Preying on Apathy

David Cameron's relentless PR machine is beating the politically snoozing elements of our society at their own game, achieving a series of coups off the mainstream media map (politically speaking) that could have devastating effects for both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. A guest on BBC Radio 1's Colin and Edith Show recently (a few hours of current music seasoned with inane phone calls from listeners who can't resist the urge to inform the nation that they’re waiting for a parking space at a shopping centre), Cameron was discussing the playlist on his iPod, finding time to explain to listeners that his favourite member of Girls Aloud is Cheryl Tweedy - because she most resembles his wife. As for his playlist, he listed The Smiths, Radiohead and Pulp amongst others.

I wouldn't mind betting that David Cameron has no interest in Girls Aloud (incidentally, they didn't make it onto his iPod playlist). And whilst I'm on the subject of the man's interests, I'll be happy to have him recount them for me one day on Desert Island Discs after his political career has reached its apex. Until then, Cameron should stick to his own mantra of keeping his personal life personal, and stop deceiving the politically undernourished youth into believing that Britain would be a better place if it's run by a man who shares their taste in music and makes painful attempts to demonstrate an understanding of their culture. Cameron's technique here is to cut out the middle man - that middle man being genuine political thought and conscience. What worries me, and others who might share my left-wing tendencies, is that this sort of celebrity guff will not disappear. It will permanently smokescreen Cameron's position as leader of a party who's objectives can surely never be concurrent with a modern, socially just Britain.

As for me, I don't have an iPod, but if I did it would currently be playing Beethoven, Schoenberg and Rautavaara (and probably a bit of Pulp, Blur, Martha Wainwright and Fatboy Slim in there too, but I’m already way too far off the spectrum of normality for that to redeem me). Sadly perhaps for any budding political career that may be lurking somewhere in my psyche, I can't name any of the members of Girls Aloud (well, apart from Cheryl Tweedy), but on reflection, I don't think that fact has the potential to embarrass me one day. What I do know is that my passion for social justice and public service remains constant, and no attempt by a vacuous and seemingly ideal-less tory politician to cosy up to my musical tastes is going to change that.

Comments

[AJE]

"I'll be happy to have him recount them for me one day on Desert Island Discs after his political career has reached its apex."

That'll be next week then!

[Thomas Conolly]

This sounds vaguely familiar. Tony Blair was asked what his favourite piece of music was on two separate occasions, and gave startlingly different answers. The first time he said, i think, Bach's St Matthew Passion, and the second time 'Where the streets have no name' by U2. He was criticised for trying to play to the audience, which i think can be said of the Cameron man too. Stating a preference for Cheryl Tweedy does seem like a sound idea though!