December 28, 2025

The man who is denied the opportunity of taking decisions of importance begins to regard as important the decisions he is allowed to take.

C. Northcote Parkinson (1909–1993), English writer, naval historian, Parkinson’s Law (1958), Jay p.287

What truly important decisions have you had a say in? How often has your authority to make such decisions been constrained, and by whom? A committee chair? A higher level of government? A court of law?

The truth is taking decisions of importance is the opportunity politicians dread most. So, when some decision-making power is taken away from them for whatever reason, there is a collective, albeit muffled, sigh of relief—one less place where a foot can be put wrong and future re-election threatened.