We’re often told to vote for policies, not personalities. Yet in a political landscape increasingly permeated by stylists and Twitter, personality now seems to matter more than ever, whether for better or worse. Ed Miliband has suffered mercilessly at the hands of the tabloid press, whose portrayal of him as a bumbling fool, complete with unflattering (though arguably physically accurate) comparisons to Bert from Sesame Street, will undoubtedly lead many voters to question whether he really is PM-material.
Overseas, however, it seems that policy and personality go hand in hand. Admittedly, the British general election may not have the world on the edge of its seat, with the birth of a princess stealing what little international limelight it had, but one policy area in particular – the question of Europe – is keeping international eyes open, and not just within the EU. For all his inelegance and goofiness, a strong pro-Europe stance seems to have raised international estimations of Ed Miliband, whereas Cameron’s commitment to a 2017 referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU may have landed him in hot water abroad.
In Berlin and Brussels, German policy-makers have slated Cameron’s clumsy manoeuvring around the EU, such as his resistance to Jean-Claude Junker becoming president of the European Commission. Most commentators feel that this has alienated him from an otherwise natural ally in the form of Chancellor Angela Merkel. This is reflected in a slightly pro-Miliband leaning in the German press, with Cameron’s referendum promise attracting much negative comment. And believe it or not, ‘Bacongate’ doesn’t even get a mention in German newspapers amongst the criticism of Cameron’s ill-fated use of knife and fork to consume a hot dog. France, too, favours Miliband, partly thanks to the current French socialist government, and is wary of Cameron’s promises to ‘reform’ Britain’s relationship with Europe, with many commentators linking him to le parti xenophobe – Le Monde’s unflattering description of UKIP.
Across the Atlantic, despite an apparently cordial working relationship between Obama and Cameron over the last parliament, the spectre of a ‘Brexit’ has also coloured American perceptions of our current prime minister. Obama made no secret of his desire for “a strong UK in a strong European Union” in a warning to Cameron following his pledge to deliver a referendum. For the president, a European Union run by France and Germany would be infinitely less preferable to one where Britain, and therefore America, continues to have a voice. Somewhat paradoxically perhaps, the American press has criticised Cameron for his deferential attitude towards the US, portraying him as a ‘yes man’ in contrast to Miliband, who they claim is more willing to stand up to Washington. On the other side of the world, Indian leaders have reiterated Obama’s anti-Brexit view, with one Indian diplomat saying that Cameron’s dealings in Europe have left Germany as “the big kid on the block”.
Of course, there always has to be a wild card. Russia, according to analyst Sergei Utkin, would rather “a known evil” in the form of David Cameron than the unknown entity of a Miliband-led government. And it seems that Nigel Farage’s infamous admiration of Vladimir Putin has not gone unnoticed, with Farage now making regular appearances on the Kremlin’s television channel, Russia Today. Even more sinister: several commentators have suggested that leaders in Moscow welcome the prospect of a ‘Brexit’ as this would weaken both Britain and the EU and distract both for some time, leaving little time for a tough, united foreign policy towards Putin’s neo-imperialism.
For the moment, global perceptions are no doubt at the back of both Cameron and Miliband’s thoughts as they struggle to win over the hearts and minds of their own electorate. When the election dust has settled, however, they may want to pay closer attention.