Different parties talk about fairness in relation to different groups. Politicians on the right talk about fairness in relation to very clearly defined groups, such as taxpayers and hard-working families (with other groups in society implicitly outside this ‘bargain’).
This week, the Fairness Foundation launched a report called 'Fairness In The House', delving into the 'fairness' language of politicians over the last 25 years. Spanning the period 1998 to mid-2023, the research reveals some important truths about who ‘fairness’ and, by extension, politics as a whole – is seen to be ‘for’, and who, by extension, it is not for.
What do politicians in the UK mean when they talk about fairness, and what can this tell us about the prospects for agreeing on what a fair society looks like?
An analysis of mentions of fairness in UK parliaments over 25 years by the Fairness Foundation and Campaign Salience shows that the idea of fairness is shared, but it is conceptualised in very different ways. Different parties talk about fairness in relation to different groups. Politicians on the right talk about fairness in relation to very clearly defined groups, such as taxpayers and hard-working families (with other groups in society implicitly outside this ‘bargain’). Left-wing politicians are less precise about which groups are ‘entitled’ to fairness.
Background
While politicians are considerably influenced by public opinion, they also play a key role in leading and shaping public attitudes (alongside the media and other opinion-formers). So it’s important to understand how they talk about fairness - and, by extension, how they think about it. Do politicians from different parties have completely opposing conceptions of fairness, or is there at least the potential to identify and build a consensus? Has this changed over time, and does it vary between the various parliaments of the UK?
Fairness as a means to divide
Left-wing politicians are less precise about which groups are ‘entitled’ to fairness. However, politicians of all parties often talk about fairness specifically in relation to working people, which by implication excludes those who are unable to work. What does this kind of language mean for people unable to work, such as Disabled people or people seeking asylum who are barred from working? Should people have to 'earn' humanity, justice and fairness? This deep-dive into the language used for different groups uncovers the ways in which politicians speak can inform public perceptions and policies. Recommendations based on the analysis To read the full report, find it on The Fairness Foundation's website.