A weird title is a good start to an article. It encourages the reader to examine whether this is the start of a sophisticated ramble on existential issues, or the writer’s descent into mental disintegration. Sorry to disappoint, but it’s neither. It’s about the bull in china – that is, in the china shop; and not in China itself.
What does the bull – well, the human version – do in the china shop? He wrecks everything in sight, mainly because a prevailing sense of personal dominance; and other characteristics of excessive self-assurance, have left him unable to achieve sensible solutions. All in the name of good; and most, if not all, ending up bad. And we’re talking now about politics.
We won’t go into names because there are times when, for very good reasons, I keep my mouth shut. Furthermore, let’s not jump to conclusions regarding those names because many fit that bill in our world. We are seeing the emergence and growth of the bold politician who claims to work for the public good, yet seems to lack any concern about future accountability to that same general public.
I was not planning to mention names, but will make one exception; for the sake of perspective. Halfway across the world, in a northerly direction, you have an island that exactly 85 years ago, early in the Second World War, fought off a huge German aerial attack that, if successful, would have led to a global society of disastrous characteristics. This, in the summer and autumn of 1940, was the Battle of Britain. About it the UK prime minister, Winston Churchill, later said: “Never in our history has so much been owed by so many, to so few.” He was referring to the heroic efforts of the British pilots entrusted to win this crucial air battle in the skies over England. And against the massive attacks by the German Luftwaffe (air force), they did just that; Adolf Hitler backed off, never to conquer England; nor the rest of the world, as he’d been doing up to that point.
Forgive the long, nostalgic digression, but stay in that country where, in common with the USA, politics have long revolved around two main parties. Always one or the other party in government. It’s been Labour versus Conservatives, with occasional dalliances with fringe parties like the Liberal Democrats; collaborating to achieve an overall majority in Parliament. In the USA it’s Democrats versus Republicans. In neither country has there ever been the remotest chance of another political party winning the national election.
However, in the UK, something very unusual is happening. An entirely new party has been formed and, with only four members of parliament, is genuinely feared as the winner of the next national election. It’s the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, a man who talks big and whose ‘bigness’ is a characteristic that is gaining popularity, with an electorate increasingly cynical of the ineffectiveness of traditional-style political leaders who inspire nothing, but indifference. England is not the only country where that is happening.
Compared to other leaders around the world, Farage’s words are relatively mild. But bold nevertheless and the electorates are getting increasingly in favour of this style of leadership. His party, Reform UK, is growing in popularity. It got 14 per cent of the vote in the 2024 election, with many more votes than the Liberal Democrats who have been in third place for decades. The polls are revealing a continuing growth in support for Reform UK. If they win the election – latest 2029 – it will be a landslide victory; but no longer a surprise. One prominent individual has said she will support Reform UK, because she believes the two main parties have lost their honesty.
One incident that will have contributed to that was the refusal of Kier Starmer, Labour’s current prime minister, to launch a public enquiry into the judicial treatment of the ‘grooming gangs’, especially those of a different ethnicity. Starmer had been the country’s chief prosecutor 2008-13, hence the whispers. Elon Musk used his X platform to add to the public pressure on Starmer, in this regard, to commission an enquiry. Starmer had refused but has now directed the National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK’s top investigative body, to lead the necessary investigation. There’s democracy at work for you. And pressure from the public, not just from the X-man.
Senior civil servants are already contacting the Reform UK party, offering assistance to help the party ‘prepare for government’. That’s only a very early development, but ominous. They like Nigel Farage and his robust right-wing populist style. He’s different, once having publicly accused a senior European Union leader of ‘having the charisma of a damp rag’. No doubt a tactical onslaught, since it was just before the 2010 election! And as the main Eurosceptic, Farage led the drive to persuade the UK citizens to vote for BREXIT. It’s amazing that he is where he is, because in the route to the top he lost eight elections and jumped from party to party before settling with Reform UK. No doubt adding to his appeal is his survival with very serious injuries when hit by a car in 1985 and when dragged from the wreckage of a plane crash in 2010. He’s also survived cancer. Such brushes with death add considerably to a politician’s popularity.
Leave a comment