Are The Majority Of Our Politicians Out Of Touch With Public Opinion?

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6791157/Backlash-Sajid-Javids-decision-strip-ISIS-jihadi-bride-Shamima-Begum-British-citizenship.html

[aelmpvw]

i think the majority are in touch with public opinion but ignore it ...

[Zacs-Master]

Surely there are enough threads on this?

[THECORBYLOON]

Do you mean in general or in this particular example?

[Baldric]

When were they ever in touch?

[fender62]

i think some have an agenda, to pander to certain quarters
to what end, mmm score points or climb higher on the greasy pole.

[margarettom]

Yes!

[Gromit]

Unfortunately public opinion is often wrong. That opinion can be ill informed, and often manipulated by others. The job of politicians is to save us from ourselves. It usually works, but inthe case of Javid, he panderedto the masses and an innocent child died.

[-Talbot-]

The actions of Begum and not Javid were responsible for the death of her babies.

[Old_Geezer]

Like politicians are superior to others and know best. Nannying or what ?

They are as vulnerable to error as anyone, but their job is to represent their public not ignore them. If they have reason to disagree with public opinion they should explain the additional information they have that gives them a different view and see if the public change their mind or not. Otherwise they're failing in their job.

[New Judge]

"The job of politicians is to save us from ourselves."

Good grief!

[New Judge]

I forgot this bit (I'm so overwhelmed):

"Unfortunately public opinion is often wrong."

How can an opinion be wrong? It is somebody's view, not a fact. Who determines whether it's wrong (and so by default declares what is right)? MPs, presumably. It's my opinion that the UK would be better off out of the EU. Others hold the opposite view. Neither opinion is right or wrong. Once you start declaring that somebody's opinion is wrong you begin to descend a slippery slope. You obviously hold a different philosophy to me, Gromit.

[agchristie]

//The job of politicians is to save us from ourselves.//

I'm pleased to hear that our esteemed politicians such as May,Corbyn,Abbott,Grayling et al will all keep the country ticking over nicely and I can experience true salvation!

[Gromit]

// How can an opinion be wrong? //

No one has done a poll but it is assumed in the Question that the majority of the public support taking away British citizenship from Begrum. I don’t know if it is true that the majority of citizens support it, but the policy is illegal. Under UK law, and numerous international treaties we have signed, it is illegal to make anyone stateless. UK citizenship can be withdrawn to someone who had dual citizenship, but that was not the case with Begrum. Javid said she had Pakistani citizenship, but Pakistan said she hadn’t. So the action is illegal, and therefore public opinion that supported it is wrong. Unless you believe we can ignore the law whenever we feel like it.

[retrocop]

Bangladeshi citizenship ,I believe, not Pakistani.

[Gromit]

Thanks for the correction retrocop

[ummmm]

Gromit has a point. Many many people vote with a just a small amount of knowledge of politics. I wonder how many students voted Labour because of university fees and how many voted for Farage to get us out of Europe thinking it would stop immigration. A lot more than many of you think I would guess.

[retrocop]

ummmm

//I wonder how many students voted Labour because of university fees and how many voted for Farage to get us out of Europe thinking it would stop immigration.//

I do not believe for one minute that Nigel Farage campaigned to stop immigration through Brexit. He was married to a German woman and acknowledged that immigration was beneficial to this country if it followed the Australian model of a points system. Those who could bring skills and benefit to our welfare and economy. Not a load of thieving ,begging squatters who doss down in our underpasses and subways in Marble Arch and contribute jack.
His main reason,I believe as is mine,to leave the EU was to restore our constitution and self government without kowtowing to the dictates of Brussels. We dance to their tune and pay inordinate amounts of Wonga to support impoverished countries within the EU who have contributed nothing but gain everything from the UK's largesse.

[retrocop]

Ummm
I recall you told us you kept a companies books. Can you tell me when the EU had their accounts last audited so all major contributors to the EU coffers know where their contributions have been utilised? I would like to know where UK taxpayers money is spent in Brussels. Wouldn't you? The whole system is corrupt. That is why Nigel et al voted to leave.

[ummmm]

I know that, Retro, but I bet every person who voted didn't. All they're thinking about is closed borders like the students thinking uni fees will be scrapped if Labour get in. They know a small amount about the policy which is an advantage to them but know very little about other policies.


And then you have the voters who vote what they are told to vote. The public is also not reliable.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//Many many people vote with a just a small amount of knowledge of politics//

Which is why we "small-amounters" need a bit of help from our representatives to explain to us what we small-amounters don't know and can't grasp.

And - hey, guys! - what a valuable site AB is. So many experienced and well-informed moderators, as well as more recent affirmative action appointees, there to explain the clever bits to us.