The BBC’s “Question Time” is hardly a great barometer for the mood of the nation (although maybe of the electorate?), nor may it have much impact on how people vote but last Thursday’s edition does make it clear why apathy is the biggest vote winner in the UK. What is clear is that Labour and the Tories throwing mud at each other is turning so many people off politicians. The problem may be that so little divides the parties, at least in terms of official policy, so all that is left is to attack the each others personality or to create one that will be disagreeable to the public. “Labour are beholden to the unions.” “The Tories are beholden to the rich.” and so on. They are old insults that were certainly true in the past but back then they didn’t need debated because the parties disagreed on so much policy. However, their policies were based on principles that were well known to the electorate, these principles have been dropped as the parties try to dilute their policies down till Peter Snow’s swing-o-meter is half a dozen shades of grey.
Yet minority parties are providing is a refreshing burst of colour. They have principles and they’re sticking to them, despite our archaic electoral system keeping most of them perpetually out of Parliament. How exciting it was to hear Caroline Lucas MEP retorting to David Starkey’s “insult” of “the Greens are just socialists with a bit of green coloration [Is that even a real word? Certainly not in the real world. ]” with the line “Yes we are and we’re proud of it.” I may not be a socialist but it is so refreshing for politicians to have principles and not sound bites.
Equally, on every issue on Thursday, Charles Kennedy’s response was measured and did not resort to political point scoring. He got to the root of the issue and offered his liberal, view, rather than trying only to dispute his co-panellists views. How much the Scottish Parliament could do with his contribution is obvious every time Tavish Scott appears at First Ministers questions – Charles Kennedy is wasted on the backbenches of Westminster. The Scottish Parliament’s lack of strong leadership willing to break the mould and lead does Scotland a disservice.
What I am advocating is not a return to the politics of the 80s, in the fashion of the late Michael Foot or of Margaret Thatcher. But politicians must be challenged to get off the fence more – to take a side on issues based on principles and visions that are clear to the public. To take the time to reasonably debate issues before jumping head first into controversy with30 second soundbites and personality attacks: after all this a bit more serious than the X Factor. It is what the public want of their politicians. Yes, the public will respond to personality attacks, poll numbers will fluctuate but the only thing really gaining votes is apathy.
