The true measure of a nation?

I sometimes think that the true measure of how a nation sees itself is best reflected in the views of the populace, the hoi polloi, the great unwashed who are never consulted about anything but only vote anonymously in TV contests.

Last week, Britain held a 'nationwide poll' (always sounds impressive) for the 'Greatest Living Briton'. Well, of course apart from Old Ma Windsor there was an impressive list of possibilities, scientists, surgeons, athletes, politicians of all hues but what did the TV audience choose?



In first place - and surely there would have been reverberations through the whole of our society had this not been the case - HRH Queen Liz. However our national beloved figurehead just shaded it by 5% from - Robbie Williams? Huh? Like whats all that about? The former 'Take That' singer polled 33% of the vote to Liz's 38%. In third place, trailing behind with only 15%, was Lady Margaret Thatcher.







Only 15% but in third place. I can't stand the woman but I think it's an amazing achievement for a Tory leader to still be so fondly remembered, 17 years after she last held office by what was , essentially, a working class vote. And she was remembered because she created the illusion of appearing to make Britain 'Great' again with her testosterone based approach to the Falklands, her implacable resistance to the Trade Unions and her single minded, but ultimately self-defeating, stance on European unity. I think she was a disaster but, to a country which had seen its influence waning year on year, she was a breath of fresh but illusory air.

Maybe that explains Robbie Williams too. A working class lad from Stoke-on-Trent who has conquered audiences everywhere he has sung, and who represents what a Briton from humble beginnings can do with the right amount of drive and a modicum of talent.

I think the British are searching for what and who they are right now. The nation has changed amazingly in twenty or thirty years and it is a shock to the older establishment to discover we have kids here from all sorts of cultures and racial backgrounds who not only know nothing about our 'gallant lads' of two world wars but couldn't give a shit either. We need an identity, swimming around as we are talking about citizenship lessons for new immigrants, trying to establish what 'Britishness' now is. There are so many people in this country who want us to be something in the world. Its just that there is no consistent view of what that should be and how to achieve it. Blair had his chance and blew it on being Bush's lapdog in Iraq.

Until we sort it out and who should inspire us, I guess we'll go on voting for Lizzy, a rock star and a faded politician who was capable of mixing it with the best of 'em. Just sad that she never seemed to make the right choices...and that's been Britain for the last forty years.