New politics in Britain
A change in prime ministers in the UK might mean a change in politics as well.John Kampfner wrote an op-ed piece in the Telegraph (UK) that "A new battleground emerges in British politics"
"So Gordon Brown is Labour's new leader...
"Brown has managed to push the agenda on to the issue of 'aspiration'. This is a nebulous term, but in short it means: 'I will be the true defender of the struggling middle classes of Middle Britain.' In so doing, Brown is seeking to distance himself not just from the Left but also from the Blairite obsession with the rich.
"He is talking about families earning anything from £25,000 to £50,000, mortgaged to the hilt, worried about their choice of school and annoyed that they can't see their GP when they want to. They are not in any way poor, but nor do they consider themselves in any way pampered.
"They are politically aware, but not necessarily engaged; increasingly worried by global warming, but not necessarily prepared to make personal sacrifices. These people are more than the floating voter. They are, according to strategists in all the parties, the voter...
"Previously, Blair and Brown shied away from talking about inequality, fearing that anything they said would be construed as the old politics of grievance. A new battleground is emerging in British politics. It is shifting, not static, and is potentially open to all comers...
"These are early days for both sides, and normal confrontational service will soon resume. We cannot predict who will win the battle, but we have a much better idea of the territory on which the two men will fight."
Labels: leadership, politics, UK
posted by Ken Wedding @ 7:52 AM
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