Yesterday, this mole jumped on the everybody-laugh-at-Natalie-Bennett’s-awkward-interview bandwagon. But today, this mole’s whiskers are wilting in sympathy at the 500-word penned apology by the Green leader in the Guardian. The headline: “Life is a learning process and I’ve much still to learn”.
It begins: “This piece is simply an apology…” (tear).
It’s never easy being a politician in the limelight, and it shouldn’t be. We are asked all sorts of questions, from our taste in breakfast cereal to our thoughts on macroeconomic policy, and we’re always expected to have a well-informed and thought-through opinion.
On Tuesday morning I gave a terrible interview on LBC – let’s not pretend it was anything else. If you cringed listening to the show, than I’m sure you can imagine what I felt like.
We launched one aspect of our housing policy in early February. I was on top of the figures then, but I hadn’t looked at them since.
When asked about the figures, my mind simply went blank.
It’s easy to say that it “happens to everyone” but, on the day of our election launch, I should have made damn sure it didn’t happen to me. Listening back (which I’ve forced myself to do) I’ve found myself shouting at the radio….
It ends:
Yesterday morning reminded me that life is a learning process and that I have much still to learn. Unlike many other party leaders I haven’t been a politician for all that long. I’m willing to admit that this level of attention is a challenge, but it’s one that I can and will rise to. Never before in my lifetime have I seen such appetite for change in this country, and I have a duty to my party and to our 509 candidates in England and Wales to lead from the front.
I’m not going to pretend I’m not upset about my performance, I am. But I’m also more determined than ever that the Green party’s policies get a fair hearing at this election.
Awww, somebody give her a tree to hug.
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