Man Overboard (Yes, Prime Minister)
Encyclopedia
“Man Overboard” is the ninth episode of the BBC
comedy series Yes, Prime Minister
and was first broadcast 3 December 1987. It satirises the Westland affair
, which took place the previous year.
from the south to the north of England. The idea is that setting up new bases in the north will create many civilian jobs in such things as maintenance and administration and boost the local economy.
The Ministry of Defence
is thrown into turmoil. There are few strategic arguments against the move, in fact, militarily, it does make sense. The main objection is that senior officers and their wives will be denied such pleasures as Wimbledon
, Ascot
, Henley
, and Harrods
.
Sir Humphrey Appleby
, Britain's top civil servant, agrees that the scheme must be blocked on these grounds but since there are no strategic or economic objections to the plan he decides that it would be better to cast doubt on the loyalty of the Employment Secretary towards the Prime Minister
.
The PM, Jim Hacker
, chairs a cabinet committee
on the subject, and all present are in favour of the proposal, save for the Defence Secretary, whose department stands to undergo enormous upheaval if it goes ahead. The Employment Secretary is delighted at the majority decision and specifically requests that it is reflected in the minutes
. Afterwards, Sir Humphrey stays behind and discusses the plan with the PM. Hacker knows that the defence chiefs object on purely social grounds, but, by claiming his own support for the idea, Sir Humphrey proceeds to praise the Employment Secretary profusely and remark on his general popularity within the government party and the country at large. Thus, the Cabinet Secretary
successfully sows the seeds of doubt in Hacker’s mind. The PM asks to see the Chief Whip
immediately.
Bernard Woolley
, Hacker’s Principal Private Secretary
, is shocked that there appears to be a Cabinet
plot against the PM. He confronts Sir Humphrey, who is just as surprised at the news, because there is no plot, the Employment Secretary being well-known for his loyalty. However, he tells Bernard of the likely repercussions for civil service
staff if the relocation scheme goes ahead: they would have to move as well. Sir Humphrey knows that the Chief Whip cannot categorically deny an alleged plot against Hacker, and asks Bernard to inform him of the ensuing chat with the PM. When Bernard is uncertain if he can, on grounds of confidentiality, Sir Humphrey affirms that he needs to know everything: how else can he judge whether or not he needs to know it?
Hacker meets with the Chief Whip, who, as Sir Humphrey predicted, is unable to confirm or deny anything. Having ascertained the name of the so-called leadership challenger, he leaves to make some enquiries.
Sir Humphrey lunches with Sir Arnold Robinson, the former Cabinet Secretary and currently Chairman of the Campaign for the Freedom of Information. Sir Humphrey persuades Sir Arnold to leak a story to the press concerning an apparent attempt by the PM to block his Employment Secretary’s plan. Sir Arnold initially expresses outrage at the idea of leaking confidential information to the press, but comes round to Sir Humphrey's view that it is in fact "confidential disinformation". He further notes that this may produce the desired effect: “man overboard.”
Sir Humphrey intercepts Hacker’s evening newspaper en route to the Cabinet Room and, having confirmed that it features the expected headline, asks its bearer to enter with it in a short while. In the meantime, the PM’s paranoia is growing. He is now almost certain that there is a plot and that the Employment Secretary is behind it. Sir Humphrey remarks that the relocation plan is bound to be leaked to the press and that if it is reported as the PM's idea, then there is nothing for Hacker to worry about. The evening paper arrives right on cue, and the PM is livid when he sees the lead story. He now knows that the Employment Secretary’s proposal cannot be adopted. Sir Humphrey smoothly backs up his seeming fait accompli with an MOD
internal memo that casts doubt on the economic viability of the plan. They agree to leak it to the press.
The next day, there is a Cabinet meeting. As it begins, the Employment Secretary is immediately troubled that his proposal is not on the agenda. The PM explains that it has been shelved until all the current press speculation dies down. The Employment Secretary complains that all who are present, save one, endorsed it at the last meeting. However, Hacker denies this, and Sir Humphrey backs him up by stating — with typical loquaciousness — that any such agreement was not reflected in the minutes. The PM seeks to calm things down by quoting a three-point plan, drawn up by Sir Humphrey, which involves abiding by the Cabinet’s collective decision, a cooling-off period and any future press briefings to be cleared by the Cabinet Office (i.e. Sir Humphrey). The Employment Secretary finds this unacceptable and is therefore asked by Hacker to consider his position.
