Words you hardly ever hear from a politician, but Nick Clegg has said them and may have just changed the game for political apologies. All this depends on how the polls change in the coming weeks, but I have an increased respect for Mr Clegg as a result. However, I would still be more likely to go limbo dancing with Gordon Brown than vote for his party.
You can watch the apology here
This whole apology raises the larger issue of politicians being humble and, let's be honest, human. After all, isn’t that what we want? Don’t we want them to be more in touch, more like us? Well I know I make mistakes. I make a lot of them - more than I would like, especially when it comes to work - but we all make errors in judgement. What you have to do is avoid making an overreaction too quickly, not stick blindly to what you wanted even if it is wrong and, most of all, be humble and admit your mistake.
Is it any wonder that politicians don’t like to do this though? I was watching BBC Breakfast a few weeks ago and Bill Turnbull came out with a classic: “Two years in, and a change of direction in policy. Not very good, is it?” Why, Bill? Why would you say that? If in any other walk of life you lay out plans two years ahead and the situation inevitably changes, you are given credit for being flexible, but in politics it is a sign of weakness. Curse these people for not being able to see into the future and make foolproof decisions.
This drives me mad, I want to applaud politicians strong enough to change direction when what they ideally wanted is not the best way, or new information becomes available that causes them to have a rethink. How much better off would we be if this happened more often? Maybe Labour would have stopped the NHS computer system and ID cards early, saving a fortune on mistakes. They may have also given us a vote on the Lisbon treaty (probably not) and perhaps it would make it possible for us to have more open and honest politics.
Imagine a world where instead of spin we get a “this hasn’t entirely worked so we are looking into making a change.” I know what world I want to live in. What about you?
In case you are interested, the parody song is available below.
What I want is a world where politicians actually tell the truth, not what is merely expedient. A world in which the electorate is both informed and well enough educated to understand the information and where opportunists like Master Clegg will willingly fall on their sword when they are found out.
ReplyDeleteAnd he appears to have been apologising more for making the promise than for breaking it.