Online Newspaper Resources

The Blurred Boundaries of British Politics

In today’s world politics seem so different in how the political parties are viewed than they were 50 or so years ago. Back then it was obvious which party was which and what their policies were. Conservatives were 100 percent conservative in their attitude and their policies. Liberals were very liberal and the Labour party, which had grown out of the trade union movement, sought to represent the common man and worker.

Things seemed simpler back then. Now, of course, it is difficult to see the old parties still alive in the new ones. The Liberal Democrats are still liberal but are becoming less and less so in a bid to gain votes. Labour, in 1997, declared themselves to be “New Labour”, and started to appeal to the middle-class of Britain as well as the lower classes to try and gain more votes.

Ultimately this policy worked as Labour were successful in the 1997 general election and have been in power ever since. The Conservatives have become less and less right-wing over the years as they have come to realise that the key to the vote lies in the middle classes of Britain.

It seems to me that British politics has lost its honour and dignity. parties are not fighting for what they believe in, be it a left or right wing government, they are instead fighting only for votes and will say whatever is needed to be said to gain those votes. If it means Labour sounding more right wing with their “New Labour"policies, or Conservative sounding more left wing as they try to reach those people who would not normally consider voting Conservative, then that is what these parties will do.

You cannot simply vote based on your beliefs any more. As every party seems to want to represent and uphold everyone’s beliefs. It is almost as if everyone is sitting on the fence to try and gain the most appeal to the British public. This is not what politics is about and it breeds a lack of strength in our leaders which is excellently portrayed by our current, failing, Prime Minister; Gordon Brown and his opposition number, the cringe-worthy, David Cameron who I really wish would just take a job teaching overseas so that he leaves the country!