How important do we think it is for our political leaders to have integrity? It’s a more complicated question than it seems. We’re quite conflicted about it, I reckon.
On the one hand, the scrutinising media are obsessed with pointing out supposed lapses in politicians’ integrity – times when they’ve gone back on their word, changed their view for pragmatic reasons or directly lied. Even in the age of Trump, the press still behaves as if pointing out any such inconsistencies will make a politician immediately apologise for existing and check into the nearest monastery.
On the other hand, the overwhelming suspicion, cynicism and depression that the public feels about politics at the moment comes from the widespread conclusion that integrity is a quality that not one of our politicians possesses – that they’re all the same and all out for themselves.
If we’ve decided that they’re universally dishonest and self-serving, why the press obsession with pointing out every single occasion they display those flaws? Having observed that all the cows shit in the field, there’s really no need to tell the farmer every time a cow shits.
For some people, integrity is an absolute – you either have it or you don’t, you’re honest or you’re not. And, in order to be honest, you have to be completely honest. By that measure, I agree that none of them have integrity. And neither do I. And neither do most people. Jeremy Corbyn’s fanbase might claim this sort of integrity for him – and certainly the projection of it has always been his priority. He’s never been one to let political........