Miscellany

Inequalities and elections (with reference to Robert Burns)

I admit it … I’m a Burnsaholic. was a regular topic for discussion. As it better tuned to the needs of I can weep when I hear the last verse of will be in the run-up to the general election disadvantaged communities, but that ‘A man’s a man for a’ that’… in fact, I did with the political parties vying to convince other policies have been rather vague or once weep when a friend and I recited it at the electorate that their particular limited and that there is little evidence yet a Polish and Scottish Burns gathering. strategies for addressing poverty and from time trends of narrowing gaps inequalities are the most effective, or, at between social groups. ‘Then let us pray that come it may, least, the most acceptable. A study just Whatever the facts and figures about As come it will for a’ that; published by members and associates of social justice and inequalities, the That sense and worth, o’er a’ the earth, the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion electorate wants to be able to trust that May bear the gree, and a’ that. at the London School of Economics has these issues really matter to their potential For a’ that and a’ that, surveyed the evidence on the impact of representatives. Voters share the yearning It’s coming yet, for a’ that, policies towards poverty, inequality and for honesty and loathing of hypocrisy That man to man the warld o’er social exclusion since the Labour which are underlying themes in Burns Shall brothers be for a’ that.’ Government was elected in 1997.1 The poetry. In the poem, ‘To a louse’ (‘written overall conclusion of A more equal on seeing one on a lady’s bonnet at The whisky may have been laced with society? is that, although the tide has church’), Burns purports to berate the vodka and singing along with the Polish turned in key areas of social exclusion, louse for being so impudent as to crawl version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ may have Britain remains a very unequal society. ‘Owre gauze and lace’ but fears that ‘ye been an excessive challenge, but we all Where government has concentrated its dine but sparely on [sic] a place’. In the shared the sentiment. efforts, the study, supported by the name of encouraging participation in the Being raised 3 miles from his birthplace, Rowntree Foundation and the Economic political process especially among the Burns Cottage in Ayr (‘wham ne’er a toon and Social Research Council, suggests young, perhaps politicians of all hues and surpasses for honest men and bonnie that there is now clear evidence of persuasions might usefully adopt the last lassies’, as I’m particularly fond of progress. Child poverty has been reduced verse of the poem as their pre-election reminding my children and friends), by its tax and benefit reforms and new theme … undoubtedly contributed to the addiction. analysis of spending patterns shows that Fed a fairly constant diet at school of low-income families with children, who ‘O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us Burns poetry and songs with an annual have benefited most from the reforms, To see oursels as others see us! Burns Night feast of recitation and singing have increased spending on goods for It wad frae mony a blunder free us, it was impossible not to absorb the flavour children such as clothing, footwear, games And foolish notion: of it. We were exposed young to the fauna and toys, as well as on food (but their What airs in dress an’ gait wad lea’e us, and flora … mice, (‘To a mouse’), lice (‘To spending on alcohol and tobacco has not And ev’n devotion!’ a louse’) and daisies (‘To a mountain increased). daisy’). Also to the pain and suffering, But the study argues that there are gaps some of which we could identify with (‘To in the government’s strategy in other LESLEY MORRISON a toothache’) and some of which seemed areas. For instance, the latest available more abstract (‘My heart’s in the figures show that poverty among working- REFERENCE Highlands’). Love was a constant age adults without children has reached 1. Hills J, Stewart K. A more equal society? New Labour, poverty, inequality and exclusion. Bristol: Policy Press, appealing theme and the original record levels. While some vulnerable 2005. uncensored versions of certain love groups have been the target of special poems were those sought after in the initiatives, others have not. And, in the school playground. The virtues of plain case of asylum seekers, government fare which tended to be preached in the policies have actively increased social school and the (Sudan 1-free) dinner hall exclusion, especially in relation to were echoed in the frequently-chanted employment, housing and income. As far verses of ‘Address to the haggis’. as health is concerned, the report found The concept of social justice and that the formula for allocating NHS equality, so often a theme in Burns poetry, resources between areas has become

328 British Journal of General Practice, April 2005