Jan 26 2007
More reasons why party politics is so unpopular
In my recent book<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Dont-Like-Politics-Difference/dp/1842751824/sr=8-2/qid=1170060841/ref=sr_1_2/203-9793991-1343106?ie=UTF8&s=books"> I Want to Make a Difference But I Don’t Like Politics</a> I set out to explain how focus group driven big money politics by all the main parties is putting people off. Still the government does not seem to understand the deep disillusion that has set in.
This week we have seen the government promise legislation to toughen border controls, when they already have the powers on the Statute book - the issue is enforcing them. Once again they seem to be using legislaiton as part of the spin machine, trying to look as if they are going to be tough because the focus groups doubtless are telling them that’s what the public wants.
We have seen them continue to deny that the Conservatives are right to demand a proper border police, only to say they will give border officials a new uniform and new powers.
We have seen them rush out a story on splitting the Home Office in two when it looked as if allegations about cash for peerages was going to lead the news again.
We have seen them rush to cover their embarrassment about asking judges to take into account overcrowding in prisons by saying they will initiate a new prison place programme after all, many months after we suggested they do just that.
The first party to promise a self imposed restriction on donations, and a smaller budget on itself will respond to the public mood. If parties continue to think the public will pay more out of taxes for what they are getting thanks to big donors at the moment, they will be very disappointed by the reaciton.
What we want is a government which uses the very considerable powers it has to run the country well. If you concentrate on running the country, securing a favourable press will be easier than if you concentrate on trying to secure a good press whilst letting the country go to pieces. People are tired of spin, based on asking the audience what they want and then pretending that’s what you are giving them.
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
