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It’s goodbye to the Bullingdon set – and hello to grownup politics It’s goodbye to the Bullingdon set – and hello to grownup politics
(about 1 month later)
When I began satirising the Notting Hill set in a column for the Spectator, which charted the course of David Cameron from opposition leader to prime minister, people reacted by saying I was overdoing it with jokes insinuating that everything Cameron did, he did for effect. The idea that there was nothing authentic about the image he projected, that the attitudinising of his cappuccino-slurping, focaccia-munching clique was entirely bogus, fell on disbelieving ears.When I began satirising the Notting Hill set in a column for the Spectator, which charted the course of David Cameron from opposition leader to prime minister, people reacted by saying I was overdoing it with jokes insinuating that everything Cameron did, he did for effect. The idea that there was nothing authentic about the image he projected, that the attitudinising of his cappuccino-slurping, focaccia-munching clique was entirely bogus, fell on disbelieving ears.
By the time I wrote the last instalment of Tamzin Lightwater’s Diary of a Notting Hill Nobody, just before Cameron won the 2010 election, readers were beginning to comment that the column may be becoming redundant because the reality was beyond parody.By the time I wrote the last instalment of Tamzin Lightwater’s Diary of a Notting Hill Nobody, just before Cameron won the 2010 election, readers were beginning to comment that the column may be becoming redundant because the reality was beyond parody.
Cameron’s obsession with form over substance had surpassed anything I could invent. It was government by blue-sky thinking. His policy guru Steve Hilton had 100 ideas an hour, 99 of them rubbish, it was often said. Fizzing with ideas is one thing, but trying them all out then dumping them is no way to run a country. Too often Cameron’s public schoolboy-heavy government has read like an imperious Private Eye apology to readers: “In recent days we may have given the impression that we wanted to hug hooded youths. Upon further consultation with newspaper barons and focus groups, we now realise these louts need a good kicking.”Cameron’s obsession with form over substance had surpassed anything I could invent. It was government by blue-sky thinking. His policy guru Steve Hilton had 100 ideas an hour, 99 of them rubbish, it was often said. Fizzing with ideas is one thing, but trying them all out then dumping them is no way to run a country. Too often Cameron’s public schoolboy-heavy government has read like an imperious Private Eye apology to readers: “In recent days we may have given the impression that we wanted to hug hooded youths. Upon further consultation with newspaper barons and focus groups, we now realise these louts need a good kicking.”
Related: That final David Cameron PMQs in full: everything is awesome! | Marina Hyde
In office, Cameron abandoned so many commitments it became impossible to chart the U-turns. They are certainly too numerous to list here. My own personal favourite, or rather biggest bugbear, was his supposedly heartfelt declaration on the BBC’s Countryfile that he would no more ruin the countryside by building on it than put at risk his own family. Months later, rural communities were complaining about government-backed attempts to build on the green belt. It wasn’t that Cameron didn’t deliver. It was that he would say one thing and the result would be the exact opposite. Localism turned out to mean disempowering communities. If he described a commitment as “cast-iron” you just knew it wouldn’t last the week.In office, Cameron abandoned so many commitments it became impossible to chart the U-turns. They are certainly too numerous to list here. My own personal favourite, or rather biggest bugbear, was his supposedly heartfelt declaration on the BBC’s Countryfile that he would no more ruin the countryside by building on it than put at risk his own family. Months later, rural communities were complaining about government-backed attempts to build on the green belt. It wasn’t that Cameron didn’t deliver. It was that he would say one thing and the result would be the exact opposite. Localism turned out to mean disempowering communities. If he described a commitment as “cast-iron” you just knew it wouldn’t last the week.
It wasn’t that Cameron lied intentionally either. I think he actually believed himself when he waxed ideologically lyrical. The point was, he was so obsessed with PR he started to believe his own.It wasn’t that Cameron lied intentionally either. I think he actually believed himself when he waxed ideologically lyrical. The point was, he was so obsessed with PR he started to believe his own.
