Peter Hennessy’s hope for 2015 voting intention (The Tablet, 7 February) may not be fulfilled because “parliament and parliamentarians are not currently the toast of the nation.” Up to a point, Lord H.
In the 18 General Elections since 1945, the average turnout in the UK has been 73.9 per cent of registered voters. The high years 1950 and 1951 (84 per cent and 82.6 per cent) were years of enormous voter confidence at a time that the sitting government had run out of ideas and Churchill stood to reclaim the nation’s applause.
In 1979 Mrs Thatcher arrived on a 76 per cent turnout and so not quite surprising in the same year, just 32.35 per cent of UK voted in Euro elections, the lowest turnout of the EU states that included Belgium’s 91 per cent.
Could the next election really continue the climb in voter activity that Hennessy hopes for? One element in his argument is not examined, although it is implied. What are we voting for? The voter likes issues and ideals. Thus far there are no issues that excite the voter because no Party has come up with big ideas just variations on a similar theme.
The truth might be found in the past: during the last election and certainly in the one approaching and in Parliament’s showcase of political thought and talent there are no Big Beasts. From Churchill onwards the House had great men and women with presence. They were political bell ringers. Macmillan, Crossman, Benn, Castler, Crosland, Foot, Hailsham, Butler, Jenkins, Thatcher et al and perhaps the last of them, Heseltine. (Apologies to the missed).
The Big Beasts raised the game of politics and we wondered at what they had to say and argued the toss with them. Now? No Big Beasts. Nothing much to say that we believe to be big ideas and ideals (which is why the Scottish debate was excting to the wire). Voters will be wanting more than our Front Benches of mediocrity. Maybe Peter Henessy best not bet the ranch on a bigger turnout except in Scotland. Sixty five per cent may be a good result.
Christopher Lee, Beckley, East Sussex
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