May
12
On becoming deputy prime minister (a considerable prize for a third place finish given the fuss about Gordon Brown) Nick Clegg said:
“I hope this is the start of the new politics I have always believed in – diverse, plural, where politicians of different persuasions come together, overcome their differences in order to deliver good government for the sake of the whole country.”
There’s a strain of this sentiment, particularly within the Liberal Democrats who know that they can’t achieve very much alone, but also within civic society.
But if politicians agree, what’s their purpose? We might as well leave it up to the civil servants.
As a start, here are five clear reasons why it’s bad if politicians agree with each other:
- Less scrutiny. As we will see a PMQs, there will be less scrutiny of the government because fewer voices will be represented during the session.
- “They’re all the same”. The public already think politicians are too similar. Now if you can’t tell the difference between the Tories and the Lib Dems, what’s the point? And if you can tell the difference at the next by-election, there will be real pressure on the coalition.
- Less ideology. The politics Nick Clegg espouses surely means that politicians should be driven less by belief (where disagreements are going to be greater) and more by pragmatism. Again, if politicians are just there to manage the country, wouldn’t civil servants to it just as well?
- More people disenfranchised. With fewer divergent voices, more people will be disenfranchised by the current political parties. Where do you go if you are a Simon-Hughes-Lib-Dem? Labour is too trade unionised, the Lib Dems too economically right-wing.
- Less political debate. Political debate usually produces bettter policies and a deeper understanding in the country. The more politicians try to seek common ground, the more they will be victims of group-think.
So, no, Nick. The “new politics” you speak of is not inherently better than fierce, passionate political disagreement. A woolly consensus is not what this country needs, given the scale of its problems.
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