That is never a good thing. Theresa May, by contrast, stood out during her time as home secretary by quietly ploughing a policy furrow, trying to get a few important things done, rather than generate a dozen fizzing headlines about changes that could never happen. She dug her heels in too, opposing Cameron when she really felt a principle was at stake – for example on more liberal alcohol licensing laws, which endeared her to Tory traditionalists.That is never a good thing. Theresa May, by contrast, stood out during her time as home secretary by quietly ploughing a policy furrow, trying to get a few important things done, rather than generate a dozen fizzing headlines about changes that could never happen. She dug her heels in too, opposing Cameron when she really felt a principle was at stake – for example on more liberal alcohol licensing laws, which endeared her to Tory traditionalists.
But it is her lack of artifice that is the most engaging thing about her, especially after the reign of modernising pseuds wandering about Downing Street in their bare feet for effect. She has resolutely refused to put her heart on display, preferring instead to concentrate on policies and ideas. This is where she is most similar to Margaret Thatcher. Instead of trying to be something, she tries to do something. She has never, to my memory, been on Mumsnet, spouting about her favourite biscuits.But it is her lack of artifice that is the most engaging thing about her, especially after the reign of modernising pseuds wandering about Downing Street in their bare feet for effect. She has resolutely refused to put her heart on display, preferring instead to concentrate on policies and ideas. This is where she is most similar to Margaret Thatcher. Instead of trying to be something, she tries to do something. She has never, to my memory, been on Mumsnet, spouting about her favourite biscuits.
Theresa May has never been on Mumsnet, spouting about her favourite biscuitsTheresa May has never been on Mumsnet, spouting about her favourite biscuits
She has never whinged. Not one complaint has ever passed her lips about the unfairness of any element of her personal lot, despite having plenty of material in that regard, being a diabetic. Any sacrifices she has made to get to where she is she has made quietly.She has never whinged. Not one complaint has ever passed her lips about the unfairness of any element of her personal lot, despite having plenty of material in that regard, being a diabetic. Any sacrifices she has made to get to where she is she has made quietly.
During the leadership contest she made a rare departure from that rule by allowing the press a glimpse of what appeared to be her private sadness over not having children. I am glad she was discreet, and didn’t overdo it.During the leadership contest she made a rare departure from that rule by allowing the press a glimpse of what appeared to be her private sadness over not having children. I am glad she was discreet, and didn’t overdo it.
As a childless woman, I find it far more inspiring to have as prime minister a woman who keeps the most intimate details of her family circumstances to herself. Certainly, May has displayed more dignity in her few big public moments to date than Cameron showed throughout his premiership. In thrusting his wife into the spotlight to plead for Britons to back remain in the referendum, and his own continued leadership, he went out how he came in, manipulating his image to the end.As a childless woman, I find it far more inspiring to have as prime minister a woman who keeps the most intimate details of her family circumstances to herself. Certainly, May has displayed more dignity in her few big public moments to date than Cameron showed throughout his premiership. In thrusting his wife into the spotlight to plead for Britons to back remain in the referendum, and his own continued leadership, he went out how he came in, manipulating his image to the end.
It didn’t work. Britain was ready to move on. But in making it all so personal, Cameron became like the boy who cried wolf. By the end, the voters either didn’t believe him or were so overwhelmed by his emoting they didn’t care. Or both. And now, whether by accident or design, the country has landed itself with a leader who looks set to inject some much needed common sense into the way we are run. What a wonderful irony that the outgoing male prime minister takes with him the schmaltz, while the incoming female incumbent brings dispassionate functionality – or so we hope.It didn’t work. Britain was ready to move on. But in making it all so personal, Cameron became like the boy who cried wolf. By the end, the voters either didn’t believe him or were so overwhelmed by his emoting they didn’t care. Or both. And now, whether by accident or design, the country has landed itself with a leader who looks set to inject some much needed common sense into the way we are run. What a wonderful irony that the outgoing male prime minister takes with him the schmaltz, while the incoming female incumbent brings dispassionate functionality – or so we hope.
Many Margaret Thatcher quotes will be rolled out in the coming weeks, but surely the most apposite is, “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”Many Margaret Thatcher quotes will be rolled out in the coming weeks, but surely the most apposite is, “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”
After 10 years (counting their time in opposition) of the image-conscious posturing of David Cameron, George Osborne and their public-school pals, the dawn of a new era cannot come a moment too soon.After 10 years (counting their time in opposition) of the image-conscious posturing of David Cameron, George Osborne and their public-school pals, the dawn of a new era cannot come a moment too soon.