Comedians love politicians as cannon fodder on their show… so stick to your own show Dave and be a leader instead! The Mayor of London, Boris Johnston, got away with being himself on the David Letterman Show before the London Olympic Games – although he had to bear a witty jibe about “when did you stop cutting your own hair” from the host David Letterman – which he carried off with his usual aplomb as a more experienced TV personality may be expected too. His appearance on BBC2’s “Have I Got News For You” stood him in good preparation for an appearance on any Stateside big time talk shows. Yet can the same be said for our “call me Dave” serving Prime Minister David Cameron who was made to look a bit foolish over questions regarding his attendance at the exclusive Eton College and his public schoolboy knowledge of Latin grammar. When asked about the meaning of Magna Carta (Great Charter) in 1215 he struggled but at least he did manage to say the date correctly.
The question is whether he should be doing entertainment shows at all, especially when the US is in Presidential election mode and making fools of politicians are part of these shows’ weekly diet up until November 6th, their polling day. Back here in the UK with the Autumnal political party conferences in full swing, hackles are being raised with his coalition partners as his deputy Nick Clegg promises “to soak the rich” with tax rises for those who earn more than £50,000 in an attempt to appease his own party activists, particularly those on the left. Whether Lib-Dems do bad stand-up comedy routines from delegates, or display “I’m sorry mugs” for sale in the foyer, I find listening to Lib-Dems trying to be more left wing in their attitude to taxation than the Labour galling to say the least. Should they decide to start thumping the mass-affluent with more taxes than already planned and there will never be any meaning to consumer lead recovery. Mind you isn’t that what “old money, no money”, chip on the shoulder, former toffs and state employees in rural parts of the UK want? No development if it spoils their idyllic existence and no responsibility in their decision-making – what a shock government must be to them! So lets give some respect to Clegg and Cable for facing up to the challenge of being in power.
The UK Chancellor’s George Osborne attempt to reduce the state headcount and cut their benefits is a bold one, and acts as a hope to get people re-employed in the private sector and hopefully voting Conservative again after losing them in the build-up of state employees in the Labour years of 1997-2010. This is battle ground politics indeed. After a poorly received March Budget and with senior ministers, from Francis Maude and his “jerry can” blunder or Andrew Mitchell’s alleged “pleb” comment, making rods to beat their own backs must be avoided and solid credible performances are now required. Some coherent policies on economy revival from David Cameron and his ministers are necessary, particularly regarding the debate between increasing or decreasing capital expenditure, raising new taxes and to levy these on whom and when. His priority should certainly not be appearing on US talks shows whilst on international business, no matter how you may think it could drum up business. No, Dave it’s just more trouble and a loss of credibility. Be a leader not a cannon fodder!
LDC
“Call me Dave”- a phrase used by Andrew Neil on BBC’s This Week.
“To soak the rich”- well known cliché.
“Old money, no money” LDC, my phrase and more of it later