Trading blows ahead of big budget debate (From The Argus)
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Trading blows ahead of big budget debate
5:10pm Tuesday 21st February 2012 in Comment and Analysis By James Wallin
This year’s budget proposals for Brighton and Hove have probably been the most talked about ever.
As one of the few councils in the country planning to increase council tax and with cuts to high-profile services such as children’s centres and public toilets as well as increases to parking permit charges, Brighton and Hove’s Green administration has had to weather a lot of criticism.
Now a week from the crunch meeting at which a final budget will be agreed the Greens have come out fighting.
In their view the criticism levelled at them is down to one thing – spin.
‘Misinformation’
They have accused the Labour group of putting out a leaflet riddled with “misinformation and unfounded allegations” – a claim Labour unsurprisingly deny.
But it is the Greens’ comments on spin itself that raise the most interesting questions.
The group claims that while Labour have been very mischievous with their leaflet, sometimes spin can be a good thing.
This is a bold statement to make, given that most of the failings of modern politics are laid at the door of spin.
The fictional monster Malcolm Tucker and his real-life inspiration, Alastair Campbell, may have brought these dark arts to the attention of the general public but the practice has been around for decades.
You only have to substitute the word “propaganda” for “spin” to see how little the debate has changed over the years.
The dictionary definition of spin says it means to “provide an interpretation of (a statement or event, for example), especially in a way meant to sway public opinion”.
For most people the true definition would probably read “lying through their teeth” or at their most generous “being economical with the truth”.
My personal opinion of spin is “sailing as close to a lie as possible while still being able to justify your claim if challenged”.
Take one of the most famous lines of spin of all time by former US president Bill Clinton – “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” – a perfect example of a politician deliberately misleading the public while not technically saying anything untrue.
Promoting viewpoint
According to Luke Walter, election coordinator for Brighton and Hove Green Party, spin is commonly seen as a negative tactic but that is not always the case.
He said: “Spin has another common meaning: the legitimate art of promoting your viewpoint, interest or identity.
“Provided you don’t compromise truth or accuracy, it’s perfectly valid to put your case forcefully, whether you’re a campaign group, in politics, in community affairs or in business.
“It’s one of the fundamental building blocks of debate and a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.
“Spin has come under the spotlight this week, in particular, because of a leaflet published by the Brighton and Hove Labour Party which we, as Greens, thought went beyond the limits of acceptable spin.
‘Unfounded accusations’
“It was a catalogue of misinformation and unfounded accusations which we thought so wrong that we took the unusual step of rebutting it, almost point by point, and publishing our rebuttal online, to show where – in our view – truth and unacceptable spin had parted company.”
According to Labour leader Gill Mitchell, the leaflet simply stated the facts, backed up by the budget proposals, about where the Greens were planning cuts.
She said her view of spin was different to Mr Walter’s, saying: “Putting your case forcefully is completely different from spin and is absolutely what politicians should be doing.
“I would say spin is either finding a new way of telling a negative story that makes it look more positive or bigging up an issue which you want people to know about.
“There are a lot of criticisms that politicians talk in sound bites but sometimes that is the only way to communicate ideas through the media and get your message across to the public.
“But there is no excuse for politicians trying to mislead the public.”
I am dubious as to whether a politician will ever convince the public that spin is a good thing.
Few would argue that politicians should put their view across forcefully but it is the distortion of the truth to sway public opinion which will always represent the worst side of politics.
Whatever your individual interpretation of what spin means, for most people it is cynical and dishonest bending of the truth in order to hoodwink the public into agreeing with your viewpoint.
Anyone wanting us to believe spin is a good thing will really need to spin that argument.
