The 'sophisticated' political approach, we are told, is to adjust your principles according to the current of popular sentiment so that you can gain access to the levers of power. But, after the past 20 years of this, all that has been achieved is to make politicians more despised than journalists and estate agents (possibly even than 2nd hand car salesmen). Why? I think there are two reasons. The first and most obvious is that it means that what we get is not what we think we are getting (so far, so estate agent/2nd hand car dealer). The second, more subtle reason, is that on the whole we respect people who stick to their principles, even if we don't necessarily agree with them (within limits obviously) but we tend to despise those that change them to 'fit in'.
The grown-up centrist approach we are always being told about, involves making vague promises that things will get better, and pandering to whatever is fashionable or popular in a sort of dad-dancing way (including 'softened' anti-immigrant 'stop the gangs to stop the boats' rhetoric to try to score points with liberals and xenophobes). The net impact of which is that things continue to slide for many, so they end up not trusting anyone in authority and supporting those who say the strong/nasty stuff out loud.
If Burnham is going to pursue this same path to power, at best he might stop the complete collapse in Labour support, and we'll end up with some sort of hung parliament. At worst, he'll continue the parabola into disaster and authoritarianism. But to go against the weight of the existing structures of power and privilege to enact real change that would make a positive difference he needs courage, integrity, nerve, solid principles, and support. It is the last that is going to be in short supply in Parliament. The majority there are placemen and sell-outs who know which side their bread is buttered (to use an old expression).
I’ve been in the constituency today canvassing for Labour. Initially worrying to see a group of 10 Restore canvassers, however they were stuffing leaflets into letterboxes but not door knocking. I’m not sure whether they ran into the Sikhs for Labour team.
Plenty of Reform leafletting, but their candidate’s social media idiosyncrasies are being noticed.
I spent half an hour with a young couple who don’t normally vote but had lots of questions about Labour policies and why things are as they are; I was very grateful for the cup of tea given the heat🥵
There is a lot that may be relevant to the country's wider problems in what Burnham and Manchester have achieved, and also Andy Street and West Midlands. Both are tackling what has been diagnosed as Britains massive over centralisation, far greater than other countries. It echoes the cry of so many, that Westminster (and the City) feel remote from them and fail to understand their challenges. (Mind you the N of Scotland and islands feel much the same about Edinburgh). There's work to be done too understand what has worked, what has not worked and what can be learnt from both cities.
Burnham probably deserves credit for what has been achieved. However, its worrying that he seems already to have blown with the political wind, on both EU and migration, to curry favour with local voters. That does not bode well.
The 'sophisticated' political approach, we are told, is to adjust your principles according to the current of popular sentiment so that you can gain access to the levers of power. But, after the past 20 years of this, all that has been achieved is to make politicians more despised than journalists and estate agents (possibly even than 2nd hand car salesmen). Why? I think there are two reasons. The first and most obvious is that it means that what we get is not what we think we are getting (so far, so estate agent/2nd hand car dealer). The second, more subtle reason, is that on the whole we respect people who stick to their principles, even if we don't necessarily agree with them (within limits obviously) but we tend to despise those that change them to 'fit in'.
The grown-up centrist approach we are always being told about, involves making vague promises that things will get better, and pandering to whatever is fashionable or popular in a sort of dad-dancing way (including 'softened' anti-immigrant 'stop the gangs to stop the boats' rhetoric to try to score points with liberals and xenophobes). The net impact of which is that things continue to slide for many, so they end up not trusting anyone in authority and supporting those who say the strong/nasty stuff out loud.
If Burnham is going to pursue this same path to power, at best he might stop the complete collapse in Labour support, and we'll end up with some sort of hung parliament. At worst, he'll continue the parabola into disaster and authoritarianism. But to go against the weight of the existing structures of power and privilege to enact real change that would make a positive difference he needs courage, integrity, nerve, solid principles, and support. It is the last that is going to be in short supply in Parliament. The majority there are placemen and sell-outs who know which side their bread is buttered (to use an old expression).
I’ve been in the constituency today canvassing for Labour. Initially worrying to see a group of 10 Restore canvassers, however they were stuffing leaflets into letterboxes but not door knocking. I’m not sure whether they ran into the Sikhs for Labour team.
Plenty of Reform leafletting, but their candidate’s social media idiosyncrasies are being noticed.
I spent half an hour with a young couple who don’t normally vote but had lots of questions about Labour policies and why things are as they are; I was very grateful for the cup of tea given the heat🥵
Hmma, are you sure they weren't playing "delay the canvasser"?
There is a lot that may be relevant to the country's wider problems in what Burnham and Manchester have achieved, and also Andy Street and West Midlands. Both are tackling what has been diagnosed as Britains massive over centralisation, far greater than other countries. It echoes the cry of so many, that Westminster (and the City) feel remote from them and fail to understand their challenges. (Mind you the N of Scotland and islands feel much the same about Edinburgh). There's work to be done too understand what has worked, what has not worked and what can be learnt from both cities.
Burnham probably deserves credit for what has been achieved. However, its worrying that he seems already to have blown with the political wind, on both EU and migration, to curry favour with local voters. That does not bode well.
If Britain was camping …. It would have chosen a dreadful spot.