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Should politicians respect, despise, accommodate or ignore public opinion?

Rishi Sunak is looking for a policy he can pop into place between now and the general election that will avoid a Labour landslide. He is being advised that abolishing inheritance tax will tickle the tummies of the Tory not-so-faithful. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer wants government planners to 鈥渂ulldoze鈥� local objections when deciding where to put new housing developments. Can a government get away with ignoring public opinion? Well, it can in constituencies it鈥檚 never going to win.

Politics nowadays is not merely 鈥榞uided鈥� by polls, surveys, databases and focus groups鈥� it is controlled by them. But is that good for the country? Is the advice they generate either wise or moral? Are the public obsessed with issues that don鈥檛 matter, while they ignore the ones that do? There is a case to be made against taking any notice of what the public thinks about anything. We know that the public thinks short-term, and that its opinions on political issues are ill-informed. Public opinion is inconsistent, incoherent and volatile.

And yet democracy is built on the principle that the majority must get its way. And it鈥檚 not just politicians (and Simon Cowell) who flatter the electorate with talk of the 鈥榳isdom鈥� of the Great British Public. Lots of people seem to think that majority opinion will usually be wise, kind and helpful. But then, many also believe the moon landing was staged.

Panellists: Anne McElvoy, Melanie Philips, Mona Siddiqui & Matthew Taylor

Presenter: Michael Buerk
Producers: Peter Everett & Jonathan Hallewell
Editor: Tim Pemberton