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Dragging politics down
- Posted by James Macintyre
- 08 May 2009 12:14
No matter the reality of the latest expenses revelations, the public perception of politics is sliding and it could have a dramatic effect on turnout at the next election
Public perception about expenses will hurt all the parties
Last night I gave a talk to a sceptical sixth-form in Surrey, in which I tried my best to claim that the majority of British politicians are uncorrupt.
I’m glad I’m not giving the same talk this evening, after the release of fresh, embarrassing expense claim details from the Cabinet.
First thing’s first: it doesn’t matter that the Telegraph “investigation” probably amounted to payment for a disc detailing the claims. It doesn’t matter that the Tories – who will doubtless remain relatively silent on the matter in the coming days – will, one assumes, be next. And it certainly does not matter, as Harriet Harman is trying to claim it does, that the “rules” have been adhered to.
If there is any set of rules crying out for abolition it is those relating to MPs expenses.
No, what matters is that the perception is now clearly around that this government is no better in terms of ethical behaviour than the last Conservative administration: there is the sense – however justified – of a party that has a void at its heart and has got too used to being in office.
It is an irony that some Labour figures complain – rightly – that much of the media and the Tories view Labour as simply “borrowing” power from the Tories who have a natural right to it. Now, it appears Labour has become all too naturally the party of government, in the worst sense.
Will the public understand why Gordon Brown needed to spend £240 a month on a cleaner? He paid his brother, Andrew, £6,577 for arranging cleaning for his Westminster flat for 26 months. The going rate is around £10 an hour.
Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary who doubles up as a political pundit analyzing Brown’s communications skills, is now firmly as guilty as Jacqui Smith, the embattled Home Secretary when it comes to expenses, for which she claimed on three separate homes. This included two TV sets. She is falling back on the “within the rules” argument.
The Culture Secretary Andy Burnham appears to have made such an outlandish claim for one Ikea item that even the soft-touch Parliamentary authorities turned it down. He claims it was a “genuine oversight”, of which there seem to have been quite a few among politicians in recent years.
The result of all this is that the reputation of politics sinks a little further into the gutter. As well as angry recriminations, there will follow calls for MPs to be paid more. I am not sure that is the answer: £60,000 should be enough for someone who has chosen public service over the City.
Because of our system in which the executive emerges from the legislature, the public see all politicians as the same: and now they will see them as all the more corrupt.
All political parties will suffer, including the Liberal Democrats, and the only certain result will be a record low-turnout at the next general election.
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