How does anyone think politics works?

We’re against the very idea of a national semiconductors plan. One of us did some work on the transputer, that result of the last such plan but three or four. What a waste of time and effort that was. One reason why we’re against such plans:

Technology bosses accused the government of being “distracted” after the minister who was due to launch the long-delayed semiconductor strategy this week confirmed that he was considering running as mayor of London.

Paul Scully, the minister for tech and the digital economy, was expected to outline the plan for the UK’s microchip industry at the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult just outside Newport tomorrow. However, sources said he pulled out on Monday, and then yesterday the Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam confirmed he was mulling over his potential candidacy.

Dr Simon Thomas, chief executive of Paragraf, a Cambridge-based semiconductor business said, he was dismayed by yet another setback: “I am disappointed and angry with the government and the minister. He is clearly being distracted by his other career plans.”

This is how politics works. Decisions are taken not on the basis of what is good for an industry, what solves a problem for the country, but on the career ambitions of the politicians making the decision.

That’s just what politics is. Which is why, of course, we should not have decisions taken by politics unless it’s absolutely essential that they be so. Simply because such a decision - say, on the semiconductor industry - is not going to be taken on the merits of whatever of the problem or the industry but to suit the career ambitions of the politician taking the decision.

And let’s be honest about it, whatever the issues about semiconductors they have nothing at all to do with who is going to be Mayor of London next time around. Therefore the semiconductor decision isn’t going to be made on the merits of that industry, is it?