Filed under: General
As you may have noticed, this is a personal blog which rarely - if ever - talks about the substance of my day job. That’s for a very good reason, one that has been highlighted today by this article from Welsh Bloggers.
I wouldn’t compare myself to Daran other than, potentially, in the height stakes, but we do both spend a lot of time in Cardiff Bay, in and around the Assembly, its Members and staff. Unlike Daran, I was already blogging before I stepped into the role I now have (or rather shaped, to answer a devolved system which had been undervalued to that time by those for whom I work) and have been incredibly conscious of mixing business and pleasure. Whilst Daran’s work involves giving views on policy and politics to different organisations and the media, mine is very much to deliver a prescribed message. As such, the danger of alienation of someone who next week could be the new spokesperson on something rather important would be significantly career limiting.
I also enjoy the company of many of the people I work with - mostly in the pub to which the article refers. This leaves me able to pick up the tittle-tattle of the Bay as I think I’m perceived as either a safe pair of hands in not passing information to other politicians or so unimportant that any form of candour is not necessary. I very often know about a story the day before it breaks - or invariably doesn’t - in the media, but would not dream of coming home and blogging about it.
I could, of course, have established a separate, political blog, breaking the stories and hiding behind a shield of anonymity. However, that’s not me. I may never put my full name, rank and serial number across IARIW, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out who I am - if a person wants to. I know that there are people who I know in both my personal and professional lives who read this. However, they tend to be the ones who know me quite well already. This blog is never going to be happened upon by someone who I would rather not know about my life, who then puts two and two together and comes knocking on my office door.
However, in a week like we’ve just had, it is almost impossible to say anything on a blog that doesn’t refer to the political scene. It was the same for me when the Iraq War began. I couldn’t countenance not talking about it here. To do anything but voice my opposition would have been denying the person I am. I may not have had any influence - the fact that, as a country, we are still talking about Iraq and the horrors of life there - says that the “shock and awe” tactics I blogged about in the early days had little effect either in that country or, in a positive way, on the countries who took part. Anyway, I’ve become sidelined, as I so often do (right now, I should be writing invitations to the young mans 5th birthday - call this an avoidance blog, if you will) so will get back to the point.
Last summer, news broke of scandals within the Welsh Assembly over expenses. Many were admonished for “outlandish” spending on their second homes in the Bay and particular how they had been furnished. This has, however, now paled into insignificance against the major fraudulent activities that have been seen in Westminster, with all its flipping disgraces. I’m sure there is more to come, after all the European Parliament is another can of worms that I am amazed hasn’t had more focus with the elections so close.
However, What worries me most about the events over the last week or so is not the acts themselves, it is the effect it’s had on the British public. To lose faith in democracy because of those who seek and win election is a crime against ourselves. A wiser person than I once pondered that those who put themselves forward for political office should be immediately barred from holding it. There is some merit in this. Today, politics is seen as a career that a person can enter almost straight from college - probably via a job within a political party or politicians office. There is no real life experience and for some, perhaps more importantly, no campaign experience either within student politics or civic society. It’s about keeping your nose clean - unless it’s brown from the position taken behind those in power.
Politicians need to be vocal and have views that they believe in so forcefully that they are willing to stand apart from their party and protest loudly. Preferably these should reflect the will of their electorate - or be so much part of themselves that this electorate knew what they were taking on when they cast their vote. I will always applaud those, from whichever party, who are brave enough in todays political culture to move away from towing the party line. There are few in Wales and, it would appear, even fewer in Westminster. What I think will now be interesting is how many politicians decide, with the lines of funding seriously curtailed, that another career becomes more welcoming. How many will not seek re-election when the time comes - either in Wales or at Westminster?
There is the possiblity for this crisis of confidence in our political system to result in a new way of delivering real results for the population at large and, if it is not grasped, we could see a culture of low voter turn-out and scandal-ridden politics that I - and many others - will find increasingly difficult to defend. I spend many evenings persuading friends that voting in the latest election - or becoming involved in some campaign or other - is an important activity to squeeze into their often already over-burdened lives. “Why bother?” is something I hear often - and over the last few days I have been contacted by a few people for my thoughts or to remonstrate that this is why politics is such a low priority for them. I’ve managed, to date, to maintain an arguement, but unless real change is forthcoming, I don’t know for how much longer I can do this.
I am a cynic at heart but with an over-riding belief that a person is good - and it is only their experiences that change this. This episode is a wake up call for the good in us all, and politicians in particular. We all need to take responsibility for our actions - and if we are not able to defend them to ourselves, realise that we need to take stock and change. The Fees Office should never have passed out information, or paid on expenses, that were clearly bending the rules. However, they were asked the questions and given the receipts from people who should have stopped, thought and realised that they are representing people - real people - who have to pay their own way in life and manage their out-goings to match their incomes.
I live in hope of a better political future for us all. For an anorak wearing political geek like myself, the last week has given me plenty to Twitter about. However, I’d really rather be using my time to benefit society at large - through arguing for better policy and greater awareness - than wasting it on this.
Hopefully, next week, I can go back to moaning about the ironing and the lack of good TV. After all, politics has no place on this blog…
PS - With apologies to Saint Billy of Bragg for the bastardisation of his song titles…