A new sort of politics?
- 3 Sep 07, 12:26 PM
"September usually sees the resumption of Westminster politics. But while party politics resumes its normal routines, it cannot - and should not - be business as usual". So said the prime minister in a speech this morning and I wouldn't dare to disagree.
Perhaps, though, I may be permitted to point out that he made this statement just as politics as usual resumed not just its normal routines but a frantic pre-election pace. That pace will not slow until Gordon Brown does what he on the radio this morning by killing speculation about a snap election.
The speech included a promise of what may turn out to be important innovations - the promise of citizens' juries to help formulate government policies, standing commissions to tackle long-term issues starting with the role of carers and a Speaker's conference involving all the political parties to look for solutions to the public's disengagement from politics.
I use the word may since, so far, Downing Street cannot answer even the most basic questions about who will sit on citizens' juries, how they'll be picked, whether they'll be paid, whether their evidence will be made public... and so on.
Without that detail what stands out from the speech is an attempt, once again, to wrong-foot the Tories in the name of creating a new sort of politics.
Today the PM extended a welcome hand once again to any Conservative willing to shake it. This morning he announced that Patrick Mercer, the for making allegedly racist remarks, would now be giving the government advice on security matters.
Only six months ago a Labour Party press release attacked Mr Mercer's comments on black soldiers as "shocking and unacceptable" and claimed that they revealed "the true face of the Conservative Party".
Having failed to persuade John Bercow MP to defect, Mr Brown's invited him to give advice on how the government can help children with learning difficulties.
Also in the frame for a job on a review - if he decides to take it - is Johan Eliasch, the man who's just resigned as deputy Tory treasurer in protest, his friends claim, at David Cameron's "swing to the right". He's been sounded out about advising on his passion - how to save the rainforests.
Over the past few weeks the Tories have proved remarkably willing to be wrong-footed. You can't blame Gordon Brown for carrying on trying. Calling it "the new politics" may be taking things a little far though.
