As with the Iraq War, the public is none too appreciative when it realises it has been misled, not least thanks to dodgy data.
He has notched up some remarkable accomplishments. With some help, his best days may still be to come.
There is political and constitutional danger to creating the impression of major reform whilst delivering minimal change.
Raab argues that “people need to see that social interaction, whether it’s at work or among family and friends.”
The Justice Secretary adds that “one of the things we are looking at is how tech can drive up prosecutions.”
Policymakers should be asking themselves whose quality of life worsens thanks to the current unplanned mess.
Such is the logic of the new Justice Secretary’s appointment – and the combative stance of the Attorney-General.
But prisons policy won’t gain more priority from politicians without doing so from the rest of us.
His biggest strength now is that to a mass of people who don’t follow politics he is a Given, A Fact – like Thatcher, Blair or the weather.
It would create a two-tier society wherein servants of the state, normal citizens like the rest of us, have their lives valued more highly.