Jude Collins

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Labour and the sweet smell of a Merc



It’s not always what you say so much as how memorably you say it. On RTÉ’s ‘The Frontline’ last night, Sean Sherlock of Labour, a pleasant-looking lad, was trying to explain why Labour, who are opposed to the Finance Bill, are going to be voting FOR the same Finance Bill in the Dail later this week. It’s a tough one but he did his best. He’s a Corkman and Corkmen have a way with words, even in a tight situation. Then Pat Kenny asked Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty for his views.

Doherty has got beefier. Only a couple of weeks ago he was a slightly gawky, long-necked lad from Donegal. Now his face is fuller, his neck thicker – he looks like he’s matured physically. And politically? Well, if his choice of words is any indication, he’s a veteran already. When poor young Sherlock had sort of collapsed back into his seat after struggling to explain that Labour were opposed to and at the same time going to help pass the Finance Bill, Doherty responded. He said that Sherlock and Labour were now acting as they were because they’d got “a whiff of ministerial leather” and couldn’t wait to occupy their new government Mercs.

Young Sherlock spotted the problem immediately and tried to damp down the blaze by telling Doherty that such a remark was out of order, was a low blow, was unacceptable. The result of that was, the viewing public did a quick mental rewind, played again the “whiff of ministerial leather” remark and cemented it into their political picture. This was  firmed up later in the programme when Pat Kenny AND a man in the audience repeated the phrase.

What’s so important about a “whiff of ministerial leather”? Because grasping political issues is hard work. Words are slippery things – that’s why political cartoons are often more successful than political columnists. So when a well-turned phrase pops up that seems to summarise something broad and complex – this time Labour’s reasons for acting as it did – then the public’s mind snaffles it up. “A whiff of ministerial leather” - it appeals not to our sense of sight or hearing, but smell. We all know that yummy pong of a new car, and better still an expensive new car, and better still an expensive new car that you get to use and don’t have to pay for. Suddenly all Labour’s high-minded explanations for not pulling the plug on the government fly out the window and are replaced by the image of Labour TDs getting all hot and moist as the smell of power spirals up their nostrils.

Not fair, maybe not even totally truthful. But unforgettable.

5 comments:

  1. so your political analysis is based on how good a soundbite is?

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  2. Hahahaaaa, Anon - I just love your logic. No, I don't think I said that. I just pointed out how effective a soundbite can be. You'll have to pay more attention when you're reading, I think.

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  3. Jude, your analysis is flawed from the start when you say "Labour, who are opposed to the Finance Bill, are going to be voting FOR the same Finance Bill in the Dail later this week."

    They are not voting for the Bill. That Fianna Fail and the Greens are in favour of it means it will be passed. Rather than let the government drag out the process so as to cling to power, Labour have demanded and facilitated the passage of the bill through the various stages of the house.

    This does NOT equate to an endorsement of the Bill. Sinn Fein themselves said that they too would allow this to happen - see here: http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0122/politics1.html

    "Sinn Féin indicated that it would be willing to join Fine Gael and Labour in fast-tracking the Finance Bill through all stages of the Dáíl by Friday.

    The party's Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that it may be essential to bring an end to, what he called, 'the chaos' of the current Government."

    Sinn Fein are a flip-flopping party of protest who will do any old u-turn for a soundbite.

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  4. Hello Joe - thanks for your thoughts. I'm not sure why you bring Sinn Féin change of heart into the discussion. The point under consideration is, are Labour voting for - OK, allowing to pass - a bill to which they say they are opposed? It looks very like it, I'm afraid. If they don't favour this bill, they can stop it - they can pull the plug on Wednesday. But they choose not to - in short, they remove the one road block so the bill can pass. I'd say that was supporting the passage of the bill, wouldn't you?

    I'd say you're right about Sinn Féin flip-flopping on whether they were for or against - or maybe Aengus just spoke out when he'd have been better keeping his bake shut...

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  5. Pat Kenny was the most competent performer on the night.
    His looks of absolute frustration and bewilderment at the non answers he was given was priceless.

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