“Boris Johnson has proved himself a great politician. Now he has to show he can be a great prime minister.” To read the above in the weekend Financial Times was worthy of a double take. Indeed, that FT edition was marked by a new tone of optimism, if cautious, for the UK as a nation, creating unity and prosperity. In general, the post-election media reaction has shown a shift in approach, while recognising challenges and potential bumps in the road, to perhaps daring to display the much- needed hopefulness for the UK’s future and standing.
It was therefore doubly sad that, in defeat, none of the leaders of the main political parties could demonstrate any magnanimity or grace. Why were these leaders incapable of expressing a modicum of congratulation to Boris Johnson and his team for their success, while of course quite reasonably regretting the country did not favour their own party? All Labour could manage was an internal reflective pose, without any sense of wishing the UK success on the path chosen democratically by the electorate, and without any commitment to remain a force to challenge the Government in opposition- its role for probably the next 5 years. Overall, they have ignored voters.
Likewise, the Liberal Democrat leader who focussed on the dismay and desperation she thinks millions of voters would be feeling because of the result, reiterating her continued belief in the rightness of her policies. No mention of wishing the country success with the new leadership.
We simply observe that these reactions reflect the negativism of these parties’ electoral stance, with evident hatred so often, from the start of and throughout their campaigns, and their overstated, and perhaps orchestrated, deception to discredit and insult Boris Johnson. The UK electorate saw through the dishonesty.
In similar vein, the SNP leadership found no words of grace to accept that their objective, shared with the others, to keep the Conservatives out, had failed. Unsurprisingly perhaps, they trumpeted their success in getting seats in Scotland and their constant single objective to have another independence vote in Scotland, with little regard for the UK as a whole-tacked on as an afterthought.
These post-mortem commentaries betray another misunderstanding: these leaders demonstrate little, if any, pride and confidence in the UK, its achievements and potential- an absence of patriotism. Perhaps that pride and patriotism are values of much of the UK electorate, which Boris Johnson understands, but other leaders do not or consider them to be “illiberal” and a sign of unthinking nationalism, again failing to listen to voters. These values can be genuinely espoused in combination with a broad progressive approach and close empathy with Continental Europe. Do some Remainers regard them as perhaps incompatible?
Nevertheless, it is hoped that people throughout the UK, whatever their view on Brexit, will see that it is in the interests of the entire UK that the new Government at least delivers on its promises, goes further to iron out inequalities across the regions, agrees an EU trade treaty which serves the country well , and seeks to maximise the potential of all people. Also, does not the media have a special role in encouraging this success and fostering the self-belief, not self- denigration, which will bring that success about? Why would anybody in the UK, who has any patriotic sense whatsoever, resist these aspirations? In addition, and on the other hand, Boris Johnson and his Government must be held to account when they evade or neglect these responsibilities.
