There is no doubt that the private and public realms have moved closer together and the professional and personal lives of politicians have become intertwined. The rise of 24-hour media, and social media certainly hasn’t helped this. Equally, in an era when personality and ‘vibe’ politics are at the forefront, there is an undeniable thirst for information about politician’s private lives. During the 2024 general election, Starmer’s pledge that he would have dinner with his family on Friday evenings sparked outrage, and there was also indignation when Sunak admitted to eating an enormous amount of sugar, during the Sky News debate. As if we have a right to control and comment on every aspect of a politician’s life, right down to what they eat and when.
Love, money, and power are at play, and as citizens, we are invited to front row seats. But has this infatuation with scandals and politician’s personal lives gone too far?
Even the hobbies of Prime Ministers are of enormous interest, whether that is Johnson’s joy of making and painting model buses, or May’s mischievous teen years which she spent running through fields of wheat. Arguably it is easier, and simpler, to pinpoint Johnson’s flustering, baboon-like character, than the minute details of Brexit or complex economic policy. And frankly, it’s more interesting, too.
Of course, how we view politicians and the criteria to which we judge them has changed. Just as Kennedy’s good looks and charm won him popularity during the 1960s and the boom of the television, a new criteria of what makes a ‘successful politician’ is being shaped by short-form, fast-moving, and shallow media. Either the politician wins at this game by avoiding this popularity contest all together. They present themselves as personally uninteresting, hardworking, and scandal free, but ultimately lose when caught out by hypocrisy, failing to reach this unachievable standard. The likes of Starmer, Sunak and even Hillary Clinton could be grouped into this camp. Or the politician – Truss, Johnson, and Trump, for example - leans into their interesting scandals and flamboyant character. Yet, the chaos and poor governing that ensues is an ultimate loss for the public.
Yet, we can’t pull our eyes away from the personal scandal, crazed hobbies, and downright intriguing personas. And as we look one way, in the other direction, sensible policy discussion, careful planning, and deep thought are being left in a heap.
