« Equality and fairness – Main – Quotation of the week »

Although this blog has been quiet over the summer holiday, some things remain the same: when personal data is lost by the government (or a consultancy contracted by the government) the usual suspects cry government incompetence.

Actually, data management is basically an operational matter. In the great debate between operational responsibility and public accountability, Michael Howard [1] — in the Derek Lewis affair — won. And that means that all politicians hence have won. And rightly so: even I'll admit there are limits to what a government, as represented by its ministers, can be held responsible for.

[1] — I was recently on a train and sat close by to Michael Howard. I was desperate to get his views on this matter, but decided against it.

Tags — Politics