A new dark age is dawning for British politics |
Yesterday’s result in the Gorton and Denton by-election confirms that when it comes to political leadership, we are truly without a paddle. Or to put it more politely, the electorate can see no direction home across the horizon, and are reduced to fighting bitterly among themselves.
Beyond the immediate result lurks a dark possible future for the country and its voters. Either bloc-voting according to sectarian identity could threaten the workings of traditional democracy in Britain – or accusations of it could poison normal courtesies between competing politicians.
Reform UK says it has reported alleged “cheating” in the by-election to the Electoral Commission. Both Conservative and Labour spokespeople were quick to highlight accusations from independent election watchdogs – Democracy Volunteers – that they had witnessed unprecedented levels of “family voting” in polling stations. Democracy Volunteers, who have a respected record in a number of countries, did not specify who they had seen engaging in the illegal practice of group voting.
Gorton and Denton has a high level voters, 27 per cent, from Asian and Muslim backgrounds. The Green campaign certainly wooed them. Hannah Spencer rallied with Palestinian flags. The party produced campaign material in Urdu and used an image of Sir Keir Starmer greeting Narendra Modi, India’s Hindu prime minister and a bogeyman to Pakistan.
Democracy thrives when people........