Stakeholder

Whatever one thinks about elections; this one is going to be different.  The seeds for a different election were sown quite a while back. The public’s tolerance for ‘on the make’ politicians finally broke when the extent of political avarice and greed oozed from their greasy palms and spilled onto the headlines.  It took many by surprise that some of our local politicians were to the fore of the expenses gravy train with chandeliers, curtain swishes, walnut desks, luxurious beds, expensive hotels and jobs for the family were all footed by the tax payer.  Months on and numbskull politicians fell for cash for gold ‘stings’ organised by the press, displaying toxic levels of antipathy and arrogance to the public demand for humbler beings for public office.

The problem with politicians once elected or worse still once elevated to anything from a local Mayoralty to a Ministerial Mercedes- is that they get carried away with the grace and favour symbolism of their titles. Humility often goes out the window when their inflated egos fall on a leather seat.  Churchill once described Clement Atlee as a ‘humble man – with much to be humble about’.  The truth is the same could apply to many politicians. When ordinariness should be their very strength; they are at pains to portray abilities well beyond their grasp. Once there, the rarefied air affects their brains and how they communicate with the mere mortals who make up the public.

Naturally there are exceptions; some in the political sphere actually do want to serve the public and are guided by the highest of motives and principles. They stand out of mile.

Unfortunately, politics is a club and immaterial of the party once inside the chances of contamination puts all virtue at risk. For a start they make up their own rules and even when rules are made; they selectively interpret them as it suits the moment.  The public is not naive – lying is easily ‘outed’ and the more they do it -the more cynicism flows through the minds of the electorate.

But back to Northern Ireland and our own trough; all those parties who said they are committed to abolishing double jobbing are now in favour of its more practical benefits.  Parties running candidates with no chance of winning seats are making lofty but meaningless gestures about what they would do if elected when there is more chance of Elvis showing up alive in Strabane.  With the exception of David Forde; all the leaders of the main political parties have given themselves a qualified ‘double-jobbing’ absolution for the election.  One wants to be elected to the Cabinet;  one wants to hold the Cabinet to ransom;  one wants to lead from where the party says they can’t  and the last one wants to stay at home- again!  At least Sir Reg is clear: one man; one job.

The celebrity candidate factor for the SDLP and the UUP seems to be on the wane. The Leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein start the campaign in tune with a line straight from Kenneth Williams in Carry on Cleo: ‘Infamy, infamy, they all have it in for me!’  The Tories non sectarian break-through melted like a chocolate fireguard when faced with the fire-power of pan-unionism. Through all the shenanigans and back-tracking- there could be actual political fallout following this election. Sinn Fein stand to lose their popular, Agricultural Minister, Michelle Gildernew; Willie Mc Crea could find the time for a Christmas album- if South Antrim opts for the congenial Sir Reg; Baby Doc could be a DUP life saver and haunt his leaders; in South Belfast Dr at Large, Big Al may finally nail the subtle sectarian tendencies of BT9’ers and in the battle of the handbags in South Down, a Ritchie victory may put an end to career of Education Minister ‘Catastrophic’ Ruane!

It all depends on how little or much change the electorate wants and whether there will be a spill over factor from the main act over in Britain. If Northerners decide to shore up the Stormont regime; the mandates of Sinn Fein and the DUP will be strengthened; though it’s hard not to foresee some collateral damage following all the negative revelations.  What all parties fear is what the polls don’t tell – an electoral tsunami whereby a player or players get swept aside by a silent tide. Northern Ireland elections are rarely silent and even without the old roar of Paisley Snr; this one has all the signs of being a verbal humdinger!