Match public institutions to the problem they must solve

A personal governing principle is set out: choose the institution that fits the problem instead of forcing every issue into a fixed demand for bigger or smaller government. More defence support, including some tug and operational functions, would remain inside government when public authority and continuity matter. Using the Channel patrol debate current in 2021, the discussion distinguishes civilian Border Force cutters from Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels because their roles, rules of engagement, and safety frameworks differ. Naval vessels could provide backup, but coercive public responsibilities should not pass to a private company or displace front-line Type 26 frigates. The broader lesson is that policy involves evidence, trade-offs, and compromise. A later joke makes the historical analogy explicit: a fully privatized Royal Navy would begin to resemble Elizabeth I's reliance on privateering.