A Labour leadership debate. Photo:Ben Birchall / PA Wire/Press Association Images. All rights reservedPolitics has never been so entertaining. In our saturated media-centric world, these recent weeks have been akin to manna from heaven for British news channels. It has almost proved too much for them, as they struggle to keep their editors and iconic figures in attendance at what is deemed the most high profile event on any given day. Nowhere was this more evident recently than in the inadvertently comic press call for the hapless Angela Eagle as she launched her campaign for leadership of the Labour party. Having hesitated for an almost interminable length of time (compared to the rapid-fire evolution of events in the upper echelons of both the current government and the opposition) she eventually chose what she perceived to be as her moment. Only to be usurped by the brief furore surrounding Andrea Leadsom's bid for the premiership. Having steadily built momentum throughout that same morning, it prompted the realisation, on the part of BBC and ITV at least, that they needed to decamp elsewhere to cover the emerging reality that they should be prioritising news reportage to cover the ascension of Britain’s newest would-be prime minister. The contemporary media cycle feeds off immediacy and polarisation of opinion. It’s worth reflecting upon how this has fed into the current turmoil in which the major political parties find themselves embroiled.
It would seem somewhat trite to identify that British politics is in uncharted territory but, at the present time, it would be rather apt. Firstly, as a consequence of the recent referendum, the nation is facing the reality of preparing for a managed withdrawal from the EU – an entity that it has been actively involved within, in various guises, since 1973 (and membership of which was positively affirmed via referendum back in 1975). Secondly, both major political parties are in a significant state of flux. The current chaotic state of the official opposition serves as a distraction from the concern we should have with regards to the state of the government itself. However, arguably of most intrigue is the manner in which both these scenarios – the conflict and fallout from the decision regarding the EU and the political machinations within Conservative and Labour circles – play out, more than ever, in real time and in the full glare of social media. The voluminous commentary emanating from an unparalleled number of sources, both qualified and unqualified, creates an incredible mosaic of rational/irrational, objective/partisan, insightful/crude, calm/angry and constructive/destructive anecdotes that is almost impossible to keep up with.
The current chaotic state of the official opposition serves as a distraction from the concern we should have with regards to the state of the government itself.