Later, when the resignation makes front page news, a stoical Hacker is mollified by Sir Humphrey who reassures the PM that he “handled it brilliantly.” He points out that Hacker had forced the resignation on an obscure administrative issue of his own choosing, rather than on an important policy matter espoused by the Employment Secretary. However, Sir Humphrey snatches defeat from the jaws of victory: Hacker can now see no reason to delay the relocation plan, and if it is now adopted, the resignation from his Cabinet will seem pointless and his leadership cannot be questioned. The PM instructs a maddened Sir Humphrey to put it back at the top of the next Cabinet agenda.
in which Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine
stormed out of cabinet and was seen by many as a potential threat to PM Margaret Thatcher
's leadership.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy series Yes, Prime Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
and was first broadcast 3 December 1987. It satirises the Westland affair
Westland affair
The Westland affair was a political scandal for the British Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in 1986. The argument was a result of differences of opinion within the government as to the future of the United Kingdom helicopter industry. The struggling Westland company, Britain's last...
, which took place the previous year.
Plot
The Employment Secretary has come up with a plan to relocate up to 300,000 service personnelBritish Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
from the south to the north of England. The idea is that setting up new bases in the north will create many civilian jobs in such things as maintenance and administration and boost the local economy.
The Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
is thrown into turmoil. There are few strategic arguments against the move, in fact, militarily, it does make sense. The main objection is that senior officers and their wives will be denied such pleasures as Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
, Henley
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
, and Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
.
Sir Humphrey Appleby
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
, Britain's top civil servant, agrees that the scheme must be blocked on these grounds but since there are no strategic or economic objections to the plan he decides that it would be better to cast doubt on the loyalty of the Employment Secretary towards the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
.
The PM, Jim Hacker
James Hacker
James George Hacker, Baron Hacker of Islington, KG, PC, B. Sc. , Hon. D. C. L. was a fictional British politician. He was the Minister of the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs, and later the Prime Minister, in the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister...
, chairs a cabinet committee
United Kingdom cabinet committee
The executive arm of the United Kingdom government is controlled by the Cabinet, a group of senior government ministers chaired by the Prime Minister. The Cabinet has a group of committees called cabinet committees, which perform most of the day-to-day work of cabinet government.The committee...
on the subject, and all present are in favour of the proposal, save for the Defence Secretary, whose department stands to undergo enormous upheaval if it goes ahead. The Employment Secretary is delighted at the majority decision and specifically requests that it is reflected in the minutes
Minutes
Minutes, also known as protocols, are the instant written record of a meeting or hearing. They typically describe the events of the meeting, starting with a list of attendees, a statement of the issues considered by the participants, and related responses or decisions for the issues.Minutes may be...
. Afterwards, Sir Humphrey stays behind and discusses the plan with the PM. Hacker knows that the defence chiefs object on purely social grounds, but, by claiming his own support for the idea, Sir Humphrey proceeds to praise the Employment Secretary profusely and remark on his general popularity within the government party and the country at large. Thus, the Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
successfully sows the seeds of doubt in Hacker’s mind. The PM asks to see the Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
immediately.
Bernard Woolley
Bernard Woolley
Sir Bernard Woolley GCB is one of the three main fictional characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Derek Fowlds.-Character:...
, Hacker’s Principal Private Secretary
Principal Private Secretary
In the British Civil Service and Australian Public Service the Principal Private Secretary is the civil servant who runs a cabinet minister's private office...
, is shocked that there appears to be a Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
plot against the PM. He confronts Sir Humphrey, who is just as surprised at the news, because there is no plot, the Employment Secretary being well-known for his loyalty. However, he tells Bernard of the likely repercussions for civil service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
staff if the relocation scheme goes ahead: they would have to move as well. Sir Humphrey knows that the Chief Whip cannot categorically deny an alleged plot against Hacker, and asks Bernard to inform him of the ensuing chat with the PM. When Bernard is uncertain if he can, on grounds of confidentiality, Sir Humphrey affirms that he needs to know everything: how else can he judge whether or not he needs to know it?
Hacker meets with the Chief Whip, who, as Sir Humphrey predicted, is unable to confirm or deny anything. Having ascertained the name of the so-called leadership challenger, he leaves to make some enquiries.
