It is easy to dismiss byelections as one-off events. Even with a loss on the scale of the defeat in Crewe and Nantwich, the tendency is to dismiss the result as midterm blues. In truth, the reality is more brutal: the ‘Tory toff’ campaign picked the wrong target. The public do feel that politicians are out of touch – but it is the political class, not the upper class, that is the problem.
Parliament’s greatest strength has always been its ability to draw upon the rich tapestry of people’s own lives and experiences, whatever their social class. The Labour party, born out of the union movement, brought manual workers and tradesmen to Westminster to speak to the struggles of everyday life. Teachers, social workers and miners joined their ranks, making the case for social justice in Britain as it went through vast change and upheaval. Across the House, doctors, lawyers and businessmen have brought knowledge and personal experience to the big questions of the day.
Yet as politics itself has become a profession, we have lost much of that authenticity and experience. A new political class has emerged that people struggle to identify with – and think does not identify with them. People are not stupid, they see through the tactics of political positioning and triangulation. They know when politicians are trying to manage them, rather than listen to them. They are put off, not impressed by the managerialist language of the Westminster bubble. In short, they know that too much of the political establishment, by which I mean all political parties, sees the public as ‘them’ rather than ‘us’.
The Labour party must fight at every turn to avoid becoming part of the establishment. More than ever, we need to break open politics beyond the usual suspects, bringing in people who have different experience to bring to bear on the big questions facing modern Britain. Over the last few years, there have been more attempts to draw on the views of people outside of Westminster, including new forms of public consultation. But the real breakthrough will come when Westminster itself looks and feels different as well.
If we ever needed proof of this we need only look at the impact of having more women in parliament over the last decade. Parliament itself has become more family-friendly; flexible working, maternity and paternity leave have all risen up the agenda, affordable childcare has become a priority. These are issues which strike at the heart of inequality in this country, they make real differences to people’s everyday lives and they owe their prominence to a new set of perspectives in parliament. It is a shame that Tamsin Dunwoody, herself an excellent candidate, will not be joining those ranks.
As I spoke to people in Crewe this week, many were clear what they wanted from their politicians. What we need in politics is not caricatures of class, but a discussion led by people who understand one another and the realities of people’s lives, even if they disagree on everything else. All political parties have the urge to win, but they also carry the responsibility to uphold faith in politics itself. In the end, personal attacks serve neither purpose. As a party we must be true to traditions of solidarity among people of all backgrounds, if we are to make sure that Crewe and Nantwich really was a one-off.
If that is the best the Minister for Skills can suggest, may I in turn suggest that next time he remains silent?
The one area in which I do agree with you David, is your point that the electorate “are not stupid; They know when politicians are trying to manage them, rather than listen to them.” In your case, perhaps responding to letters within a month would see your own local reputation slightly improved than its current state suggests?
David,It is a rather fair, if not accurate comment made by an MP. It is unfortunate that people only shed tears when hurt and acknowledge people when they are in need for them. Members of parliament can barely identify with anybody in the public and too often engage in character debates instead of dialogues between parties. Politic is dialogue not bullying. Politic is NOT family, it is an impartial job otherwise the objectives become biased and the public suffer the consequences. The ministers in place, however, take the role of parents for the nation, the WHOLE nation and not just one party or their supporters. And the salaries of many children (the public) is taken away from them like punishing kids with retrieving their pocket money. But it is more serious than just children. They are grown up adults who can be very judgemental and for good reasons. Low salaries, no proper legislation on annual salary increases for ALL which follow the annual TAX year, public health care which drags behind any concept of proper healthy health care and systems of education that still encourage people, youngsters towards poverty and no future improvement.
Besides all these, there is plenty of room for looking back, attempts of legislation amendment which lead nowhere but dragging the country further backward instead of progressing.
David, perhaps the ministers could spend more time on the street with people and truly hear what their concerns about the present and the future. And NOT just when it is election time, which I find a little too manipulative to my own liking.
David Lammy is right-on and it is vital that we restore trust in politicians and in our Labour politicians in particular. Despite all the doom and gloom all is not yet lost, unless we talk and argue ourselves into that position. Two examples from people I have talked with this week both set out the problem and give directions as to the what we need to do. Conversation one was with someone who has voted Labour all his life but who for the first time ever didn’t vote in the local elections. He didn’t feel he could support Labour because of the 10p issue and its seeming lack of concern about the rising cost of fuel and the impact it was having on his day to day life. However, he couldn’t bring himself to vote Conservative and had no time for the Lib-Dems. Conversation two was with a family member who didn’t vote because they felt all politicians were as bad as the other.
Restoring trust, respect and belief in us as the party of all the people is a key requirement. That requires deeds not words and words a plenty is what we seem to be getting at the moment. Please do not let us be shamed into action by the press and our critics from both within and without the Party, let’s get our remedial action in first.
The public are tired of professional politicians whose only experience is politics either at Westminster or with a Trades Union. If all Parliamentary candidates had real work experience (at least 10 years) before entering the House then they would be better attuned to the problems and lives of the people of this country. They are also fed up with politicians who to a simple question either lie, prevaricate or dodge giving an honest and straight answer – so many just spout the party mantra that they may just as well be robots that are wonld up now and then in order to respond to questions.
Also most politicians have salaries and exploit expenses far beyond the wildest dreams of their constituents – all of which is taxpayer’s money, but speak down to their constituents as if they do not understand politics and have the right to question their MPs. Chief criminals in this are Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman, Ed Balls and Hazel Blears.