Frank Luntz has an interesting conservativehome piece on his poll of UK voters.
Frank Luntz: My new poll. What voters believe about freedom – and attitudes to government.
Frank Luntz is a political communications consultant and pollster, and a Visiting Academic Fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies.
For Conservatives, freedom is at the core of their political philosophy. It’s the value that united Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. It’s what I have lived and breathed and championed throughout my career in politics across the globe.
This week, I attended a London conference hosted by the International Democrat Union, an alliance of centre-right parties founded by Lady Thatcher 40 years ago. Its slogan? “Connecting Freedom”.
But does freedom actually matter to voters anymore?
The whole piece is well worth reading as a reminder that political language is confused. There is no clear connection between the language and the real world, no clear cause and effect relation between political promises and real world events.
To be clear, for British voters, freedom is not something philosophical or theoretical. It’s not a national value – though they do see the UK as the freest country in the world (and America only as fifth, a damning reputational indictment of my homeland). It’s something they want for themselves and in their own lives – to control their own fate and be free to make their own choices.
But here’s the bad news for the Tories…
First, voters no longer see the Conservative Party as champions of freedom. In fact, more people (28 per cent to 20 per cent) associate that value with Labour.
And while 52 per cent of people believe national government should take the lead in protecting their freedoms, only 27 per cent believe it is likely to do so.
But here’s the bad news for the Tories…
First, voters no longer see the Conservative Party as champions of freedom. In fact, more people (28 per cent to 20 per cent) associate that value with Labour.
And while 52 per cent of people believe national government should take the lead in protecting their freedoms, only 27 per cent believe it is likely to do so.
However, one finding does suggest a reason for the confusion. Voters expect the impossible, so naturally enough politicians find language which seems to promise it.
Having conducted similar surveys in the US, it’s remarkable how different our views are towards government. A large majority – 65 per cent to 35 per cent – told us that it was government’s job to protect most people against most risk, rather than to act as a safety net when people need it the most.
4 comments:
Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo. Dripping water wears away a stone not with its strength, but with its constancy.
And this is the method used by Administrative Man. Freedom is worn away by the constant drip of 'this small change in law will make you safer.' Each small change seems well intentioned but over time the message becomes 'Do as we say or you will be treated as harmful to others'.
So COVID lockdowns - 'Do as we say or you will be treated as harmful to others'.
Reaction to trans excesses - 'Do as we say or you will be treated as harmful to others'.
Censorship - 'Do as we say or you will be treated as harmful to others'.
Didn't work with the Referendum but the steady drip drip of tut-tutting has prevented the flowering of Brexit.
And whatever tales they tell you the Politicians, Civil Service, and many Big Businesses do not value Freedom as a 'Good Thing'.
DJ - yes, each step seems like something we can adapt to until we add them up. Soon enough we realise it won't stop because there is nothing to stop the next step or the next. Unfortunately many people seem okay with it all.
And what is the reaction to the loss of the Oceangate submersible? More legislation being called for - in international waters! No No No! As someone once said.
Tammly - as if the story was given blanket coverage for that reason - bureaucrats want more legislation. Also to swamp the Hunter Biden story.
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