"The Prime Minister has an absolute genius for putting flamboyant labels on empty luggage"

Aneurin Bevan’s observation about the Prime Minister is a masterful piece of political satire, distilling a powerful criticism into a single vivid image. By referencing "flamboyant labels", Bevan draws attention to the dazzling language, grandiose promises, or impressive rhetoric often employed by political leaders to present their actions or policies in an appealing light. The use of "flamboyant" implies not just ordinary labeling, but one characterized by ostentation and theatricality, a deliberate attempt to capture attention and impress.

The phrase "empty luggage" serves as a biting metaphor for policies, proposals, or statements that lack genuine substance, depth, or value. Luggage is typically associated with content, important belongings carried from place to place. However, the idea of it being empty suggests hollowness, suggesting that beneath the surface of elaborate presentation, there is nothing of real worth inside. By combining these images, Bevan implies that the Prime Minister excels at marketing or branding initiatives that, upon closer scrutiny, are vacuous and insubstantial.

Such a remark highlights the wider phenomenon in politics where style and presentation often eclipse substance. Leaders with persuasive or charismatic communication skills can sway public opinion and garner support even while offering little in terms of meaningful action or concrete results. Bevan’s words mock this tendency, revealing his skepticism towards political showmanship and his suspicion that genuine governance requires more than just surface-level attractions.

Moreover, the use of "absolute genius" is both grudgingly complimentary and deeply ironic; it recognizes genuine skill, but laments the ends to which it is applied. The phrase as a whole criticizes the disconnect between political theater and practical achievement, implicitly calling for a greater focus on real content, honest delivery, and effective policy-making rather than mere showmanship or hollow spectacle. In sum, Bevan’s wit exposes a perennial issue in public life, serving as a caution against mistaking dazzling appearance for actual worth.