Nautical analogies don't cut the mustard

According to The Herald, Scottish Executive "sources" are claiming that Ministers are still in control of the situation with regard to the financial difficulties of Scottish Enterprise:

"Mr Stephen is understood to have been pressured by MSPs to give an account before the two-week parliament break for Easter this Friday. In recent weeks politicians of all parties have become increasingly alarmed that SE will cut funding for small businesses and training in their constituencies.A source close to the minister denied there had been any indecision over SE: "There's a pretty bloody firm hand on the tiller and they're going to move forward and sort this out."

Just because there may be a firm hand on the tiller does not mean that the ship will avoid the rocks. But the idea that Mr Stephen (all set for his holidays - see here) will supply that "pretty bloody firm hand" is not very convincing. Whatever his other virtues, Mr Stephen simply does not do firm hands on the tiller.