Keeping Up (Tony's) Appearances

Because sometimes what everyone knows is true is not what anyone can diplomatically admit is true.

A senior US official could lose his job today after dismissing George Bush's relationship with Tony Blair as "totally one-sided".

Kendall Myers, a State Department analyst who advises Condoleezza Rice, was expected to step aside or be sacked after Whitehall reacted angrily to his remarks.

Downing Street pointed out that the State Department itself had described Mr Myers as an "academic" rather than a representative of the White House or the US Government.

...Mr Myers, an expert on Anglo-American relations, triggered the row when he used a seminar in Washington to reveal that despite Britain's efforts to influence US policy "we typically ignore them and take no notice".

...In his seminar, Mr Myers admitted he felt "a little ashamed" at Mr Bush's treatment of the Prime Minister, who has been Washington's staunchest ally since September 11.

He claimed Britain's role as a bridge between America and Europe was now "disappearing before our eyes" and predicted it would not be replicated in the future.

"What I think and fear is that Britain will draw back from the US without moving closer to Europe," he said. "In that sense, London Bridge is falling down."

Of Mr Blair's attempts to influence Mr Bush over the decision to invade Iraq, he said: "It was a done deal from the beginning, it was a onesided relationship that was entered into with open eyes ... There was nothing. There was no payback, no sense of reciprocity."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The special relationship needs to be rebalanced, rethought and renewed."

Oops. Myers should have anticipated that the UK's own Dear Leader would want to keep up appearances, even though no-one actually believes those appearances.

Goddess help us, my country is led by someone who thinks like Mrs Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet").