Why can so few politicians communicate effectively? I was dismayed, but not shocked, to hear Nick Clegg tell Lib Dem conference that “we need to talk to people like grown-ups“. There’s so much wrong with this statement it doesn’t deserve analysis. But he’s not the only politician who struggles to talk normal. It got me wondering what happens when they are at home.
B (politician’s partner): Did you have a good day at work, darling?
P (politician): I think that’s a very important question which is why I’ve been talking to people up and down the country, listening to their views and taking the action I’m announcing today.
B: The kids had a good day today at school, but I’m worried about little P who’s struggling a bit with his maths homework.
P: Thanks to our unprecedented focus on numeracy, every child is getting the focus on core skills that he or she needs to compete in the global economy. The record investment in schools, opposed by the opposition, is delivering raised standards across the country.
B: But I’m worried that his teachers aren’t giving them the support he needs.
P: Thanks to the ‘every child matters’ agenda, there are over 20,000 children getting additional support in our extended schools and city academies.
Incidentally, darling, I noticed that the brake-light on the car needs a step-change. Could you action that to ensure that we are seen to be delivering?
B: Yes, darling. And would you like me to ensure that we take an holistic view to fixing the car?
P: Well, y’know, it’s important that we remain focussed on the things that are really important to people. Like jobs, the economy, ensuring inflation is low.
B: Yes, dear. Because the threat of rampant inflation was the talk of the nursery gate today.
R: Really? Do they not understand the regime of responsible, independent economic stewardship that we’ve created?
B: No, dear. I’m off to bed.
P: I really can’t be seen to be sleeping, darling. Not so soon after recess.
No – of course politicians don’t talk like that. You only have to look on Twitter or Facebook to see MPs as diverse as Nadine Dorries, Lynne Featherstone and Tom Watson engaging properly with people who want to listen to them – and talk to them. And MPs are not all the same, even if it’s hard to distinguish visually between a Cameron, a Clegg or a Miliband.
So why is it that the language of political debate has been reduced to the sort of corporate-speak which any sensible corporation abandoned 10 years ago?
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Tags: democratic reform, parliament