A two-way conversation
Surveying the current political landscape, with the divide becoming clearer between David Cameron’s vision for a more green, local and family-friendly Government, and the centralist rehashed ideas of the brooding Prime Minister-in-waiting, one noticeable difference is in the parties approach to using the internet to communicate with the electorate.
I have been regularly blogging now for eight months and during that time more and more MPs, candidates, journalists and others interested in politics have started up their own blogs. However, it seems that the Conservative Party, generally, is more willing to interact using the internet to exchange ideas, opinions and their thoughts and views.
Now this has been taken to its logical conclusion with David Cameron’s call to “Stand up, Speak up”, through encouraging the public to play a role in policymaking by discussing the Policy Reviews. I believe this idea has real merit. If we are to return to Government, we must take note of what the public think of our policy themes, as we are formulating them, not after the whole process is completed. Anyone will be able to sign up and give their views, vote in online polls and make their feelings known on any or all of the issues. This is genuine interaction.
Compare this with the many mock-consultation ideas we have seen under this Government. Does anyone remember “The Big Conversation” which turned out be more of a muffled whisper! Everything is controlled from the centre with little room for internal disputes, let alone public involvement.
Trusting the people makes you stronger in politics, not weaker. David Cameron understands that, Gordon Brown does not.