By John C. Dyer, UK Correspondent
2 Jan 2012. London.
David Cameron became the latest European leader to warn his country that this coming year will be severely challenging. Last week fellow Conservatives Nicholas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel preceded Cameron with similar messages.
Cameron defended his government’s policies as necessary, but pledged to "do whatever it takes” to pull Britain out of the difficulties ahead. Cameron was short on the specifics of "whatever." Is this more than words meant to reassure restive UK businessmen? Does he mean something different or just more of the same? Cameron did pledge to tackle bank regulation, although, again, he mentioned no how.
Cameron at least invoked hope for future improvement, just not in 2012. Unlike Sarkozy, Cameron did not call for stoicism, precisely. But Cameron, like the Queen in her annual address the week prior, called upon the British public to “suck it up” or “dig deep” as it would be called in the United States. Both called up the British to summon their famed emotional strength in time of adversity to deal with the unnamed difficulties ahead. While nonspecific, both speeches succeeded at conveying the aura of a Churchillian wartime address (albeit without the fine turn of phase).
Perhaps the two clearest messages in Cameron’s speech were nonverbal. The first message was conveyed in his face. His lips curled as if sucking a lemon. I have seen this expression before at moments of real political crisis for the Prime Minister. The second message was the fact that Cameron delivered such a message at all. It was only last year he predicted the country would emerge from its difficulties in 2012. My how time flies. . .
Looking at the polls and British history one might wonder why Cameron displayed nervousness.
I will suggest the answer may lie in the intangibles of the character of David Cameron and in the dangers of separatist movements, but first a bit of background is required.
The electorate – those who say they will vote in the next election - appear to be in a frame of mind that would accept the Prime Minister’s message. Polls have shown for months, that the majority of those intending to vote in the next parliamentary election believe the Prime Minister’s approach is necessary. This is so even though a separate composite figure shows a majority believe the approach hurts the economy. A third composite majority continue to believe that Labour is more at fault for Britain’s situation than the Coalition.
The polls are not refined enough to tell the degree of overlap between these three composite majorities. However, understanding the nuances of those intending to vote may not require a PhD.
Continue reading "2012, Gales Ahead for A House Divided Called the United Kingdom" »
Recent Comments