I suppose it’s unfair to criticise a programme that hasn’t even been transmitted yet, but I’m with Tony Benn and Alistair Campbell on ITV’s new Pop-Idol type programme with politicians.
Obviously there are strict electoral laws about TV or Radio backing one side (I should know, our station was reprimanded very severely when Chris Evans breached them backing Ken Livingstone several years ago), so ITV are only allowing those who are unaffiliated with any political parties to take part. And the show will be over, with a winner chosen, before a general election comes around. ITV won’t be able to fund any bid made by the winner to stand in a constituency either.
So what’s the point of the programme? Well it could be a good excuse to discuss the various topics that affect us and are important to us. But what can one man really do against the machine? As Campbell says, politics in Britain is a lead by parties. You can’t go it alone. I was very supportive of Martin Bell when he ousted the Hamiltons a few years ago, but that was a one off. Here was someone who believed in what they’re doing. If I was interested in getting into politics, then surely I’d be a member of either a major. or minor, political party?
I used to think that I couldn’t join any one party because I didn’t believe in all their policies. But if I didn’t join the party, then I didn’t have any influence in changing those policies. In many respects the party system is flawed, but without the backing of a party, how can anyone get their messages and policies across to the electorate? And I don’t just mean cash – although that’s vital. Party workers are vital at election time. Even Martin Bell got a team behind him – a quasi-party.
Somehow I suspect that ITV are looking for a charismatic personality – “of the people” – to stand. All the while earning cash from expensive phone and texting lines. They simply want ratings – nothing more, nothing less.
Oh, and the whole thing can be tallied off against ITV’s current affairs public service broadcasting remit. Nope, the whole thing seems wrong to me, with few, if any, redeeming qualities.