Welcome dear friends around our globe,
Three months, four day's have past since last I wrote. Of which 'The House' has been on recess - not sitting - for 19 days. Not that I have been counting.
Call me a socially sceptical man or call me a socially sceptical man but surely the mood of our nation is wearing weary of the current political mishaps, sorry politics? In our age of what I term 'computer speech,' the all engaging hashtags- trend setters - which look like this: #hashtag (In case there was any misconception) we are, in my view, somewhat fittingly wise'ing-up to the 'mess we're' in' and the ever monotonous line reeled off year after year after year after year after year after year after year after decade after century by politicians. 'The situation we inherited from the last government.' So, rather unsurprisingly then, no actual ownership of responsibilities. To the somewhat un-trained eye this shares remarkable similes with the American political set-up (pardon the pun if you please.) Drafted Constitution of 1787 laid a system split between three tiers, Judicial, Legislative and Executive. No one tier has any real control as it is possible to partially block any given tier via the other. Over the pond the President has no real powers, he is reliant upon getting a motion - a bill - through all three houses if he wants to make the slightest impact. Frustrating. Interestingly most of the major motions put forward occur in the Presidents final year as a way of attempting to be voted back in the following elections. Writing nothing of the long drawn-out red-tape and dithering, as a direct result of afore mentioned tier system, taken to even get a motion to the floor of Congress. Ah, oh yes, and then all the aids to the President are immediately relieved of duties the very moment the new President becomes elected, so no real incentive for ownership here then either. Succinct longevity? Michael foot.
The falsities of Politics in our 21st Century Globe. Oh what larks. It really did used to be such fun.
"Question 11, was it answered?"
"Yes it was answered in questions 7,8 and 9 . . ."
"Oh. Then it is my mistake."
( PMQ's: 1961)
Historically us electorate have voted Conservative more often than Labour since the end of the last war. With murmurings of a change to the structure of Prime Ministers Questions, originally instigated in 1961 - first microphones in the House 1975 - as 'it detracts from the reputation of politics' the Theatre of Politics moreover the theatre of PMQ's may finally be relinquished to the wings.
John Berkow himself coined the culture of 'computer speech' I suggest we reside in last week calling it 'The twitter of politics.' Going further Berkow remarked: 'It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.'
Really does sum-it-all-up.
Seated in the Gods a warm breeze of change needs to occur. Both socially, politically and culturally. Here's a thought: Perhaps 2015's UK General Elections could be fought through the sphere of Twitter? Who has the most Hashtags? The most Facebook shares? Or even, dare I write, the most friends on Facebook? Although if in the event of some ghastly personal atrocity, like being made redundant, un-employed, and not allowed housing benefit as your spare room tax blocks this, it would be most interesting to see how many of these 'friends' actually came to help.
Us mere electorate have for some time now been on the hunt for something, someone refreshing. Perhaps a return to 'proper Politics,' not the Party Political wash of rhetoric and silliness displayed I would argue as a continuing fall-out from the scandals of the mid naughties. Rebecca Brooks was last week facing her fate in court, being asked about her alleged six year love affair with Cameron's ex-Communications Director, Andy Coulson. Saying about an email she sent to him within which she confessed her love for him: ' I may have had a few glasses of wine.' Mhh . . . we have all done this one way or other, this written it speaks volumes for the close relationship enjoyed by certain individuals in the press and politics. Now, as a passionate believer in the power of the press and in freedom of speech, I still read a proper newspaper, you know, the paper variety, I would argue with vigour the benefits of such a relationship. Insomuch as this is how the relationship between the two disciplines works best. Surely. A close relationship allows accurate and honest reporting of news which is 'of public interest', not simply 'of interest to the public' which seems to me to be the growing way of things. It has been this way for years, since before Thatcher, who's Press Secretary Sir Bernard Ingham famously stated ' she didn't want to be loved' and 'wasn't interested in the media' she then promptly courted dear old Ruppie . . . Murdoch.
Just one part of the fall-out we are experiencing in 2014, to write nothing of the adding increasing levels of mistrust in our Politicians so as we end-up in the 'mess we're in' now. But it is a mess we inherited from the last Government. Would it be appropriate to name Boris Johnson at this moment? I shall. Boris 'I beat you once I could do it again given a seat' Johnson came as ever like a fresh breeze of positive enlightenment during the London Mayoral elections of May 2008. Although In typical irony of the theme of this commentary, London has two Mayors. The London Mayor, currently our 'National Treasure,' the refreshingly engaging Boris. And the City of London -London's Financial District is termed The City - Mayor. Who generally prances about in a Gold leafed Carriage waving royally like the Queen once per year surrounded by 'the elite.' It is worth noting whilst sharing the playing fields of Eton with ' just call me Dave' Cameron, Boris - or BoJo as has been coined recently in-keeping with our age of 'computer speech,' 148 character reduction of the beautifully intricate English Language. I mean OMG, . . Really? (stress the ea in really like the Australians)was a Scholarship student, head-boy, Captain of Eton, elected to the elite Eton group known simply as Pop. Whilst just call me Dave was self-combusting his arguments from the' backbenches.' Now, surely an underlying tension must be present, a sense of 'by golly old boy I have something to prove what!' Boris has if little else, a resonance with society in our 'computer speech' age of Facebook and Twitter. He is in my view a physical characterisation of this, thus infinitely more in-tune with our society. Maybe this could be his USP in election campaign strategy? Copyright RJ Wardle.
Add into this 'marriage' Harriet 'I've been ball girl on the side of this tennis court too long' Harman, we would in my eyes, begin to see a progression towards a formation within the house of more 'believable ' politics. Harman, Johnson (although on opposite sides of the house,)' Straw, Milliband. Balls, Balls did anyone mention Ball's. I didn't.
As ever and always, it is my primary concern this inspires, engages, challenges and stimulates your mind one way or the other. Offering some small pleasure to any who care to read
Until we meet again through the page, #Peace
Warmly yours
R J Wardle
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