What politicians hardly tell the

public?

The Multi Party Election TV Debate in Britain

by Victor Cherubim
( April 3, 2015, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Seven Multi Party Leader, first two hour TV Debate in
Britain on 2 April 2015 is over. There are other debates coming and 35 days still to go to the polls. Four men

and three women battled it out with the women beating the men on presentation and clarity of argument on
TV. Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister, Scottish National Party was convincing in her balanced views, arguably
stood out top in the viewers opinions.
Ed Milliband, Labour had the edge over David Cameron with a percentage point of 25/24, per the Guardian
newspaper ICM Poll, Among the five issues debated were NHS, Immigration, Employment, Education and
the Economy. The Prime Minister fielded difficult questions, so did others, both from the audience and the
panel, but kept his composure, although he was visibly hot under the collar. Nigel Farage, UKIP Leader was
at his marmite best challenging David Cameron with his rehearsed views on Britain being unable to do
much for herself in Europe.
Britain appeared to have moved on from being a two party to a multi party political system, with diversity
of views among the regions of the United Kingdom. Though there was no representation on the panel from
Northern Ireland, none of the regions wished to be bound by the result, at a referendum on Europe.

Question Time
The TV stage and the positions of the leaders at their podiums took prominence. Labour Ed Milliband in
the centre and David Cameron at the extremity to his left, were distanced in many ways and in the debate,
which seemed crowded. A cacophony of voices, accents, personalities and politics came across to divert the
attention of real issues. But in my opinion,what was not said mattered most than what was said.
Each of the leaders had one minute to put across their views at the start. Diversity of opinion prevailed, but
the focus of the event was on gestures and body language of each, which engaged the audience, but
sometimes, masked the message. However, the central theme which was never raised during the two hours
of question time was who would succeed David Cameron either in or out of office.

Did you know?

Did you know that the Tories are planning 12 billion worth of welfare cuts after the election? Do you know
that the public have little or no trust in government spin, in banks, in big data or big business? Opposite of
what we think we know, researchers maintain that Labour has a record of being seen best for business,
particularly small business and job creation. With all the backing from their respective parties, the smaller
parties have been squeezed into a sandwich, perhaps willing to join a major party as a coalition or remain
part of a minority government. The mood of the electorate, as discerned by the questions, is for innovative
change in the economy.
Trust in big business to deliver jobs is slowly but surely faltering. Echoes of previous election trends are far
removed from what the polls say today. There is an element of disconnect. There is a undercurrent of
disaffection from politics to deliver on promises.Labour is afraid to reveal what they are going to do in
government and the Conservatives are unwilling or rather unable to spell out their plans on cutting
services. Uncertainty and innovation are uppermost in the minds of the public and of politicians alike.

Anomalies in politics
What politicians of all parties might be hiding are anomalies? The minimum wage in practice often happens
to be the maximum wage. The Conservatives have been on the heels of big business tracking banks and tax
avoidance, not endearing them to their financial support base as in the past. The Trade Union Congress
speaks for workers and votes Labour, collects a membership levy from every trade unionist worker. But the
strike weapon seen as the ultimate weapon of the working people has lost its potency due to
unemployment. Trade Union membership further has dwindled from 30 million in the 1970s, now
standing at 6.5 million members in the UK. Opinion polls show, most trade unionists do not vote Labour,
perhaps, they think and act differently and see a virtue in supporting UKIP policies instead.
One of the glaring anomalies in politics today is that Conservatives have moved on from the assurance of
support from true blue British voters and rely on the vote base of minorities of all persuasions. Reducing
immigration from Europe is an issue, but David Camerons coalition government has let in some 625,000
migrant workers from New Europe. UKIP challenges them now to cap the numbers at 50,000. Other than
UKIP there are splinter parties, like the Independence from Europe party, who vigorously canvass Britain
to get out of Europe and cut its contribution of the European budget. It is anybodys guess if workers in
Britain have the will to replace these migrants, who brought into being new ways of working and the
introduction of zero hours contracts exploited by Big Business.

How do the parties plan to manage change?

We often hear about Labour as a party of spend, taxing the pips of the rich, and throwing money at
problems hoping for solutions. We also hear of the Conservatives as a party of cutting core services to cut
taxes for the super rich. Both these main parties are silent on how to fund the recovery. The mantra of
sustaining recovery is close to both parties to manage UKs fragile economy. Policies are being hidden
behind personalities. The public have a difficult choice with the credibility factor.

Tax and Spend

Spending plans are too close to their chest. NHS is said to be precious with both parties, Years of neglect
are obviously seen, but Labour will not want to make any promises without costing out while Conservatives,
wont make any promises which they already know they cannot deliver. Labour is challenging the
Conservatives of increasing VAT to maintain the National Heath at todays level. Both accuse each other of
Tax and Spend. Increasing the threshold on Corporation Tax to 50,000 as part of Tory Manifesto;
Labour says it has innovative ways to reduce the debt burden without giving in to excessive demands of the
working class. The public are aware and seem unwilling to tighten their belts further of Tory austerity
measures. Labour is seen as a safe pair of hands, on not privatising the NHS.

Innovation through localisation

Managing the economy by reducing the debt and still cutting welfare, through what is termed as
localisation has been put in place. Borough Councils around the country have come up with innovative
ideas to reduce spending and provide acceptable levels of service. The Council Tax levies by boroughs
through England and Wales has been capped. However unbecoming, essential services like Police and Fire
Brigades,no one hears, have been trimmed beyond recognition.
Councils have now become commercially minded instead, through shared services between two, three
Borough Councils to reduce overheads and costs. They are at the vanguard of innovation to meet the
growing demand on central services of government. The Rise of Entrepreneurialism in Local Government
forecasts by 2020 that the entrepreneurial councils could account for at least 27.4 billions of additional
revenue. This would help subsidise, say the construction of 80,000 homes across England or pay the
salaries of more than 58,000 teachers by the year 2020, Councils now work in a profit driven environment
and are getting better at it. The variety of work, from policy to frontline delivery, and the broad range of
issues including housing, economic regeneration, public health education and green initiatives to name a
few, offer unlimited opportunities and valuable cost savings for both the Government and the Council.

Who is best for business and to create work?

The public and the politicians can challenge each other at elections every five years. Politicians want to
think they provide care and welfare changes which the public demand. Whilst a charade of 100 business
entrepreneurs say one thing in support of the Conservatives and another group of 100 use the media to
back Labour, the electorate may decide and vote for the party who they think is best for business and to
safeguard jobs. However, given the choice over multi-parties, all claiming public attention, clamouring
voices and a clash of personalities, the easiest option open, is to vote by gut feeling which naturally is
unpredictable.
Posted by Thavam