Something I commonly hear when talking to people is the dreaded phrase “I’m non-political”. It’s usually said to mean that they don’t know about, don’t care about, or don’t understand politics.
It’s likely true that a lot of these people don’t understand or know about the intricacies of the political systems in the UK. But it’s usually untrue that they don’t care. These ‘non-political’ people are often more political than they realise, or care to admit. Can this be drawn upon to create a more politically engaged society?
Everything is political
The single most daunting fact that non-political people tend to ignore is this – everything is political, even – or perhaps especially – the personal. Annoyed about the price of goods going up? That’s politics. Is public transport extra-terrible lately? I bet there’s a budget being cut somewhere; that’s politics. Trouble accessing public support? Yeah, politics too. Almost everything about your daily life is the result of a political choice having been made somewhere.
That’s not to say that a lot of these issues could easily be fixed, be it simply by voting or otherwise, but I do think it’s important to note. Non-political people often tell me they’re ‘non-political’, then in the next breath complain about something directly created or impacted by politics, locally or nationally.
I believe this disconnect between people’s understanding of what ‘being political’ is, and what it actually means, is a driving force behind widespread political apathy in the UK. They think of democracy as something that happens only at the ballot box, not as part of daily life. Though it’s not just apathy or misunderstanding turning people away from being political.
The Old Boy’s Club
Something I also hear fairly often when asking others about their distaste for politics is that it seems like “an old boy’s club”. That it’s a clique, that you have to be within it to get it. And if you’re not in the club, then good luck trying to get anywhere.
I think to an extent there is some merit to this belief. It’s no secret that there is such a thing in the UK called the ‘political elite’ – a pompous title for an equally pompous set of people, in my opinion. These are people who automatically go to prestigious ‘public’ schools and universities, living off trust funds set up by their wildly wealthy families.
They want you to believe they are indeed elite, bred for the job. But the reality is, they are often so out of touch with how ‘non-elite’ non-political people live, they have no idea what could or even should be done to help us. Though that would assume they actually wanted to help ‘ordinary’ people – not something they’re often accused of.
But as much as this out of touch kind of politician does exist, there are those within the ‘halls of power’ that do care, understand, and want to change the world, or at least the UK, for the better. With modern journalism being what it is, the good, and often slow, work of a dedicated politician fighting to change democracy for the better is often drowned out by the clickbait headlines and manufactured panic that reach people the most. Often these individuals are on lower rungs of the ladder within politics: council members, backbenchers, or members of devolved parliaments.
Not non-political
Too often I see these relative hills described as insurmountable mountains. It is true that the path towards becoming more politically active, and understanding politics as a whole, can feel like facing a mountain at times. But to think that there is no way through, over, or under, is not realistic or productive.
The so-called ‘political elite’ might like nothing more than for non-political people to throw up their hands and give up. Political inattention and inaction are what keep them in power, after all. But all it would take to uplift democracy and remove those who do more harm than good to the general populace is to act.
I realise people feel they don’t have all the facts, and often that may be correct. But isn’t it easier to do a little research now in order to avoid years of misery in the future? If you look through the annals of political history in the UK, searching for the elections with the highest voter turnout, you’ll find these elections usually preceded incredible progressive change across the UK.
Now, I know it’s a bit rich of me to simply say, “Do a little research”. I know full well how difficult it can be sometimes, getting the information you feel you need in order to make an informed decision at the ballot box. So let me try and help you with that.
Where to look
There are a number of incredibly useful, high-quality resources that can be used to make yourself more informed about politics, both in your local area and nationally. The best of these, I believe, is the aptly named They Work For You. It’s a charitable organisation that “takes open data from the UK’s Parliaments, and presents it in a way that’s easy to follow – for everyone.” They further state, “You shouldn’t have to be an expert to understand what goes on in Parliament”, and I couldn’t agree more. Other incredibly useful resources are the Electoral Commission, Write To Them, and The Local Government Association.
But often, for non-political people, it only takes one issue for their desire to know more to bloom. Is there a local issue that you feel strongly about? Something that directly affects you or someone you know? People who engage with politics around a single personal issue tend to end up engaging more broadly with politics in the future, in essence broadening their access to democracy.
An effective way to start this process is through the use of petitions across the UK. The petitions for the UK government have certain thresholds that, once met, provide the creator with the ability to have their petition heard and debated on in Parliament. Many progressive changes have been made through the efficient use of petitions. Or sometimes they let you at least hear the voices of the good politicians I mentioned.
Or start or join a neighbourhood, community, or campaign group or forum. The possibilities are endless, and sometimes have very positive outcomes. Dafydd vs Goliath is a cliche for a reason.
Never nothing you can do
Some people may say they’re non-political because they don’t see that being more engaged with politics would make any difference. They know full well that everything from the availability of health services to the climate crisis is a direct result of politics. But they also know that, depending on where they live, our absurd first-past-the-post voting system means their vote may count for little. They should know, then, that tactical voting can be their friend. There’s never nothing you can do.
In essence, the notion of being non-political is a fallacy we must dispel. Politics permeates every aspect of our lives, from the price of goods to the quality of public services. While there may exist an entrenched ‘old boy’s club’ within politics, there are also passionate individuals striving for positive change, often overshadowed by sensationalism in modern media.
The path to a more politically engaged society may seem long and winding. But it begins with acknowledging our interconnectedness with politics and seizing the tools available to us, such as reputable resources and grassroots activism. By empowering ourselves with knowledge and action, we not only challenge the status quo but also pave the way for a more equitable, responsive, community-centred democracy.
