Power to the people or political PR game?
I have two contradictory sides to my personality. The first is optimistic, idealistic, at times almost naïve. Let’s call it Bob Cratchit.
My other side – Scrooge, I suppose – is the cynical, suspicious nature born of a career involving minute analysis of the news on a daily basis, which inevitably makes you look at public announcements with a different lens.
It occurred to me this week that Scrooge has kept Bob Cratchit firmly rooted to his seat on numerous occasions when I read about some of the government’s recent grand plans.
It started with enhanced devolution for Scotland. More power to the Scots! Then English votes for English laws. More power to the English! Then devolution from Whitehall to city regions. More power to the cities! And within the blink of an eye we’re on our way to a ‘northern powerhouse’ called ManSheffLeedsPool (or is it ManSheffLeedsNewHullPool?) with its own tech hub, a high speed rail line all of its own and a new northern transport body to run it. More power to the North!
At this rate of generosity we may wake up next year and the government will have nothing to control beyond London and the home counties. Titles will have to be changed to reflect diminished responsibilities. The Prime Minister of Pimlico, Chancellor of the Essexchequer and the Minister for Middlesex will be born.
But is the government actually going to give the north power to make decisions? AND fast trains to boot? Bob Cratchit hopes so and is cheering loudly. He likes ambitious ideas; is all for re-balancing the economy, effecting social and economic change, and creating a fairer society and political system.
Scrooge, on the other hand, has other ideas that remind me of Robert the Bruce’s father. You know, that bit in Braveheart when he tells his son to support the rebellion from the north while condemning it in the south. Now when’s that general election again?