Living Color: Cult of PersonalityCitPol blog p

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Personalising the Personalising the PoliticalPoliticalIt’s the economy stupidIt’s the economy stupid

VVIt’s your stupid personalityIt’s your stupid personality

In this lesson you will…In this lesson you will… Discuss and explore the increasingly Discuss and explore the increasingly

presidential style of UK elections; is there an presidential style of UK elections; is there an excessive focus on the personalities of excessive focus on the personalities of leaders rather than policies of parties?leaders rather than policies of parties?

You will (i) brainstorm names of great leaders You will (i) brainstorm names of great leaders of the past, and discuss their qualities; (ii) of the past, and discuss their qualities; (ii) explore an example of a political leader and explore an example of a political leader and his/her portrayal; (iii) plenary: discuss his/her portrayal; (iii) plenary: discuss whether leaders’ personality should be the whether leaders’ personality should be the prime factor in voting decisionsprime factor in voting decisions

Politainment?Politainment? Politainment. The big story of 2014. Politainment is what

unites Boris, Brand and Farage, the men who dominate our political dialogue to such an extent that we’ve given up talking about it in favour of talking about them. It’s an old idea (Texan politico Bill Miller coined the phrase “Politics is show business for ugly people” back in 1991, before Jay Leno), but with a twist. Today’s personality politicians are all (to some extent) outsiders. They don’t have to stand a chance of making PM – or stand at all – to make the weather. The centre is so indistinct that the fringe has become the natural area of interest. A sideshow has developed, with circus acts to match. Ugly business for show people.. [Lauren Laverne, The Boris, Brand and Farage show: why politicians should steer clear of showbiz]

Politainment, a portmanteau word composed of politics and entertainment, describes tendencies in politics and mass media to liven up political reports and news coverage using elements from public relations. Of doubtful virtue, declining amounts of content and substance can easily be compensated by giving news stories a sensationalistic twinge. Politainment thus ranges on the same level as edu- and infotainment. [Wiki]

VOTE/DISCUSS: Do you VOTE/DISCUSS: Do you like like this this man?man?

VOTE: Would you consider VOTE: Would you consider voting for his party?voting for his party?

How many UKIP policies can How many UKIP policies can you identify?you identify?

What impact do media appearances What impact do media appearances such as these have … and can you such as these have … and can you think of any other politicians who think of any other politicians who

appear to benefit from similar media appear to benefit from similar media strategies?strategies?

Farage does weather on BBC Politics Show (notably, uploaded (notably, uploaded by UKIP)by UKIP)

Farage plays fruitcake or loony on HIGNFY

These great “mavericks” share the same basic These great “mavericks” share the same basic underlying assumptions as much of the rest of the underlying assumptions as much of the rest of the political and media elite. Both want to privatise public political and media elite. Both want to privatise public assets and hand them over to profiteers: including, assets and hand them over to profiteers: including, say, the NHS, with say, the NHS, with Ukip having called for privatisation exceeding even the current government’s plans. Both exceeding even the current government’s plans. Both want to slash taxes on the rich: both call for the top want to slash taxes on the rich: both call for the top rate of tax to be lowered to 40%. Both champion the]rate of tax to be lowered to 40%. Both champion the]

City, where Farage used to work as a commodities broker. Both want to curtail the remaining City, where Farage used to work as a commodities broker. Both want to curtail the remaining rights British workers still have: in Johnson’s case, to subject trade unions to a turnout rights British workers still have: in Johnson’s case, to subject trade unions to a turnout threshold which, if applied to the London mayoralty, would render his 2012 election threshold which, if applied to the London mayoralty, would render his 2012 election illegitimate. Both encourage popular anger to be directed anywhere but at the wealthy few illegitimate. Both encourage popular anger to be directed anywhere but at the wealthy few who actually run the show: who actually run the show: notably, immigrants. Both are the establishment in human form, . Both are the establishment in human form, the fighters for the interests of the richest people in Britain the fighters for the interests of the richest people in Britain who have doubled their wealth in just five years..

[[SOURCE: : GuardianGuardian, , left-wingleft-wing broadsheet broadsheet]]

TASK: 2010 General ElectionTASK: 2010 General ElectionWhat policy, event or personality do What policy, event or personality do

YOU think won or lost the 2010 YOU think won or lost the 2010 election?election?

In small groups list any factors you In small groups list any factors you think might have had an influencethink might have had an influence

GaffeGate…GaffeGate…

Here’s GB making the ‘gaffe’ … picked up … picked up by Sky News by Sky News (owned by (owned by Rupert Rupert Murdoch) Murdoch) mics.mics.

Here he he hears the hears the news of this news of this & apologises.& apologises.

HIGNFYou on HIGNFYou on GB.GB.

DISCUSS: Are leaders’ TV DISCUSS: Are leaders’ TV debates harmful to debates harmful to

democracy?democracy?TV news report TV news report

on 2015 on 2015 proposalsproposals

List words/terms List words/terms you associate you associate

with…with…

List words/terms you List words/terms you associate with…associate with…

List words/terms you List words/terms you associate with…associate with…

Now can you list POLICIES you Now can you list POLICIES you associate with…associate with…

Did Labour Did Labour policiespolicies decide the decide the 2015 election?2015 election?

Ed Miliband on HIGNFYEd Miliband on HIGNFYEd Miliband repeats Ed Miliband repeats

himself – role of himself – role of spin/media controlspin/media control

Discussion: Media’s Discussion: Media’s portrayal of Ed as Wallaceportrayal of Ed as Wallace

Telegraph: Tips for Ed’s Telegraph: Tips for Ed’s New media AdviserNew media Adviser

President Cameron?President Cameron? Watch the following clips; as you’re Watch the following clips; as you’re

watching each one decide if you think watching each one decide if you think political or personal issues are being political or personal issues are being debated. Do any of these suggest that the debated. Do any of these suggest that the UK has a UK has a de facto de facto presidential system?presidential system?

DC insults Miliband; QTimeDC insults Miliband; QTime DC insults female Tory MP; QTimeDC insults female Tory MP; QTime Webcameron (spoof ending)Webcameron (spoof ending) Webcameron: meet the missusWebcameron: meet the missus Ed Milidee on DC Ed Milidee on DC [Milidee + Milidumb used by Guardian satirists][Milidee + Milidumb used by Guardian satirists]

““Politicians’ personality does not Politicians’ personality does not impact on voter choices, its their impact on voter choices, its their

policies that voters consider”policies that voters consider”Write ONE paragraph summing up Write ONE paragraph summing up

your views on this statement, using your views on this statement, using one or more example from today’s one or more example from today’s lesson (and referring to any other lesson (and referring to any other examples you are familiar with).examples you are familiar with).

Your argument does not have to come Your argument does not have to come down to one or side or the other; you down to one or side or the other; you could point out the merits of both could point out the merits of both sidessides