Often times, politicians- no matter their nationality or party affiliation, can seem so separate and disconnected from the public they serve. To me and many Americans in particular, our politicians seem to sit on a precedent of separation. And why wouldn’t they? The “founding fathers” of our country, the politicians who laid the precedents of our two-party system, sit like stoic, statuesque titans in our history books. It’s no wonder that sense of decorum and distance pervades into the political attitudes of today.
However, the truth of politics is that those in power- no matter the armies they wield, the economic influence they hold, or the lofty speeches they give- are still just people. And people can make mistakes, change careers, or trip on their ambitions just like the rest of us. It seems that the older I get, the more I learn often I perceive this truth.
Most recently, this principle was embodied in the controversial and abrupt resignation of the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss. Truss held office for 44 days in total, making her term the shortest of any prime minister in British history. This, after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson (also of the Conservative party) resigned on September 6, 2022, adds another spark of chaos into an already tumultuous year for British politics.
The controversy over the resignation of the British Prime Minister gave me an opportunity to truly delve into the inner workings of the United Kingdom’s governmental structure. It can be tempting, as an American, to see the UK- which heavily influenced our founding history- as just another, slightly different version of us. However, the truth is that the British government is full of complex titles and protocols that the American government does not implement. For example, the Conservative party- from which Liz Truss took power and was elected- chooses their next candidate from within their own party. Though there is a “Deputy Prime Minister” position, there is no second in command, like our Vice President office. Opposition parties- such as the Labour Party, the Scottish National Party, and the Liberal Democrats- did call for an immediate general election, but, as of December 2022, Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party has retained the position of Prime Minister.
From an American perspective, the United Kingdom itself has gone through a litany of hardships and political transitions. From Brexit, to the transitions of the various prime ministers, to the death of their longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, to a global pandemic, the citizens of the UK have had to grapple with a tumultuous few years.
As I enter the second year of my college career, it becomes harder to separate myself from the woes and struggles of countries that are not my own. Additionally, as the internet allows the world to become even more interconnected, I begin to wonder how the advent of social media affects (and will continue to affect) the way we perceive our elected leadership. It is easier now to know the goings-on of neighboring countries than ever before, and I wonder- as we continue to gain instant access and recognition of our elected leaders- how much longer the once-stoic separation between politicians and the public will sustain.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/07/1110226702/boris-johnson-resignation-prime-minister-uk
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/25/1131288445/rishi-sunak-uk-prime-minister-economy
