EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY?
The sudden death of the Leader of the RMT, Bob Crow, came as a shock to many, friend and foe alike.
Someone who had seemed larger than life and only a few weeks ago had been criticised by the media for taking a holiday in Rio de Janeiro where he had been photographed sunning himself on a beach, is with us no more. With hindsight the sneering media comments are shown up as shallow and vindictive criticism as that same media is now eager to recognise his qualities as an effective leader of his union and a human being of some charm.
In the interview Bob Crow gave to Andrew Neill on ‘Sunday Politics’ on returning from holiday, he was unapologetic in defence of both himself and his membership. His points were delivered with a rough charm that won over a reluctant Neill. At one point he told Neill that he would if necessary die serving the interests of his members, a point now seen to be prescient as well as a reminder of the pressures upon such a high-profile figure in public life. Few would now deny him his week in the sun on the beaches of Rio.
Compare that and the example provided by Prime Minister, David Cameron. Again summed up by a photograph that Cameron published, a ‘selfie’ in telephone conversation with American President Barack Obama, eager to be seen ‘looking serious’ as Prime Minister and someone sharing his own perceived self importance with the world at large. But then it is becoming apparent to many that Cameron’s own perception of himself ‘looking the part’ as Prime Minister with just a suggestion of entitlement springing from his background was his principal driving force in pursuing power. And if that is all there is to the man, it’s a job that could be carried out with less harm and more charm by a real actor let’s say, Daniel Craig. Harsh words, but where are the examples of the underlying beliefs and hard decisions that come with leadership. Instead Cameron appears only too prepared to tack to the right in a storm, such that he is prepared to jeopardise the influence of the country he governs in promising a referendum on Europe in 2017 coming at a time that taken together with the coming referendum in Scotland could see a further fracturing of once Great Britain into an offshore island on the fringe of Europe.
It is said the camera does not lie but the picture itself can often be subject to misinterpretation. I regret the early passing of Bob Crow at the young age of fifty two and the loss that must be the lot of his close family and friends and I regret too that while he lived I may have been too ready to believe the cartoon character of the man portrayed by the media as the real Bob Crow, because Bob Crow in looking after the interests of his members did his job well. There is a lesson there for me personally, but also voters generally, come 2015 and the General Election. Will we allow our judgement to be formed by the media and a generally hostile and prurient press or will we think long and carefully, before we make up our own mind? And then vote accordingly!