Sunday 9 May 2021

Politics and personalities

Luck, or fortune, is important in life. Being in the right place at the right time or making the right decision can have a massive influence. Some people just seem more fortunate than others.

Prime Minister Johnson is one of them. He can scarcely believe that after so much turmoil and criticism, initially over his handling of the pandemic and lately, personal problems, that it now seems plain sailing. 

The elections could not have been better timed for him. His saviour - vaccination and the near prospect of a normal life after all these months of tribulation

Other prime ministers whose fortunes changed dramatically include Mrs Thatcher, thanks to the Falklands war, and Winston Churchill who earned historic fame in World War Two.

It was the war against the pandemic that changed the tide for Mr Johnson.

But the election with its long drawn out poll counting is cause for concern, not just for him but for the UK.

The public’s muddled thinking and irrational polling pattern suggests that there is real danger ahead for the country, with Mr Johnson leader of England with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland pondering on their future.

Despite the importance of efficient governance and a long promised but never achieved equality - ‘levelling up’ - under half the electorate bothered to turn out. 

When you look back at the ages-old struggle to achieve votes for all - now including sixteen and seventeen year olds - it is a sad reflection on democracy in the UK.

Another unusual feature of the election was the impact of personalities.

Millions of voters are happy with Mr Johnson’s  bonhomie, his jack-the-lad profile. He is a larger than life character, like the blow up version exhibited after his election victory - I wonder who paid for that.

There is the forceful, strident femininity of Mrs Sturgeon and the quiet confidence of Mark Drakeford. I found his comment about the warmth of feeling he experienced when out and about before the poll quite moving.

It is not all about politics all the time.

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