The 2024 UK General Election – Ideology or Country?
There are two parties which can win outright power in Westminster, the Conservatives and Labour. Failing an outright win the fall-back option is a coalition, which nobody actually voted for. Coalitions tend to be dysfunctional and unstable (think Germany, Israel, Spain).
The electorate has a free choice of prospective Member of Parliaments, to vote for, but…
The reality is that you are voting for a party to govern the country and ideally, govern effectively.
Of course you can vote for the people who fit your preferred ideology; however, if their party is highly unlikely to get into government, then you haven’t actually contributed to selecting the most suitable party to be in government. Some might say you have wasted your vote?
Selecting a government is what the electorate should, in the ideal world, be doing. Selecting an ideology won’t typically get you a well-governed country.
When deciding who would be the most suitable government; how should we approach this?
Let’s use an analogy in business where there is a very senior role that needs filling and there are a number of candidates (Conservative, Labour, Lib-Dems, Greens, Scottish, Welsh & Northern Irish Nationalists etc).
The job description (for running the country) calls for:
1. Previous experience (required / not required?)
2. Experience (documented) in:
Finance
Policy-making
Diplomacy
Business
Armed forces
Health
Energy
Communication & presentation, etc. etc.
We don’t tend to think about all the qualities that our Members of Parliament ought to have. Which probably explains why the competence of recent governments has not been what it should be?
If you compare the “CVs” of the two main parties, the Labour party has no recent experience and no prospective MPs who have actually run a government ministry.
In the real world, Labour’s “CV” would not get through the screening phase of this crucial election.
So, before casting your vote, remember you are able to choose the least worst party (in terms of previous experience and personnel) to form the next government to run the UK.
Sadly, it’s no longer selecting the best party because politics has degraded significantly; at times to a level of incompetence.
Are you following a flock which will have no impact on which party runs the country? If you are, then can you really complain about the subsequent government you didn’t actually vote for?
Or, following the real world analogy described earlier, can you identify the least worst party that can win the election and vote for them? And potentially deliver the best option for the country.
Think carefully before you vote.
Ideology or what’s best for the country based on previous experience and current expertise?