it was the last election broadcast before the 2017 general election it’s
before the 2017 general election it’s
before the 2017 general election it’s one of the final chances for the party
one of the final chances for the party
one of the final chances for the party predicts cases for voters unsurprisingly
predicts cases for voters unsurprisingly
predicts cases for voters unsurprisingly the party made prominent use its leader
the party made prominent use its leader
the party made prominent use its leader confounding many expectations he had
confounding many expectations he had
confounding many expectations he had proven an effective campaigner over the
proven an effective campaigner over the
proven an effective campaigner over the past few weeks Paulson showed his
past few weeks Paulson showed his
past few weeks Paulson showed his popularity rising consistently since
popularity rising consistently since
popularity rising consistently since Teresa may have caught the snap election
Teresa may have caught the snap election
Teresa may have caught the snap election the leader had defied his critics he’d
the leader had defied his critics he’d
the leader had defied his critics he’d been front and center of the campaign
been front and center of the campaign
been front and center of the campaign and the rising improving poll ratings
and the rising improving poll ratings
and the rising improving poll ratings his party suggested that his leadership
his party suggested that his leadership
his party suggested that his leadership worked indeed when the final result a
worked indeed when the final result a
worked indeed when the final result a few days later turned out even better
few days later turned out even better
few days later turned out even better for his party than the polls have
for his party than the polls have
for his party than the polls have suggested this was seen as very much a
suggested this was seen as very much a
suggested this was seen as very much a personal victory and he emerged a
personal victory and he emerged a
personal victory and he emerged a greatly strengthened vigor those both
greatly strengthened vigor those both
greatly strengthened vigor those both inside and outside the party who
inside and outside the party who
inside and outside the party who previously criticized his leadership
previously criticized his leadership
previously criticized his leadership either fell silent were publicly voiced
either fell silent were publicly voiced
either fell silent were publicly voiced praise loyalty now I’m talking of course
praise loyalty now I’m talking of course
praise loyalty now I’m talking of course about the leader of the Labor Party
I’m not talking about Remy Corbett I’m
I’m not talking about Remy Corbett I’m actually referring to the somewhat less
actually referring to the somewhat less
actually referring to the somewhat less well-known figure certainly outside
well-known figure certainly outside
well-known figure certainly outside Wales look how Windows First Minister
Wales look how Windows First Minister
Wales look how Windows First Minister and leader of Welsh Labour now there’s
and leader of Welsh Labour now there’s
and leader of Welsh Labour now there’s one small example from the final party
one small example from the final party
one small example from the final party election broadcast by the Labour Party
election broadcast by the Labour Party
election broadcast by the Labour Party in Wales
in Wales
in Wales this here is one illustration of a much
this here is one illustration of a much
this here is one illustration of a much broader point elections are about
broader point elections are about
broader point elections are about choices in representative democracy
choices in representative democracy
choices in representative democracy people get to choose who governs now of
people get to choose who governs now of
people get to choose who governs now of course there’s more to it than that in a
course there’s more to it than that in a
course there’s more to it than that in a represent of democracy elections have to
represent of democracy elections have to
represent of democracy elections have to be free and fair you can argue about
be free and fair you can argue about
be free and fair you can argue about whom the people are actually defined to
whom the people are actually defined to
whom the people are actually defined to be so who gets to vote
be so who gets to vote
be so who gets to vote they’re different political systems so
they’re different political systems so
they’re different political systems so in parliamentary democracies we vote for
in parliamentary democracies we vote for
in parliamentary democracies we vote for members of a legislature which in turn
members of a legislature which in turn
members of a legislature which in turn produces a government in a presidential
produces a government in a presidential
produces a government in a presidential system we vote directly for the head of
system we vote directly for the head of
system we vote directly for the head of government there are different electoral
government there are different electoral
government there are different electoral systems which shape how we vote and how
systems which shape how we vote and how
systems which shape how we vote and how those like to aggregate together into an
those like to aggregate together into an
those like to aggregate together into an election result and of course some very
election result and of course some very
election result and of course some very important and powerful official
important and powerful official
important and powerful official positions like membership of
positions like membership of
positions like membership of constitutional courts or the leadership
constitutional courts or the leadership
constitutional courts or the leadership of central banks are not normally
of central banks are not normally
