If more people had the time or inclination to watch select committee grillings of our ministers, maybe the idea they are all clueless, lying fools would take hold with the wider public
They are given an easy ride by the main stream media, but they're not fooling anyone in Westminster, and their lack of knowledge and understanding of the issues facing their departments is laid bare during these encounters.
None of them can coherently explain why their public statements are at odds with the realities, and their stuttering responses to reasonable questions doesn't inspire any confidence they really know what they are doing.
They can talk all they like as they refuse to answer questions from journalists, but that escape route isn't available during these meetings, and it shows. They aren't as confident or cocksure when they know the beady eyed panel in front of them are taking them to task, and there is no hiding place.