Our political leaders are failing to inspire

There used to be hope. When Maggie Thatcher was forced to resign in 1990, John Major appeared from nowhere, offering consensus politics. When the wheels began to fall off the Major bandwagon in the mid ‘90s, we were presented with the fresh-faced Tony Blair and his third way. When Tony’s star began to fade a decade later, Cameron popped up with compassionate Conservatism.

But now?

Rarely have I seen so little enthusiasm for our party leaders. Cameron is still regarded, according to the polls, as the best of the bunch, but his approval ratings have been in free fall ever since his chancellor stood up to deliver the budget. As for Ed Miliband, losing a safe seat to George Galloway and his mob is the surest sign yet that he will never be prime minister. And Clegg? He remains in a hellishly difficult position and isn’t statesmanlike enough to find a way out of it.

Many people credit David Cameron with detoxifying the Tory brand. But isn’t it just as possible that the other two main parties have merely become toxic too? None appears to offer a compelling, attractive vision for how Britain can be changed for the better. It’s all meaningless soundbites and one-upmanship. It’s depressing and a big turn-off for vast swaths of the electorate.

These are three things that any of the leaders could address, thereby winning my vote and many others:

1. Culture change. A determination to turn the country away from selfishness,confrontation and me-first grabbing.
2. State funding of political parties. Desperately needed.
3. More devolution to the four countries that make up the British union (i.e. including England)