of central banks are not normally elected but the basic principle remains
elected but the basic principle remains
elected but the basic principle remains in a representative democracy we the
in a representative democracy we the
in a representative democracy we the people choose guns
of course we do not as Karl Marx might
of course we do not as Karl Marx might have put it make our choices just as we
have put it make our choices just as we
have put it make our choices just as we please choose in election for the menu
please choose in election for the menu
please choose in election for the menu and its political parties that provide
and its political parties that provide
and its political parties that provide the options on that menu democracy in
the options on that menu democracy in
the options on that menu democracy in the UK and pretty much everywhere else
the UK and pretty much everywhere else
the UK and pretty much everywhere else remains a party democracy that is
remains a party democracy that is
remains a party democracy that is organized political movements which we
organized political movements which we
organized political movements which we call parties provide the overwhelming
call parties provide the overwhelming
call parties provide the overwhelming majority of candidates in major
majority of candidates in major
majority of candidates in major elections and an even greater share of
elections and an even greater share of
elections and an even greater share of those who actually win election now of
those who actually win election now of
those who actually win election now of course we don’t always get the menu of
course we don’t always get the menu of
course we don’t always get the menu of options that we would like many people
options that we would like many people
options that we would like many people are happy with available choices in many
are happy with available choices in many
are happy with available choices in many elections there’s been a big decline in
elections there’s been a big decline in
elections there’s been a big decline in faith in political parties in over the
faith in political parties in over the
faith in political parties in over the last few decades in the UK and in many
last few decades in the UK and in many
last few decades in the UK and in many other established democracies despite
other established democracies despite
other established democracies despite recent surgeries for the SNP and Labour
recent surgeries for the SNP and Labour
recent surgeries for the SNP and Labour Party membership numbers have generally
Party membership numbers have generally
Party membership numbers have generally been falling of recent times and in the
been falling of recent times and in the
been falling of recent times and in the wider electorate we see a similar
wider electorate we see a similar
wider electorate we see a similar picture there were far fewer people have
picture there were far fewer people have
picture there were far fewer people have a deep and abiding loyalty to any
a deep and abiding loyalty to any
a deep and abiding loyalty to any specific political party than used to be
specific political party than used to be
specific political party than used to be the case then of course unhappiness with
the case then of course unhappiness with
the case then of course unhappiness with available choices is one reason why many
available choices is one reason why many
available choices is one reason why many people simply refuse to vote
people simply refuse to vote
people simply refuse to vote yet even when the available choices are
yet even when the available choices are
yet even when the available choices are unsatisfactory to many of us this menu
unsatisfactory to many of us this menu
unsatisfactory to many of us this menu of electoral options that still matters
but the nature of those electoral menus
but the nature of those electoral menus has changed in a fundamental way the
has changed in a fundamental way the
has changed in a fundamental way the choices before us in the general
choices before us in the general
choices before us in the general election were once largely common across
election were once largely common across
election were once largely common across Britain but voters in the UK’s Four
Britain but voters in the UK’s Four
Britain but voters in the UK’s Four Nations are increasingly being presented
Nations are increasingly being presented
Nations are increasingly being presented with fundamentally different and largely
with fundamentally different and largely
with fundamentally different and largely disconnected sets of political options
disconnected sets of political options
disconnected sets of political options we continue to elect one Parliament one
we continue to elect one Parliament one
we continue to elect one Parliament one half of Commons when we do so from four
half of Commons when we do so from four
half of Commons when we do so from four distinct electoral contests a genuinely
distinct electoral contests a genuinely
distinct electoral contests a genuinely British democratic politics is being
British democratic politics is being
British democratic politics is being hollowed out now why does this matter
we might imagine a common language a
we might imagine a common language a shared religion perhaps a shared sense
shared religion perhaps a shared sense
shared religion perhaps a shared sense of ethnic identity people of Boston also
of ethnic identity people of Boston also
of ethnic identity people of Boston also become more United through facing it
become more United through facing it
become more United through facing it from an enemy but in an important sense
from an enemy but in an important sense
from an enemy but in an important sense in a democracy people can also be united
in a democracy people can also be united
in a democracy people can also be united by their differences
by their differences
by their differences I thought democracy does not seek to
