What’s more important – a Conservative victory or the future of our democracy?
This is quite a provocative headline, and rightly so. The government are under yet more pressure over corruption allegations. Iain Dale makes some quite succinct points about it today. He criticises the Conservatives for comments relating to Blair’s latest “supposed” bit of corruption (that he didn’t pay Business Rates on the single room office in his Sedgefield home). He is right, this is a nothing story, and critical comments from Conservatives just give credence to such claptrap. When it comes to issues of corruption and wrongdoing, the best thing the Conservatives can do is keep quiet – except where investigations are being ignored or covered up. Giving legs to meaningless stories further undermines our democracy and the reputation of politics in general, as a result the Conservative Party suffers too. I am convinced that the Party I support has changed considerably and is not the same one that was involved in so many scandals in the 90s – but my opinions are not matched by the electorate who choose to see issues of corruption as reflecting on politics in general, not the party from which the issues originate.
The impact of a decade and a half of reported misconduct of National politicians is having its effect. That is almost certainly one of the reasons why turnout is so low. History tells us that we must recognise that the rise in extremist organisations like the BNP, (see this article about Margaret Hodge) is not just about a failure to properly address the immigration problem. If people had confidence in politicians to deliver for them, instead of hankering for power for the sake of it and feathering the nests of those that cosy up to them, they would not feel the need to turn to disgraceful organisations like the BNP.
We are at a very crucial point in British politics, and Conservative politicians must start to recognise that the responsible way to behave is to rubbish stories that have no credibility instead of building them up.
The impact of a decade and a half of reported misconduct of National politicians is having its effect. That is almost certainly one of the reasons why turnout is so low. History tells us that we must recognise that the rise in extremist organisations like the BNP, (see this article about Margaret Hodge) is not just about a failure to properly address the immigration problem. If people had confidence in politicians to deliver for them, instead of hankering for power for the sake of it and feathering the nests of those that cosy up to them, they would not feel the need to turn to disgraceful organisations like the BNP.
We are at a very crucial point in British politics, and Conservative politicians must start to recognise that the responsible way to behave is to rubbish stories that have no credibility instead of building them up.
posted by Martin Curtis at 6:12 PM
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