Forget the backstop, Brexit could be decided by the backstory

The saying goes that it’s not where you are from that’s important – it’s where you are going. Liam Fox said as much when he ran for the Tory leadership in 2005. Taking him at his word, the

Tories went on to elect the Old Etonian, David Cameron, as their leader (instead of David Davis, who grew up on a council estate). Yet, after six years of ‘Eton Mess’ and three years of

‘fields of wheat’, it seems that it has never mattered more where our leaders come from.

This is certainly the picture which has emerged during the Tory leadership contest, in which the backstories of the various candidates have been second only to their positions on Brexit.

Having been haunted by his past in recent days, Michael Gove launched his campaign by calling for ‘everyone to be the author of their own life story’. Dominic Raab has made no secret of the

fact that he is the son of a Jewish refugee, and Andrea Leadsom, Jeremy Hunt and Rory Stewart have all played-up their careers outside of politics. Matt Hancock, who lacks both the backstory

and the career outside politics, was left with no other option than to claim that it’s the ‘frontstory’ that matters.

Then there is Sajid Javid – ‘the son of a Pakistani bus driver’ – who has the backstory to end all backstories. This is why many commentators were quick to note that, unusually, Javid’s

initial campaign launch video did not draw attention to it. The editor of The Spectator even asked: ‘can Sajid Javid tell the story of Sajid Javid?’. Javid responded this week with a

much-improved take two. Stating that he is ‘proud to be able to share my story with you’, his official campaign film centres on his rags to riches story as the son of an immigrant who came

to the UK with £1, together with useful cameo appearances from a fluffy dog and a strong and stable family.

It is an inspiring story. But why, as Daniel Finkelstein argued in The Times yesterday, does the next Tory leader ‘need to tell us a story’ in the first place?

Of course, it is not unheard of for a politician to tell voters that they fought adversity and emerged a winner. As well as demonstrating admirable qualities such as resilience and the

capacity for hard work, it earns politicians empathy points with voters all too familiar with life’s struggles. Just look at the titles of some of the best-known political autobiographies,

from Hitler’s (My Struggle) to Hillary’s (Hard Choices). In the US, it is tradition for presidential candidates to dwell on their humble origins. Not all have been as lucky as Bill Clinton

(who was quite literally from a place called Hope), but many have made their backstory central to their campaign, from ‘rail-splitter’ Abraham Lincoln to ‘peanut farmer’ Jimmy Carter. Even

more privileged candidates such as John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama highlighted the fact that they were the first Catholic and African-American presidents respectively. Their own backstory,

whilst privileged, was part of a wider struggle.

Javid and the other Tory leadership contenders are following this American model, which might reflect how British politics has become more presidential. It might also reflect how it has

become less aristocratic – in storytelling terms, the son of an Old Etonian cannot compete with the son of a Pakistani bus driver. Perhaps this is why Boris did not mention troubled aspects

of his backstory (his parents’ divorce, for instance) during his launch speech yesterday – some backstories might be considered more important than others. The last truly aristocratic prime

minister was Alec Douglas-Home and every prime minister from 1964 to 1997 was state-educated. Thatcher was the ‘grocer’s daughter’, May the ‘vicar’s daughter’ and Major ‘a working class kid

from Brixton’. It is interesting that, Etonians aside, a humble backstory seems to be a Conservative insecurity – we don’t hear much about where Jeremy Corbyn and Seamus Milne went to

school.

But should overcoming adversity by itself qualify you for high office? It certainly defined and somewhat served leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, but the role of personality and talent

cannot be ignored either. After all, leadership requires skills such as communication, negotiation and management which adversity does not necessarily produce. You might be made of grit, but

can you speak persuasively at the despatch box or go toe-to-toe with Michel Barnier? After Theresa May’s premiership, it looks like the Tories will elect an Old Etonian who promises to do

both of those things.

If this is a leadership contest, that is. If it is a hardship contest, Boris might be in for a bumpy ride.

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