Here's a piece I had to write recently for the government module of our course. It was written just before Gordon Brown firmly came out with an answer about the speculated-upon snap election (hence the ending). I'm not sure whether I'm entirely pleased with it myself, mainly because of the amount I had to leave out due to the word limit. There was so much more I wanted to put in, mainly on the spin side about flash Gordon and his Saatchi & Saatchi tagline...not to mention the fact that his speech was mainly written by Bob Shrum, who was previously an advisor on Al Gore's 2000 Presidential campaign...but I chose an angle and ran with it, and consequently feel that I didn't really write about anything at all. So...here it is.
Brown's Big Tent: A Bit of a Circus?
A government "of all the talents", an invigoration of a slightly tired party, a step away from the showmanship of the Blair Years...Not flash, just Gordon. Yet what kind of PM is Brown shaping up to be? Which is the more accurate portrayal - Bottler Brown, too scared of going up against a Conservative Party apparently gaining some long-lost momentum in the polls? Or is it the all-smiling, Frostrup-flirting, surprisingly amiable Gordon of the first 100 days?
His is a tenure already marked by a mulititude of premiership threatening occurrences: floods, terrorism, and a potentially devastating foot-and-mouth reprise. Not to mention the Saffon Revolution, Zimbabwe and Iraq in the International Affairs periphery. With his first challenges coming far out of the realm of prevention, was the new Prime Minister going to sink or swim? An answer seemed to come rather quickly. Brown appeared solid and dependable. He emanated an air of almost stoic calm. A car bomb in London? A cow has tested positive to an industry-crippling disease? Not to worry; we're British. We simply get on with things. And that, it seems, has been Brown's message throughout his early days in power. No frills, no flash, he's simply getting on with the job.
He may not have Blair's way with words; he may not have Blair's charisma, but somehow, that helpfully contributed to the Brown Bounce. The electorate is, quite frankly, tired of all that jazz and they'd like a bit of sensibility back, if you please.
So far, so wonderful for the PM without a mandate.
Yet a week is, unfortunately, a long time in politics. And Gordon Brown's had several of those. Inevitable then, you might say, that he was going to hit a rocky patch sooner or later. It's a wonderful thing that Brown can respond promptly and confidently to unexpected crises...they make for such wonderful soundbites at party conferences too. But what about the things he should have seen coming? Ten years as a primary influence on domestic policy ought to be enough time to lower those crime figures, wouldn't you say? Why is it then that an innocent 11 year old was shot in broad daylight, walking home from football practice? Northern Rock: preventable? Perhaps, perhaps not. But surely a PM whose prior job was Chancellor of the Exchequer ought ot be able to guide his new appointee in the right direction.
Oh go on Gordon. Call an election. If you won't give us a vote on the European Constitution, at least let us make our minds up about you.
All things Short and Squiggly
Things have been a little quiet on this western front recently...I'd quite happily blame shorthand drilling and fresher's week, but if we're going to be honest (and unfortunately, I am), then one shall just have to say one has been...erm, well, lazy.
But, no more! Oh no, no, no, no! This particular hack-in-training has been attempting to immerse herself in all news, blogs, radio shows, phone-ins, webpages; getting all manner of ink on her hands in the process. Soon a real (local) piece will be posted. Soon, contacts will be amassed. Soon, oh so soon, there will be real substance, and a body of work to peruse. It's an exciting thought...
Musings
Nothing like a good set of party conferences, with an election on the horizon, to bring out newspaper bias is there? It had always been something I took rather for granted, but recently the true colours have been bared. "Quit stalling and call and Election! Says Cameron", cried one paper..."Tories in Trouble" claimed another...which is it folks? Bias ususally amuses me more than anything - opinion is obviously an integral a part of journalism - though occasionally it can drive you to that extra bar of chocolate, as you wonder despairingly whether the world's going to hell in a handbasket or not. Obviously, as much fun as bias makes the whole game, every now and then I do crave an objective view of things.
How many trainee journalists does it take to read a map?
Apparently, following an interesting walk around the streets of London on Monday night, not one of us has a head for directions. Even though our shorthand teacher had distributed full maps with written descriptions we couldn't manage to simply head straight to the appointed place. That's what you get with former English students. Not one ounce of geographical ability between them...