I thought democracy does not seek to
I thought democracy does not seek to abolish differences within a society it
abolish differences within a society it
abolish differences within a society it merely provides for their peaceful
merely provides for their peaceful
merely provides for their peaceful airing and their resolution via
airing and their resolution via
airing and their resolution via elections and representative politics we
elections and representative politics we
elections and representative politics we don’t always get the government or the
don’t always get the government or the
don’t always get the government or the policies that we want but we all get the
policies that we want but we all get the
policies that we want but we all get the chance to take part in the process and
chance to take part in the process and
chance to take part in the process and that at least may help us accept when we
that at least may help us accept when we
that at least may help us accept when we don’t get what we want to work democracy
don’t get what we want to work democracy
don’t get what we want to work democracy ultimately depends on losers
ultimately depends on losers
ultimately depends on losers that is the ability of the defeated to
that is the ability of the defeated to
that is the ability of the defeated to accept both the outcome and the
accept both the outcome and the
accept both the outcome and the legitimacy of the process by which it
legitimacy of the process by which it
legitimacy of the process by which it has been reached but this uniting
has been reached but this uniting
has been reached but this uniting through our differences can only occur
through our differences can only occur
through our differences can only occur if we have some sort of common political
if we have some sort of common political
if we have some sort of common political debate and common set of options now we
debate and common set of options now we
debate and common set of options now we don’t have that election become
don’t have that election become
don’t have that election become essentially a disconnected set of nearly
essentially a disconnected set of nearly
essentially a disconnected set of nearly coinciding events in different parts of
coinciding events in different parts of
coinciding events in different parts of the country in the worst case scenario
the country in the worst case scenario
the country in the worst case scenario political debates may have so little in
political debates may have so little in
political debates may have so little in common that the interest of different
common that the interest of different
common that the interest of different parts of the country can see completely
parts of the country can see completely
parts of the country can see completely unrelated to each other now this doesn’t
unrelated to each other now this doesn’t
unrelated to each other now this doesn’t mean of course that we can have no local
mean of course that we can have no local
mean of course that we can have no local differences rural areas will have
differences rural areas will have
differences rural areas will have different concerns from urban ones rich
different concerns from urban ones rich
different concerns from urban ones rich areas we tend to worry about different
areas we tend to worry about different
areas we tend to worry about different things from poor places but the health
things from poor places but the health
things from poor places but the health of a political system does require some
of a political system does require some
of a political system does require some unity political debate of the options
unity political debate of the options
unity political debate of the options presented to people and the electoral
presented to people and the electoral
presented to people and the electoral choices that they make and in the UK
choices that they make and in the UK
choices that they make and in the UK this is under increasing pressure the UK
this is under increasing pressure the UK
this is under increasing pressure the UK is becoming an electronic dis United
is becoming an electronic dis United
is becoming an electronic dis United Kingdom the literal choices have become
Kingdom the literal choices have become
Kingdom the literal choices have become increasingly different between the
increasingly different between the
increasingly different between the nations of Britain over the last half
nations of Britain over the last half
nations of Britain over the last half century see the long slow decline slot
century see the long slow decline slot
century see the long slow decline slot of conservatism the rise the SNP and to
of conservatism the rise the SNP and to
of conservatism the rise the SNP and to a lesser extent like Hungary this
a lesser extent like Hungary this
a lesser extent like Hungary this electoral disunity was shown vividly in
electoral disunity was shown vividly in
electoral disunity was shown vividly in 2017 for only the second time ever but
2017 for only the second time ever but
2017 for only the second time ever but also the second time in a row the
also the second time in a row the
also the second time in a row the general election saw four different
general election saw four different
general election saw four different parties come first in the UK’s four
parties come first in the UK’s four
parties come first in the UK’s four nations prior to 2015 that have never
nations prior to 2015 that have never
nations prior to 2015 that have never happened
happened
happened thought and less widely noticed this
thought and less widely noticed this
thought and less widely noticed this year
year
year what other developments the pushed party
what other developments the pushed party
what other developments the pushed party politics in the UK further apart
politics in the UK further apart
politics in the UK further apart Northern Ireland of course has long had
