We live in an age when, to put it mildly, public confidence in our democratic institutions is at a low ebb. Not just in Britain, but across a swathe of countries in the developed and developing world, there is growing evidence of cynicism about the political process, the trustworthiness of politicians, the effectiveness and integrity of public institutions and the ability of governments to deliver their promises. Of course this is not an entirely new phenomenon. The history of the past two centuries is littered with examples of democratic governments failing to meet the hopes and aspirations of their electorate. Indeed, even before the emergence of recognisably modern democratic models, those engaged in the processes of politics and government did not always enjoy a good reputation. King Lear’s advice to the blinded Gloucester:

could not give a clearer indication of Shakespeare’s unflattering view of those engaged in early 17th-century politics. A degree of scepticism about the motivation of our rulers, coupled with an inclination to mock their foibles and lampoon their behaviour, has long been recognised as a healthy sign of a free society and a necessary antidote to the tendency towards self-importance among those in positions of authority. When it is not possible to laugh at a political leader without fearing imprisonment or, worse, a bullet in the back of the head, as sadly occurs too often in countries not far away from us, there are real grounds for alarm.

Yet it would be a mistake to under-estimate the extent of the malaise currently affecting government here in the United Kingdom. While the public may have laughed at cartoons of Gladstone, Lloyd George, Churchill or Atlee, they knew the significance of the political choices presented by the leaders of those times and, insofar as they were enfranchised, they participated to a high degree in elections. In short, they overwhelmingly believed that voting made a difference. By contrast, no fewer than one in three of those eligible to vote did not take part in the 2015 general election, even though the outcome was expected to be very close. Add in the very significant number of citizens not even included on the election register, and the participation rate is even lower.