The Week in Review: Unlikely lads Brand and Major speak truth to power

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Most of what happens inside Westminster goes almost totally unnoticed outside. Debates about GDP, Europe, and even the deficit may fascinate MPs and journalists, but they largely bore the British public. So when Russell Brand called for socialism and a workers’ revolution this week, he was predictably mocked and dismissed by most MPs and journalists. Who was this millionaire actor to lecture us about ordinary people, they asked? Who is this overpaid comedian to tell people not to vote, they wondered? Asked onto Newsnight to discuss this, he was ridiculed and patronised by Jeremy Paxman whose face was locked in a smug grimace throughout the interview. And yet Brand’s articulate and often angry comments about British politics have since been watched by millions around the world. His New Statesman article has also found an audience few other opinion pieces will ever reach. His dismissal inside Westminster has been in inverse relation to his reception outside it. Now you don't have to like Brand personally. You may, like me, find his sub-Kenneth Williams humour a turn off. But his comments this week and the reaction they have stirred say everything you need to know about British politics. Participation in electoral politics remains in serious decline. Turnout in the last three general elections was the lowest in our history and membership of the three main political parties has dwindled to the size of a small seaside town. So when Russell Brand says he can’t see the point in voting, he’s actually far closer to the core of British opinion than most Westminster villagers will ever be. The second unlikely oracle to appear this week was John Major. The former Conservative prime minister used his speech to the parliamentary press gallery to urge David Cameron to tackle the big six energy companies and stand up for "people not institutions". "Once you get away from Whitehall and Westminster, politics begins to look very different," Major told a room full of open-mouthed lobby journalists. "The public has become largely detached from politics," he said, adding that politicians should "focus on issues which actually worry people in their daily lives". "If we Tories navel gaze and only pander to our comfort zone, we will never win general elections. All the core delivers is the wooden spoon," he added. To most people this will all read as a statement of the bleeding obvious, but inside Downing Street it was received like the ravings of a left wing revolutionary. A spokesman described his intervention as "interesting" which roughly translates as "lunatic", while David Cameron was thrown into having his worst Commons appearance since he first became leader. Cameron's struggles during Wednesday’s PMQs were entirely avoidable. After several weeks of debate about energy prices, he really should have found a decent response. But rather than deal with the issue, he decided to ignore it. Rather than win the argument, he just hoped it would go away. "The prime minister said that anyone who wanted to intervene in the energy markets is living in a Marxist universe," Miliband began. "Can he tell the House how he feels now that the red peril has claimed John Major?” In just one simple question Miliband shattered the entire line of attack the Conservatives have built up against him over the past three years. Ever since Miliband became leader, the debate in Westminster has revolved around the idea that Cameron is on the political 'centre ground' while anyone to the left of Tony Blair is a dangerous Marxist moonbat. Major's intervention this week, brilliantly skewered this for the nonsense it really is. The sentiments and ideas expressed by Russell Brand and John Major this week should deeply worry Cameron. In order to win the next general election, Cameron needs to convince people that he is on their side and understands, or at least does not dismiss their concerns. Seven years after he became leader, he appears as far away from realising that as ever. Pick of the week in news The health tourism myth? Foreign patients earn millions for UK Medical tourism to the UK benefits the economy by hundreds of millions of pounds and is a substantial source of income for the NHS, researchers have found. Labour 'open' to renationalising the railways Labour's new shadow transport secretary is "open" to the idea of renationalising the railways, she has told the press. Tory MPs to make formal complaint to Speaker Bercow Senior Conservative MPs plan to make a formal complaint to John Bercow amid suggestions the Speaker personally "hates" David Cameron. Clegg lashes out at 'thin-skinned' Alan Sugar Nick Clegg hit back at Alan Sugar today, after the Apprentice star issued a series of abusive tweets at the deputy prime minister. Boris Johnson backs Ed Miliband's 'Stalinist land grab' Boris Johnson today backed plans by Ed Miliband to force developers to use land or lose it, but warned that it should not be done in a "Mugabe-esque way". MP rescues drowning woman by parliament An MP was being hailed as a hero last night after he dramatically rescued a drowning woman floating past parliament. Benefit cap 'forces victims of domestic violence to stay with their abuser' Women taking part in a pilot of the government's benefit cap have been forced to stay with violent partners and even driven to attempt suicide, researchers have found. Immigration bill contains a state power-grab over marriage The immigration bill going through parliament contains a major power grab which would give the Home Office jurisdiction over people's right to marry. May admits it: 'Go home' vans were a bad idea The government's controversial 'racist van' scheme has been permanently scrapped after just one person was persuaded to leave the country. Tory MP tells one-legged beggar to 'get a job' A Conservative MP was seen berating a one-legged beggar outside the Houses of Parliament in an extraordinary incident earlier this month, it has been reported. Pick of the week in Comment and Analysis Comment: The left must get tough on immigration There is a growing vacuum in British politics for a sensible immigration policy. Labour must fill it. Comment: The laziness of Russell Brand's revolution Russell Brand brings wit, eloquence and creative flair to politics, but his central argument is just empty populism. Comment: Cameron's plan to cut green levies will cost us all eventually Cutting green levies on energy bills may save money now, but it will end up costing us a lot more in the future. PMQs verdict: Cameron consumed by the red peril These exchanges are all about momentum and the momentum was with Ed Miliband right from the moment John Major sat down at the press gallery lunch yesterday. Comment: Snowden revealed an abuse of state power. So why are we criticising the Guardian? Six months ago, Edward Snowden risked his freedom to reveal the extent of state surveillance systems. The British response has been to ignore the story and pursue the Guardian instead. Jeremy Hunt and his magic numbers Jeremy Hunt has invented a problem which he can fix with a solution which does not fix the problem he has invented. 5% of the UK population smokes cannabis regularly - so why are we criminalising it? A new report reveals the extent of cannabis use in the UK - and how much we could gain by regulating it. Comment: Behind closed doors, the Tories are fundamentally divided on immigration In public, politicians only dare to deliver anti-immigration messages. But behind closed doors, they are deeply divided by the change to Britain's complexion. Political week online The Political Week Online: A revolutionary Brand? Russell Brand, free schools, Grangemouth, Hinkley Point - and a sprinkling of economic joy.	Advertise your job vacancies here NASUWT: "Nick Clegg fools no-one" “Does Nick Clegg honestly think that either the teaching profession or parents will be impressed?" RSPCA: Trust in ready meals declines as demand for ethical food rises Britain - ready meal capital of Western Europe - loses trust in pre-prepared food and demand for higher welfare food rises. Voice welcomes Nick Clegg's interventions on school standards Voice has welcomed the forthcoming speech by Nick Clegg on school standards. CIOB: Regulatory rules should not stand in the way of housing standard rationalisation CIOB calls for clear timescale for integrating housing standards into the Building Regulations. CIA: Chemicals sector aims for 50% growth by 2030 Energy security, innovation and re-building UK supply chains are some of the key challenges set out in a new strategy for the chemical sector. BHA: New RE framework clear that schools should respect non-religious beliefs New RE framework puts strong focus on non-religious worldviews like humanism. MRSA Action UK: When the drugs don't work MRSA Action UK helps to bring the human cost to the attention of government and industry over the ticking time bomb and lack of desperately needed antibiotics.

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