Northern Ireland of course has long had
Northern Ireland of course has long had a very different politics from the rest
a very different politics from the rest
a very different politics from the rest of the UK electorally Ulster has always
of the UK electorally Ulster has always
of the UK electorally Ulster has always been a place of heart yeah 2017 saw
been a place of heart yeah 2017 saw
been a place of heart yeah 2017 saw their moderate forces with the closest
their moderate forces with the closest
their moderate forces with the closest links to the main UK party’s lose their
links to the main UK party’s lose their
links to the main UK party’s lose their last remaining members of parliament in
last remaining members of parliament in
last remaining members of parliament in Scotland the SNP again won the election
Scotland the SNP again won the election
Scotland the SNP again won the election although much less decisively than they
although much less decisively than they
although much less decisively than they had two years previously but the
had two years previously but the
had two years previously but the unionist parties achieved their house
unionist parties achieved their house
unionist parties achieved their house will come back by essentially fighting
will come back by essentially fighting
will come back by essentially fighting on the SMPS turf albeit with some
on the SMPS turf albeit with some
on the SMPS turf albeit with some success the defining electoral issue in
success the defining electoral issue in
success the defining electoral issue in Scotland with independence and whether
Scotland with independence and whether
Scotland with independence and whether or not there should be a second
or not there should be a second
or not there should be a second independence referendum even those
independence referendum even those
independence referendum even those parties that strongly believe in the
parties that strongly believe in the
parties that strongly believe in the United Kingdom remaining together
United Kingdom remaining together
United Kingdom remaining together thought election campaign had almost no
thought election campaign had almost no
thought election campaign had almost no connection at all there happening in the
connection at all there happening in the
connection at all there happening in the rest of the UK Wales offers more subtle
rest of the UK Wales offers more subtle
rest of the UK Wales offers more subtle picture than the antha than the other
picture than the antha than the other
picture than the antha than the other non-english nations of the UK Wales has
non-english nations of the UK Wales has
non-english nations of the UK Wales has long been very closely tied to its much
long been very closely tied to its much
long been very closely tied to its much larger neighbor to the east but Labour’s
larger neighbor to the east but Labour’s
larger neighbor to the east but Labour’s ultimately successful 2017 campaign in
ultimately successful 2017 campaign in
ultimately successful 2017 campaign in Wales
Wales
Wales focus almost entirely on the Welsh
focus almost entirely on the Welsh
focus almost entirely on the Welsh Labour Grant Jeremy Corbyn was almost
Labour Grant Jeremy Corbyn was almost
Labour Grant Jeremy Corbyn was almost invisible in the labour campaign in
invisible in the labour campaign in
invisible in the labour campaign in Wales excluded in favour of coward votes
Wales excluded in favour of coward votes
Wales excluded in favour of coward votes and after their disappointing result
and after their disappointing result
and after their disappointing result many prominent Welsh conservatives
many prominent Welsh conservatives
many prominent Welsh conservatives called urgently for greater autonomy for
called urgently for greater autonomy for
called urgently for greater autonomy for their party for an identifiable Welsh
their party for an identifiable Welsh
their party for an identifiable Welsh leader in other words putting their
leader in other words putting their
leader in other words putting their party much on the model of Welsh Labour
party much on the model of Welsh Labour
party much on the model of Welsh Labour or indeed the Scottish Conservatives and
the lower-cost England and Britain are
the lower-cost England and Britain are often conflated by the UK’s majority
often conflated by the UK’s majority
often conflated by the UK’s majority nation
nation
nation both the 2015 and the 2017 elections
both the 2015 and the 2017 elections
both the 2015 and the 2017 elections have reflected the rise in recent years
have reflected the rise in recent years
have reflected the rise in recent years of a more prominent and more politicized
of a more prominent and more politicized
of a more prominent and more politicized English identity after the introduction
English identity after the introduction
English identity after the introduction of English votes for English laws in the
of English votes for English laws in the
of English votes for English laws in the House of Commons in 2015 all parties
House of Commons in 2015 all parties
House of Commons in 2015 all parties this year felt the need to respond to
this year felt the need to respond to
this year felt the need to respond to Englishness as a political phenomenon in
Englishness as a political phenomenon in
Englishness as a political phenomenon in their electoral manifestos the Labour
their electoral manifestos the Labour
their electoral manifestos the Labour Party even proposed the introduction of
Party even proposed the introduction of
Party even proposed the introduction of a minister for England
so 2017 saw politics across the UK’s
so 2017 saw politics across the UK’s four Nations move further apart
four Nations move further apart
four Nations move further apart something was not just a one-off the
something was not just a one-off the
something was not just a one-off the continuation of rather longer-term
