Fordyce Maxwell: The public know little enough about politics to have a basis for their dislike

MUCH has been said and written recently about the importance or otherwise – mainly otherwise – of politics and politicians.

George Galloway, for instance, in his understated modest way, described his recent by-election win for Respect in “the Bradford Spring” as a warning that the main political parties are done for.

The public, he suggested, doesn’t like them and doesn’t trust them. Putting aside the thought that, with his track record, many of us think the same about George, I fear he’s right.

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What is also certain, worrying and depressing is that most of the public know little enough about politics to have a basis for their dislike and distrust. I base that conclusion on taking an interest in political history, trying to keep up to date with politics now, amateur psephology and watching the television quiz show Pointless.

I should explain that. Television plays little part in my life. But occasionally I get drawn into quiz programmes during the winter, an infatuation that usually passes with longer daylight hours.

In the past few months it has been Pointless, a middle of the road quiz hosted by Alexander Armstrong, questions posed by Richard “What are your qualifications? I know everything” Osman.

Low scores win by trying to provide the least known answer to questions that vary from boy bands to word endings, geography, TV shows, films, fiction, nature and, of course, politics.

Before the show, 100 people are asked the same questions, and Pointless contestants compete against the totals. For example, if the question was venues for the Olympic Games, almost 90 out of the 100 members of the audience asked might know London, but very few, if any, might name St Louis.

Politicians should watch the show and weep, because while many categories produce high scores – airport initials, geography, popular entertainment, fiction – politics invariably scores low.

As one of the most prominent members of the last Labour government, Alistair Darling got a seven. John Prescott got the best recognition: 15. In another question, 45 out of 100 people knew that David Cameron was a member of the Cabinet.

Betty Boothroyd was the only speaker of the Commons since 1945 to get far into double figures, and I don’t recall one home secretary getting that far. UK prime ministers and US presidents struggle to get a rating of more than 20, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Mrs Thatcher.

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How’s that for public interest in politics? And for the vanity of human wishes?

• Last week Fordyce... saw the “silent” film The Artist. He lost interest in endless shots of flashing teeth and a toothbrush moustache as the hero tried to drink and smoke himself wordlessly to death. The dog was good.