Cumbria And A New Era For Politics,

I found it absolutely riveting and heart-warming that in wake of the soul-numbing, senseless and gratuitous violence of the half-term week that David Cameron has led a thoughtful and parliamentary response from his Government to the tragedy.

Firstly, instead of travelling alone -in presidential or Blair-esque manner- Cameron was accompanied by Theresea May, the new Home Secretary, to visit victims of the shootings. Whilst it may seem mundane to those not engulfed in the political world that the Home Secretary would accompany the PM on a visit concerning Home Affairs, I struggle to imagine Blair embracing such Cabinet style of Government.

My heart also leapt when I read that senior figures in the Government were warning against a knee-jerk reaction to the crisis. Perhaps finally the coalition will be the pancea to the era of poor governance under Labour. Critics have long since bemoaned the impact of the 24 hour news cycle on our politics and its subsequent encouragement of poorly thought-through legislation, passed by a weak parliament at the behest of an elective dictatorship. Whilst it is important that we have a debate on gun-control laws (a fact acknowledged by the figure who warned against a knee-jerk reaction), this debate should try to seek the best solution and good laws, not just sate public anger and appease the press.

Similarly, in the first response from David Cameron, he stated that a full report would be made to parliament the following morning. Gone are the days of Prime Minister (Presidential?) press conferences made outside Downing Street before any consultation of parliament.

Whilst there are still furlongs between me and the beliefs of the conservative side of the coalition, I cannot fault them on their manner of governing. Let us hope this really is a new era of politics and the coalition has led to the 'strange death of Presidential Britain'.