continuation of rather longer-term
continuation of rather longer-term trends if you came federal actions
trends if you came federal actions
trends if you came federal actions continue on their Tod path as British
continue on their Tod path as British
continue on their Tod path as British fundamental problems for the long-term
fundamental problems for the long-term
fundamental problems for the long-term unity of the UK clitoral unions are
unity of the UK clitoral unions are
unity of the UK clitoral unions are flat-file things this at least is
flat-file things this at least is
flat-file things this at least is something the citizens of the only
something the citizens of the only
something the citizens of the only member state ever to vote to leave the
member state ever to vote to leave the
member state ever to vote to leave the European Union to be able to grasp the
European Union to be able to grasp the
European Union to be able to grasp the existence of the British state is a
existence of the British state is a
existence of the British state is a contingent fact the British state’s
contingent fact the British state’s
contingent fact the British state’s existence is neither necessary nor
existence is neither necessary nor
existence is neither necessary nor inevitable deed that states history has
inevitable deed that states history has
inevitable deed that states history has been much more turbulent than many
been much more turbulent than many
been much more turbulent than many people realize those who emphasize what
people realize those who emphasize what
people realize those who emphasize what Churchill termed the long continuity of
Churchill termed the long continuity of
Churchill termed the long continuity of our institutions tend to underplay or
our institutions tend to underplay or
our institutions tend to underplay or maybe even be unaware of the major
maybe even be unaware of the major
maybe even be unaware of the major convulsions that have transformed the
convulsions that have transformed the
convulsions that have transformed the fundamental shape of politics in these
fundamental shape of politics in these
fundamental shape of politics in these islands roughly once a century since the
islands roughly once a century since the
islands roughly once a century since the time of Henry in the eighth
time of Henry in the eighth
time of Henry in the eighth so Henry’s formal incorporation of Wales
so Henry’s formal incorporation of Wales
so Henry’s formal incorporation of Wales into the kingdom of England early in the
into the kingdom of England early in the
into the kingdom of England early in the sixteenth century was followed the
sixteenth century was followed the
sixteenth century was followed the beginning of the 17th century by the
beginning of the 17th century by the
beginning of the 17th century by the Union English trans by the formal
Union English trans by the formal
Union English trans by the formal parliamentary union Scotland in England
parliamentary union Scotland in England
parliamentary union Scotland in England in 1707 an assembly union between
in 1707 an assembly union between
in 1707 an assembly union between Ireland and Britain in 1800 then of
Ireland and Britain in 1800 then of
Ireland and Britain in 1800 then of course in 1922
course in 1922
course in 1922 we saw the independence of 26 of
we saw the independence of 26 of
we saw the independence of 26 of Ireland’s 32 counties as the Irish Free
Ireland’s 32 counties as the Irish Free
Ireland’s 32 counties as the Irish Free State it’s often forgotten that only 95
State it’s often forgotten that only 95
State it’s often forgotten that only 95 years ago the UK lost a greater
years ago the UK lost a greater
years ago the UK lost a greater proportion of its core territory
proportion of its core territory
proportion of its core territory throughout independence the Germany had
throughout independence the Germany had
throughout independence the Germany had just a few years previously through the
just a few years previously through the
just a few years previously through the Treaty of Versailles and just three
Treaty of Versailles and just three
Treaty of Versailles and just three years ago UK does what was not so much
years ago UK does what was not so much
years ago UK does what was not so much another bullet as a large piece of
another bullet as a large piece of
another bullet as a large piece of artillery munition when very close to
artillery munition when very close to
artillery munition when very close to half of those voting in Scotland opted
half of those voting in Scotland opted
half of those voting in Scotland opted for independence the petition history of
for independence the petition history of
for independence the petition history of what is now the United Kingdom is not
what is now the United Kingdom is not
what is now the United Kingdom is not remotely the story of stability
remotely the story of stability
remotely the story of stability tranquility that many would like to
tranquility that many would like to
tranquility that many would like to think the UK may continue to stay
think the UK may continue to stay
think the UK may continue to stay together fragmentation is not inevitable
absence genuinely British party politics
absence genuinely British party politics to help tie things together
to help tie things together
to help tie things together certainly pushes things is it direction
certainly pushes things is it direction
certainly pushes things is it direction we could end up not nearly as a
we could end up not nearly as a
we could end up not nearly as a naturally dis United Kingdom the end of
naturally dis United Kingdom the end of
naturally dis United Kingdom the end of British party politics could well mean
British party politics could well mean
British party politics could well mean the end
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