How do you achieve anything in British politics? It’s simple: turn your cause into a TV drama. First, it was ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office. Now, it is Netflix and Adolescence. The release of the crime drama mini-series has sparked a veritable hue-and-cry about the urgent ‘crisis’ facing young British males. Keir Starmer proudly told the House last week that he has been watching it with his children; now the Prime Minister is encouraging schools across the country to show it to their pupils too. Netflix bosses must be delighted with all this free advertising…
Given the litany of crises facing the country, Steerpike wondered if the streaming giant could now be compelled to turn its attention to other matters. Maybe a wistful paean to the joys of having a virgin steel industry? Or a blistering exposé on the iniquities of fortnightly bin collections? Thus far, Labour seems to favour centrist-dad Trumpism: performatively bold, social-media theatre. So why not commission a succession of fiscally-responsible soft-left soap operas?
A series on Sir Keir, perhaps, in which the Prime Minister is both firm and fair – the perfect embodiment of Traditional British Values. A video of illegal migrants jetting off from Heathrow while that nasal tone growls softly ‘I get it, you’re angry. So am I.’ Our national love of history might even be exploited, to showcase this government’s great moments of statesmanship. Imagine Darkest Hour – but it is Sue Gray trying to justify Lord Alli’s freebies. Or the Diplomat, in which a series of WFH-ing officials beg the Americans to take the Chagos Islands off their hands over Zoom.
Assisted dying offers a rich source of inspiration too. The obligatory Stephen Graham appearing as the heroic male nurse – ‘Ye arrright there mate’ – compassionately putting incontinent people out of their misery. ‘Gritty, yet gripping’ says the Guardian. Baftas all round and gongs galore for Olivia Colman as Kim Leadbeater; mandatory showings before the real thing.
Talk about politics being showbiz for ugly people eh?
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