Sir Humphrey lunches with Sir Arnold Robinson, the former Cabinet Secretary and currently Chairman of the Campaign for the Freedom of Information. Sir Humphrey persuades Sir Arnold to leak a story to the press concerning an apparent attempt by the PM to block his Employment Secretary’s plan. Sir Arnold initially expresses outrage at the idea of leaking confidential information to the press, but comes round to Sir Humphrey's view that it is in fact "confidential disinformation". He further notes that this may produce the desired effect: “man overboard.”
Sir Humphrey intercepts Hacker’s evening newspaper en route to the Cabinet Room and, having confirmed that it features the expected headline, asks its bearer to enter with it in a short while. In the meantime, the PM’s paranoia is growing. He is now almost certain that there is a plot and that the Employment Secretary is behind it. Sir Humphrey remarks that the relocation plan is bound to be leaked to the press and that if it is reported as the PM's idea, then there is nothing for Hacker to worry about. The evening paper arrives right on cue, and the PM is livid when he sees the lead story. He now knows that the Employment Secretary’s proposal cannot be adopted. Sir Humphrey smoothly backs up his seeming fait accompli with an MOD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
internal memo that casts doubt on the economic viability of the plan. They agree to leak it to the press.
The next day, there is a Cabinet meeting. As it begins, the Employment Secretary is immediately troubled that his proposal is not on the agenda. The PM explains that it has been shelved until all the current press speculation dies down. The Employment Secretary complains that all who are present, save one, endorsed it at the last meeting. However, Hacker denies this, and Sir Humphrey backs him up by stating — with typical loquaciousness — that any such agreement was not reflected in the minutes. The PM seeks to calm things down by quoting a three-point plan, drawn up by Sir Humphrey, which involves abiding by the Cabinet’s collective decision, a cooling-off period and any future press briefings to be cleared by the Cabinet Office (i.e. Sir Humphrey). The Employment Secretary finds this unacceptable and is therefore asked by Hacker to consider his position.
Later, when the resignation makes front page news, a stoical Hacker is mollified by Sir Humphrey who reassures the PM that he “handled it brilliantly.” He points out that Hacker had forced the resignation on an obscure administrative issue of his own choosing, rather than on an important policy matter espoused by the Employment Secretary. However, Sir Humphrey snatches defeat from the jaws of victory: Hacker can now see no reason to delay the relocation plan, and if it is now adopted, the resignation from his Cabinet will seem pointless and his leadership cannot be questioned. The PM instructs a maddened Sir Humphrey to put it back at the top of the next Cabinet agenda.
Inspiration
The resignation of a top Secretary of State over a major defence issue, which casts doubt on the Prime Minister's position echoes the Westland AffairWestland affair
The Westland affair was a political scandal for the British Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in 1986. The argument was a result of differences of opinion within the government as to the future of the United Kingdom helicopter industry. The struggling Westland company, Britain's last...
in which Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine
Michael Heseltine
Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major...
stormed out of cabinet and was seen by many as a potential threat to PM Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's leadership.
Quote
Episode cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Eddington Paul Eddington Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:... |
Jim Hacker |
| Nigel Hawthorne Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
| Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds is an English actor, known for playing Bernard Woolley in popular British television comedies Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and Oscar Blaketon in the long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat.... |
Bernard Woolley |
| John Nettleton John Nettleton (actor) John Nettleton is an English actor.One of his most notable roles was that of Sir Arnold Robinson, the Cabinet Secretary in Yes Minister and President of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in the follow-up Yes, Prime Minister... |
Sir Arnold Robinson |
| Michael Byrne Michael Byrne (actor) Michael Byrne is an English actor noted for his roles on film and television. He has often been cast in Nazi military roles such as Colonel Vogel in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Obergruppenführer Odilo Globocnik in the BBC radio dramatisation of the novel Fatherland by Robert Harris... |
Employment Secretary |
| Frederick Treves Frederick Treves (actor) Frederick William Treves BEM, is an English character actor with an extensive repertoire, specialising in avuncular military and titled types.... |
Chief of Defence Staff |
| Peter Cartwright Peter Cartwright (actor) Peter Cartwright is an actor who has made hundreds of appearances in television, film and on radio and has worked extensively in the theatre, both in the provinces and London's West End.... |
Chief Whip |
| David Glover | |
| David Conville | |
| Philip Anthony | |
| Philip Blaine | |
| Geoffrey Cousins | |
| Hilary Field | |