By Brad James
David Cameron hasn’t had the smoothest road to Premiership. His Conservative Party failed to form a majority and haven’t operated in Parliament with a clear mandate to rule since John Major’s election victory in 1992. New Labour sculpted the political garden in spring time in 1997, advocating an awkward straddling of left and right, tenuously balancing over the centre, a precarious act that every leader has needed to emulate since Tony Blair deserted the wilting grounds of the UK in the hands of a caretaker that certainly wasn’t Capability Brown. Yet by 2010, the Chancellor turned Prime Minister had steered the UK out of recession, yet his complicity in the Exchequer and the litany of dents to liberty Tony Blair had inflicted on society sunk Labour. Such as the push for 90-day detention for terrorists and entering the Iraq War alongside George W. Bush in America, contravening the desire of millions who had took to the streets, protesting Britain’s participation in this very conflict.
Yet come 2010, where was the alternative to boot New Labour out? David Cameron was mistrusted by many, yet seen as the only way to oust the dour Brown, when Nick Clegg emerged as the unlikely contender after the first televised debates, it threw the entire Labour versus Tory ping pong into disarray and bestowed Nick Clegg with the unlikely and dubious honour of becoming (figuratively) custodian of the keys to Number 10.
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As history tells us and as we all witnessed, Clegg sided with Cameron. The rich elite elbowing out the red socialist son of a vicar (Gordon Brown). Surely a coalition embodied the “We’re All In This Together,” mantra underpinning the Tory election campaign? Five years has taught us that optimism and politicians standing up for public interest are a misnomer and a thing of the past. They stand up for those who pay the most, politics lobbies for business. The Lib Dems deserted promises such as scrapping tuition fees in favour of power and have decimated any credibility they may have had in the process.
In 2015 we face another potential Hung Parliament and a possibility of ending up with the same result we didn’t vote for in 2010. It is a status quo that is very pleasing for all those involved. As Nick Clegg would be in the wilderness and the Conservatives would face their position being untenable as a minority government if May’s outcome differs five years hence. Cameron is already window shopping for other parties to cosy up to, such as UKIP, though some have even offered outlandish alternatives like Labour and the SNP! Such is the desperation for Cameron to retain his Squatter’s Rights at Number 10. So why is he determined to throw in the towel in 2020?
Speaking to the BBC’s Deputy Political Editor, James Landale, David Cameron claimed that if his party were to retain power in May’s General Election, then he would remain Prime Minister for one more term in office only. He said:
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“There definitely comes a time where a fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good, and the Conservative Party has got some great people coming up – the Theresa Mays, and the George Osbornes, and the Boris Johnsons. You know, there’s plenty of talent there. I’m surrounded by very good people. I’ve said I’ll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. Terms are like Shredded Wheat – two are wonderful but three might just be too many.”
He clearly has firmly set plans in place for his own career, which is admirable. The issue is, is that his career is at the behest of the public vote. Some may deem his words as an arrogance that David Cameron is either so assured, deluded – or both – that he believes his course at the helm of the nation’s government is set and is unalterable. On the other hand, is this a Machiavellian piece of brilliance, orchestrated by a man who shrouded himself in power from the wreckage of “No Overall Control?” He knows those jagged rocks, Ed Miliband doesn’t, Nick Clegg also does, they’ve navigated them and lived to tell the tale, encouraging economic growth in the country – misery of many unemployed under austerity notwithstanding. Cameron also is fully aware that Ed Miliband is widely mistrusted and that many cannot envisage him in David’s place. Add to this the burgeoning popularity of smaller parties, it means that votes will be spread possibly wider than before. Leading to more opportunity to stay the same. Is he also trying to carve out a niche in the fickle scape of iconography? Thatcher was in office for not much longer than a decade, neither was Tony Blair, is this is an attempt to fashion a reputation as the PM that got the UK back on it’s feet after arguably the worst recession since the 1930s? Only to graciously depart once he had rescued the nation? Finally, what of those he designated as potential successors? Theresa May seems the most capable of the three he threw his weight behind. George Osborne is questionable, because even his tenure as Chancellor is such. As for Boris Johnson, this is a demagogic option. Cameron is opting for populism to continue the Tory legacy here – as the eccentric London Mayor is the nation’s most popular politician by a country mile. Although one factor remains to the Prime Minister’s plans. In 2010, few had heard of Nick Clegg, his infamy as a Tory enabler and a turncoat on his own policies has sealed his own reputation in the annals of political history. An uncertain outcome of a General Election throws some curveballs and even more bizarre bedfellows. The Prime Minister’s insistence on retaining some control on stability doesn’t control the uncertain nature of the next several weeks. Cameron can only sit back and watch this space like the rest of the country.
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