PoliticsHome analysis of public view of Parliament

I see today PoliticsHome is showing the results of an analysis they have done of how the public views the institution of Parliament compared with how they did just after the MPs’ expenses story broke.

Just after the revelations began the public approval rating of Parliament dropped to its lowest level since PoliticsHome began keeping records and sleaze became a major issue for voters.   But now the approval rating has returned to the level that it was before the story broke, and the importance attached to corruption as a national priority is fading.   35% of voters thought it was an important issue before the Daily Telegraph’s publications.   This rose to 62% over the following three weeks, making it the second biggest issue.   This week, 39% of the public see political corruption as an important issue. 

The figures and accompanying graphs can be seen here

I have said all along this would happen.   We all know that “the public” has a very short memory and quickly moves on to new things.   I don’t know about the other parties, but it is the Conservative members and activists who felt most strongly, and indeed still feel extremely strongly about this.   As I talk to members and activists in many constituencies, they are still seething.   It is also, by and large, older people who feel so strongly.   An 80+ former Association Chairman informed me that all his friends were furious   -  but I know they are the golf club members of his own age.

The trouble is, though, that it is these members and activists who will be called upon to “work” the election campaign when it comes.   And some of them are saying they won’t work for their “second home and food expenses” MP.   Some entire Conservative Branches are saying they won’t work.

Members of Parliament have been known to say it doesn’t matter  -  these days general elections are fought on the television and with leaflet deliveries, and half a dozen of their personal friends can cover the whole constituency.   But actually that’s a bit naive.   They still need to get the vote out on polling day, and that needs people to do it.

So, yes, I agree that the public resentment is fading, although it still brings a few laughs in the pubs and clubs when someone says, “I’ll put it on my expenses, but not the duck pond”.

But because of the lingering resentment in the Conservative Association and its Branches, there are still some MPs who are at risk of deselection.   Some of them have only themselves to blame because they have handled the situation so badly  -  so arrogantly and rudely.   Every day I become more convinced that one in particular will not survive.