Political spin – empty words in the UK

I’m old enough to remember when the word “spin-doctor” first entered public consciousness in the UK. It was during the 1997-2010 Blair government. I remember having to learn what these people did. Since then, of course, they have become ubiquitous in government. And not just certain individuals, but a culture. No politician, or government or local council officer these days lets a word pass their lips without framing their utterance for the media effect it will create. No one says what they think. They just think about the message. The messages are no more substantive than advertising slogans. This reflects the power of the media. Everyone performs for the media. This is not a small matter. Starmer’s “positions” on the Ukraine war are determined not by reflections on British national interest, (let alone ethics or humanitarian concerns), but by advice he receives about how what he says will play out in the next day’s media. Really; this needs a book. But, for now, just a few illustrative examples from today’s media:

1) The Labour party has elected a new Deputy Leader, Lucy Powell. Powell said this:

that for too long, the country and the economy has worked in the interests of the few, not the many [1]

Does anyone, seriously, for even a moment, believe that Lucy Powell or the current government is going to do anything significant about this? Of course not. Blair, to his credit, did see through on some of his promises and spending on education and the NHS, his way of delivering fairness, did increase in real terms during his tenure, quite substantially. Though income inequality showed no real improvement. [2] Of course not; unless the system is altogether changed to some kind of state socialism, society will continue to “work in the interests of the few”. It is called capitalism; it produces a pyramid structure by wealth and income. That is the system we have. Is Lucy Powell going to change that? Obviously not. These are are empty, formulaic, words, like a priest incanting some tired old phrase to the faithful who derive some comfort from hearing the familiar words, even though, even they, know they don’t mean anything. (And this is 15 years on from Blair, 15 years of ‘neo-liberalism’, 15 years of Labour entrenching its abandonment of even a nod to socialism).

2) “Justice” Secretary David Lammy on the accidental release of a migrant sex offender

I am appalled at the release in error at HMP Chelmsford.

We are urgently working with the police to track him down and I’ve ordered an urgent investigation.

Kebatu must be deported for his crimes, not on our streets. [3]

The migrant in question had been jailed for a year, (and released after a short time to be deported), for a sexual assault, which, based on media reporting seems to have involved sexually touching a 14 year old who tried to help him in a town centre and ‘attempting to kiss a woman’. He was supposed to have been released from jail to a ‘removal centre’ and deported but was put on a train to London by mistake. Reporting in various media paints a picture of a confused individual who spent 90 minutes remaining outside the prison, not knowing what to do. [4] I certainly don’t want to diminish his original crime, which may well have been very distressing for the girl, but on the scale of sexual crimes it is at the lower end. Nonetheless all the political actors involved speak as if he was some kind of mass rapist or serial killer.

The Guardian joins the absurd manhunt by running a live blog on the “hunt” for this man.

3) Local council Leader Chris Whitbread also blows things out of proportion

The leader of the local Council in Epping has said:

I am shocked and appalled by the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu. Frankly, I am at a loss to understand how such a grave error could occur.

My thoughts are with the victim and her family at this deeply distressing time. They have shown immense courage, and they deserve our full support and protection…

I sincerely hope Kebatu is located and returned to prison without delay. [5]

Ok. But what is Chris Whitbread going to say when then prison service accidentally releases a rapist or murder? Also – the poor man is not going back to prison. He has completed his term and is due to be deported. But, reality, facts, do not matter. Chris Whitbread’s comments are all about ‘saying the right thing’.

The fact is there are countless low-level sex offenders “roaming the streets”. All this hysteria is because of the media significance of this case. The migrant in question was linked to a hotel housing immigrants, which became a touchstone for a shift in political discourse and an acceptance of “right-wing” discourse on migrants, into the mainstream. That is why politicians have to jump up and down and shout about how appalled they are.

4) Lammy, again, doing political double-speak

Let us be clear, we inherited a collapsing prison system in which the last government was releasing people early and which our prisons were overflowing.

And, indeed, we have a sentencing bill in parliament seeking to address that issue, and we have stabilised the system.

But that can be no excuse for wrongly releasing an individual, a dangerous individual, into the community. [6]

In reality the Sentencing Bill which Lammy refers to includes measures to abolish short-term prison sentences altogether, not just a temporary early release measure of the “last government”. [7] His words have no substance at all. They make no sense and deny reality. Still. he did start with “Let us be clear…” a collocation of the modern spin discourse.

None of the people listed above are telling the truth. Put crudely, they are all making up porkies for media consumption. The media duly report them. (Because the words are not spoken by a conservative they do not prefix all this BS with “falsely claimed”).

Empty words. No substance. Nothing matters. Just media performances. This is what passes for public discourse these days.

Notes

Political spin – empty words in the UK

Related Posts

The purpose of the victim narrative. Modern ‘radicalism’ is actually a call for diminished individuals. With an example!The purpose of the victim narrative. Modern ‘radicalism’ is actually a call for diminished individuals. With an example!

Claiming that Putin “claimed”.Claiming that Putin “claimed”.

Misinformation in the MSM about StoneMisinformation in the MSM about Stone