At the Brighton Conference a very well respected former BBC journalist described to me talk of an early election as ‘lazy journalism’. He argued that much of the media was losing interest in government and the effects of policy and preferred to cover events and personalities. They thus wanted an autumn election and will probably punish Brown for not holding one.
Closeted with the press pack for three weeks over the conference season few politicians dared express anything other than a macho enthusiasm for a fight – often expressed in pathetic schoolboy language – ‘wimp’, ‘bottle’ etc. – nothwithstanding the constitutional oddity and administrative problems involved in holding an autumn poll.
With characteristic genius the media bounced from one political source to another setting the agenda.
There is a serious and crucial debate to be had as to how political journalism can disable or improve political life, but Brown, by being drawn into the game, indifferent to the chaos and havoc he caused, has forfeited his right to appear as a “statesman”, and worse still – he has reinforced the press cynic who believes the grubby pursuit of power is always far more important to politicians than actually getting anything done.
Democratic politics takes another hit.
* John Pugh is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Southport.
8 Comments
Ah, but all of you are merely holding a mirror up to our souls!
Quite agree with John. Hopefully we can now turn this to our advantage by highlighting the constitutional obscenity of the PM timing the election for his party interest. Normally, constitutional reform proposals like fixed term parliaments are for the anoraks, but ‘real people’ will surely see the compelling case we have for this.
So you would deny us all the enjoyment of the last few weeks? I thought we were supposed to be the fun party.
I do tend to agree with this though the extent to which Brown or anyone could have controlled this this time is moot.
Silly season into conference season with meejah aching for some interest after Brown’s steady work and progress.
Their letting both Gideon’s dodgy tax figures and Dave’s Memory Man act pass without proper scrutiny was evidence surely of their boredom and thirst for a fight?
Feral doesn’t begin to describe.
Meanwhile LDV readers may enjoy my hoisting some Tories by their own petard bar chart wise. Which is not to say that Watford Lib dems are not bang to rights too.
Petard Hoisting Link
Although Gordon Brown may dug himself an own goal there is the alternative school of thought…. short term gain then long term planning. Being a cautious man the need for Gordon to be certain of what his opponents would do in the event of an election was of more concern than changing the image of being cautious. Gordon is extremely carefully at bringing challenges.He has bought himself the window of opportunity to rebuild,change tact and re think his strategy on David Cameron.
For a man who has always been in contention of his own ambition this may help him sleep at night.
Feral beasts doesn’t properly describe these aspects of the media – properly conservative is a far more accurate term.
There is only a fine line between offering a critical balance and healthy scepticism before one becomes consumed by cynicism – and like all institutions in revolution, the media is voraciously consuming itself to survive.
In agreeing with John I would argue that the wise course for Lib Dems is to be even more careful to avoid personality politics, to campaign consistently for fixed term Parliaments, to support Ming and not be dispirited by the current squeeze whih will pass, showing the Lib Dems in time as the only grown-up party.