The Prime Minister announced this morning a course of action which has the potential to dramatically alter the political landscape of the United Kingdom forever.
The growth in popularity of previously dismissed parties such as UKIP and the SNP, each from radically different sides of the political spectrum, has for some time pointed to public disillusionment with “the establishment.” Voter turnout at the last general election, was the lowest ever. However nearly 87% of Scotts voted in the referendum, many for the very first time. It’s not that the electorate are disengaged or apathetic, but rather that they are uninspired by their choices.
It has long been said that modern politics lacks characters. Reacting to polling and what will play well from a PR perspective, appear to drive policy, rather than any obvious sense of conviction. Within the last 4 years, again and again the major parties have responded to a hiding by the electorate by saying ‘we’re listening.’ This trite phrase has been trotted out with deepest sincerity by Miliband, Clegg and Cameron, as if their constituents were speaking in one homogeneous voice, which they have thus far been deaf too.
The painful truth is, that there is no one united list of demands being made by the people, of their elected officials. Modern life offers a Smørrebrød from which we pick and choose according to our tastes, fashion and convenience. Very few people regardless of background, economic status, gender or race would seek to identify as being in any one group. Even where these distinctions do exist, they are seldom exclusive with individuals embracing a number of identities.
We live in a world where the next great innovation becomes something without which we cannot live very quickly. Pioneers in industry like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg have given us iPhones and Facebook. Embraced by virtually everyone despite being unimagined a few years ago and fulfilling a need we hitherto did not know existed.
Within this landscape, there is a space for exceptional political leadership. With the electorate not clear on exactly what they want, so much as they are clear on it ‘not being this,’ the time has come to set out a radical vision for what the country could look like. The SNP used this referendum to paint a future Scotland as a socialist utopia. Although the feasibility of this was questioned, and ultimately remaining in the United Kingdom was the preference of the majority, the passion and enthusiasm of the ‘Yes’ camp was infectious. The brave new Scotland which Alex Salmond imagined, captured the hearts and minds of a nation, and undecideds became nationalists in droves. The ‘better together’ campaign must reflect on the reasons why a 20 point lead seemed to vanish in recent weeks.
The public respond well to authenticity and leaders who appear to have a clear vision. Anyone aspiring to make an lasting and significant difference must be prepared to weather the storm of unpopularity at times. The mantra that you can never please everyone holds as true for politics as for life.
This watershed moment brought by Cameron’s commitment to devolve more powers to Scotland and simultaneously ensure the rights of Northern Ireland, England and Wales, provides him with a unique opportunity to create and advocate for, his vision for the United Kingdom. He should be bold and decisive, and most importantly believe in it truly. This will be his legacy and it should be him, and not a focus group, which authors it.
By Carol Freeman, political consultant – follow Carol on Twitter
