"It's The Sun Wot Won It" was the famous headline from Britain's favourite newspaper (apparently) after the Tories won the general election in 1992, and The Sun claimed a big part in helping them do so.And now, this morning, 17 years on, we wake to read that The Sun are making their political persuasions and election predictions fully known once again. This time, they are withdrawing their support from the government, claiming that "Labour's lost it".
It's a bold and damning statement, though Gordon Brown and co claim they are not getting too worried by it, saying it's not newspapers that win and lose elections, but that it's "It's the British people's views I'm interested in."
I feel Gordon is being a bit naive there and, although he won't admit it, I'm sure he is hurt by this deliberate move against his party from a newspaper read by three million voters every day, and many more non-readers will be influenced by this statement too.
In many ways, none of this is very surprising. The Sun is really only jumping on the bandwagon (and seeking publicity) of a swell of public opinion. Labour's been on a downward spiral since the heady Cool Britannia days and 'things can only get better' in 1997. Decisions made over matters including terrorism, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and health cuts have turned the British public against Labour, and Gordon Brown, in my eyes, isn't a strong enough leader for this country.
The alternative, however, is David Cameron and a Tory party with lots of unanswered questions and a history of failing the nation. They are sitting in pole position as we edge towards a general election next year. It's a shame, in my opinion, that the refreshing and forward-thinking Liberal Democrats aren't closer in the reckoning.
The Sun won it for Major in the early-90s; it's very likely they will do Dave a favour in 2010.
Posts
Typical of the Sun, really.
ReplyDeleteLabour has clearly made many mistakes, but most of them have been where they tried to behave like Tories. Unshakable faith in Markets, privatisation and a negative and superior attitude towards the working class and foreigners -- these have been Labour's major failings. So sad, from a party that gave us free health-care and a society in which the poor need not starve.
But turning to the Tories is essentially choosing the worst of New Labour rather than an alternative. It would all have been worse under the Tories and it will get worse if they win. I pray, fervently, that they will not. And, for good measure, that The Sun and Mr Murdoch will, with this election, begin to lose its inordinate influence on our society and world.
Maybe then there might be room for a true democracy, with which ordinary people would be more inspired to engage.
Most important, though, Christians need to vote in the election, and vote for the party with most concern for the poor.