Eleven days. That is how long it took for Liz TrussThe Conservative prime minister of the United Kingdom from September to October 2022. and her chancellor, Kwasi KwartengA British Conservative politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Liz Truss from September to October 2022., to abandon the flagship policy of their mini-budget: a tax cut for the highest earners.¹

Truss and Kwarteng say they dropped the plan because they have "listened" to the people. But others think it is a hugely embarrassing moment. Many think they will not last long.

In some ways this is quite strange. If a majorityMore than half. of the country is opposed to a policy, is it not right for the government to reconsider? Is that not what democracy is all about?

The fact is that in UK politics, politicians are supposed to be willing to stick to an unpopular policy.

This is largely because of the legacySomething that comes from events in the past. of Margaret Thatcher, who became prime minister in 1979. She brought in controversial new economic plans. Thatcher's Conservative party sank in the polls.

But Thatcher did not back down. She told her critics: "You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning!"

The gamble paid off. At the next election in 1983, Thatcher won a landslide victory. Since then, many have always admired politicians who stick to their plans.

Some think this is unfair. They argue a U-turn can be the strong option. It shows that a government is thoughtful and humble enough to recognise what it has got wrong.

Others, however, think we should not be so quick to forgive. They say politicians who are forced to change their minds are simply unable to do their work properly. They should have worked out in advance what effect their policies would have.

It might be that what matters most is honesty. If politicians come clean about the reasons they have been forced to change their minds, people will respect them for it. Now, some say Truss's true mistake was that she made the U-turn out of weakness, but tried to dress it up as decisiveness.

Yes: A good government has the self-confidence to listen, think and change its mind when necessary. And only a government that is in a strong position is likely to survive such a manoeuvre.

No: Good politicians do not just respond to events: they anticipate them and try to shape them. If a government is forced to change tack, this is because it has lost control of what is happening.

Or... All governments are forced to change course sometimes: we cannot foresee everything. What matters is whether they try to bluff it out, or come clean about their choice to the public.

Liz Truss - The Conservative prime minister of the United Kingdom from September to October 2022.

Kwasi Kwarteng - A British Conservative politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Liz Truss from September to October 2022.

Majority - More than half.

Legacy - Something that comes from events in the past.