what would be the point, and what about Mr. Brightwell? Would he agree?” no problem there,” said Blake. “Jack is always in favour of restricting information. He’s a bureaucrat, he does it by instinct.” Chris persisted. “I still don’t see the point. Everyone accepted the first idea, so why should there be any problem with compulsory powers of requisition? It’s the logical way forward.” Blake smiled patiently "You think that’s why people do things, because it’s the next logical step?” “Well if they don’t, they should.” “Think back,” said Blake. “The Treasury objected to the credit scheme but the Prime Minister overruled them. Why do you think he did that?” “I got the faintest idea what goes on in his head.” “Yes, well I have. He took up your idea because it got him out of trouble. It gave him a new hold on power and he’s thriving on it now The TUC agreed because they were scared of being isolated by the Campaign. The Campaign agreed because they didn’t want the TUC taking over their role. The business people agreed because it was voluntary and because it averted upheaval. From their point of view it was a safe way of preserving the existing state of things. In other words, they were all thinking of their short-term interests and none of them considered the practicalities.” “It seems a hell of a messy way to get things done,” said Chris, “It’s the only way we know,” said Blake. “People react to pressure not logic.” Chris persisted, “We can’t just sit here and do nothing.”