The curse of being the Next Big Thing
Fraser Nelson 12:20pm
I almost feel sorry for the Tory Ten in Tatler. Great to get the profile, of course, but there’s no greater curse in politics than being tipped as the Next Big Thing. And the spread even assigns them all Cabinet positions (“tipped as a future Chancellor of the Exchequer” etc).
The media mood has swung – see The Guardian’s leader the other day - and there’s a huge appetite to crown a new establishment. The media loves heroes, especially new ones, just as it loved villains in the Hague/IDS era.
But this swing of the pendulum brings mixed blessings. The public don’t like feeling that their vote is being taken for granted, and picking up these publications – where ten Tories seemingly pose as the next Cabinet before they’ve even been elected to parliament – will look like premature triumphalism.
I don’t blame the candidates, raising the profile with a Tatler magazine interview is pivotal to getting elected. But the sheer media appetite to get behind the Next Big Thing may give the impression to voters that election is over already and as Barack Obama is finding in America, voters like that not one bit.
As James says in this week’s magazine, the danger Cameron faces is a similar danger to Obama being portrayed as the incumbent by an over-excited media, this allows a new candidate from the ruling party to pose as the underdog.
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Simon
September 11th, 2008 12:37pm Report this commentThere is a much healthier level of cynicism in the British media that will never build up Cameron as some sort of messianic figure as the US media has done to Obama.
The Tatler article will really not reach out beyond the political chatterers and so won't really have any lasting impact.
What matters now is a steady building up of policy detail and a dedication to hard work and not taking things for granted. I think the Tory planners know this and won't fall into the trap.
GS London
September 11th, 2008 1:39pm Report this commentQuite so. We all saw what happened to Kinnock, and he didn't really have the media to back him. There's nothing worse than assuming you've already won - this only leads to either disappointment or polite acceptance. Better to be pleasantly surprised!
Tom
September 11th, 2008 1:48pm Report this commentI thought that was one of the most depressing things I ever read. All of them yearning to be professional politicians. No life experience, no local political experience. Many there simply because of family connections. Nauseating.
LSS
September 11th, 2008 2:35pm Report this commentCompletely agree Simon. This next election wont be swung on the basis of articles like this. As long as the Conservative Party continue to work hard and more importantly the candidates keep working in their respective patches, building up a rapport with the local people and working on issues that matter then the current poll lead will translate come GE time.
Verity
September 11th, 2008 2:51pm Report this commentPresenting these young things, who look nice in chic clothes, as do most young people, yet who have done zero, zilch, nada in their lives gives the impression that Tories regard politics as something to "do". Not one of them has had a long slog in the real world, yet they aspire to legislate and govern on the part of office cleaners who go to work at 5 a.m., brain surgeons, shop assistants, people who work in coffee shops and fast food joints, bus drivers, solicitors, barristers, chemical engineers, airline pilots, flight attendants and check-in personnel, car mechanics, builders ... and many other professions and jobs which have never touched these people, unless daddy is a brain surgeon or a barrrister.
I have absolute contempt for them and I think a minimum age for standing for Parliament should be legislated stat. If the Tories ever get back in - by no means certain this time with vapid Dave at the helm - a minimum age for service in Parliament - and a minimum period of time working in the real world - say 15 years - has to be legislated. I don't care about academic requirements. Just prove to me that you can make it in the rough and tumble of the world around you - and that you can do well.
Get rid of Labour's 3,000 plus new laws, and bring in this one shiney new law and the standard of service will rise. For one thing, no more ignorant old lags like Jack Straw, Harriett Harpic, Gordon Brown et al. For another, MPs who can sincerely, through gritty experience, relate to their constituents.
If the Stupid Party, the Disconnected Party, put these Tatler people forward, they've lost my vote forever.
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