i Editor's Letter: Do we really want conviction politicians?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
The day after the “drown your sorrows” Budget, i’s mailbox was full – not as expected in response to the Chancellor – but because Simon Kelner had the temerity to support some of Michael Gove’s “learning by rote” suggestions so damned by the 100 academics who had written in to our sister paper, The Independent.
It is not the first time Gove has drawn such a response. In fact, every time he introduces an idea he meets with a stunning level of vituperative response. He elicits more abuse, even among you reasonable and fair-minded i readers than virtually any other figure, well, at least other politicians. His chief current rivals for this unwelcome crown of thorns are George Osborne and Nick Clegg. Of course, there’s the Prime Minister, but he’s bound to get more abuse – it goes with the job. That said, as a pre-Budget poll showed this week, it is Osborne’s unpopularity that gets in the way of his policies, more than most.
Gove may, unfortunately, suffer due to prejudice about his geeky appearance, but also – as with Osborne – there is an aversion to his apparent arrogance. It was there on this week’s BBC Question Time, when having just insisted that he takes all questions seriously, his response to the next one was a dismissive “yadda, yadda!”.
But I wonder… Gove and Osborne are among the conviction politicians of the Government. We think we want conviction politicians, but then we crucify those who stick to their guns: Thatcher, Livingstone and Blair (over Iraq, at least). The trouble with convictions is that they’re great as long as we share them. There is not (yet) this depth of aversion towards Ed Miliband or Theresa May. We don’t know enough about them. Nick Clegg? Well, he’s pilloried for (allegedly) not having convictions, but that’s another column.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments