Mid term blues

Yesterday I discussed the low turnout in the recent UK elections (contrast, incidentally, with nearly 80% in France when the choice was between a deeply unopular incumbent and an opponent widely considered to ne terminally boring, and when a losing candidate had recommended abstention). Today, I am more interested in the mantra that govering politicians trot out on such occasions that 'this is normal, governments in mid term always get a kicking etc. etc.'


Why should it be normal ? Why should governments not be popular ? After all, politicians claim a mandate for their policies on the grounds that the electorate elected them on the strength of those policies. If they carry them out, why should they be unpopular ? It is an admission either that they are no good as politicians or that they are not carrying out the policies that brought them to power.


An alternative explanation is, of course, that the British public are so disillusioned with politics and political activity that they only vote in general elections under sufferance and then take the first opportunity to rehearse their disdain for politicians.


Either explanation is a terrible indictment on British politics. Even Alex Salmond, perhaps Britain's most effective and popular politician cannot encourage the Scots to turn out in significantly higher numbers than the English.

In the next two blogs I am going to look at two possible reasons for disillusionment OTHER than the obvious one  - that our politicians are very low calibre and the the voters recognise this. That is for a later date. The two explanations I shall look at are, first  why the electorate may be acting (or rather not acting) out of ignorance and confusion. Second it may be that the people they are electing are pretty much powerless so voting for them is futile.