July 2nd 2024.
Steve believes that it is important to engage with people who have different perspectives. He was reminded of this while spending time with his two-year-old son when the General Election was announced. As expected, they had different reactions to the news. While his son was upset that they weren't watching a cartoon, Steve's immediate reaction was to check the dates on his fingers, as Rishi had mentioned that the election would be in the second half of the year. He admits that he would have also preferred to watch a cartoon, but as someone who needs to stay informed for his job, he couldn't just switch to a different channel at that moment.
Like many others, Steve had been hoping for a General Election for a while. In his opinion, the Conservative Government had lost its way a few Prime Ministers ago. So when he heard that there would finally be a chance to vote for the future of the country, he felt hopeful, especially since he was sitting next to his son who would be living in that future.
However, that feeling of hope was soon replaced by sadness. Steve knew that the election would add tension to some of his relationships. Growing up in the "red wall," he has always been left-leaning, coming from a family of coal miners. He remembers the anti-Tory sentiment during the 1980s. It's no surprise that he now has one of the most left-wing jobs on TV, being on The Mash Report.
But Steve also appears on GB News and Talk TV, which means he knows and works with people who are right-wing. This is quite rare in today's society, where social media promotes shunning anyone who disagrees with us. According to a study, there is even a political gender divide among Gen Z, with young men leaning towards the right and young women towards the left. This is also reflected in a YouGov study that found many Brits wouldn't date someone with different political views. People are even wearing "Never Kissed A Tory" t-shirts as if there was a risk of catching something from them.
During an election, it's almost like a bugle sounds, and everyone runs off to their political silos. Steve believes this is a problem. We should be engaging with people who have different perspectives. Only then can we better ourselves and become a more well-rounded society. He had this realization in 2014 when he went to see a show at the Edinburgh Fringe. As someone who does a topical show there every year, he would also watch the competition. He remembers seeing an hour of great comedy where he and the audience agreed with everything the comedian said. They even jeered at the mention of a famous right-wing newspaper. But as enjoyable as that hour was, Steve realized that it hadn't moved anyone's opinion.
He believes that there is great benefit in debating with people who have different views. Preaching to the converted with added jokes may be fun, but it won't convince anyone who disagrees with your position. Simply saying "Tories? Yuck!" won't be enough to change someone's mind. Steve says that when an election is called, it's almost like a bugle sounds, and everyone runs off to their political silos. He reminds us of the 2016 Brexit referendum, where many Remainers were shocked to find out that there were Brexiters who outnumbered them. This was partly because they didn't want to listen to anyone who disagreed with them.
That's why Steve believes that appearing on Talk Radio, GB News, and Talk TV is the best way to make his argument. You can't win a debate if you're unwilling to participate. You can silence opposing views with a nasty ad hominem attack, but you haven't proven your point to be correct. Personally, Steve has found great benefit in debating with people who are from the other side of the spectrum. He says that you don't know how strongly you believe your own position until it's tested. Only when someone tells you why they think you're wrong can you ponder the controversial points, do some extra research, and come to a more solid conclusion. It has made him a better debater, although it may have also made him more annoying at dinner parties.
Of course, it's not all smooth sailing. As a stand-up comedian, Steve has worked with many acts who are appalled that he appears on these TV networks. He even knows of one performer who refused to do a gig because he was booked. Steve would have loved to have a discussion with them about his reasons for reaching out to other audiences, but he may never meet them if they refuse to do the same shows as he does.
He's not saying that only the left should be willing to debate and maybe even kiss the right – the right needs to open up too. He has seen many right-wing pundits agree that the Tories have been failing, but they usually follow that up with a belief that Labour will be worse because "they're Labour." That's more of a phobia than a reasoned response. Either way, if we don't find a way to bridge this political divide, there is a risk of having a generation of people whose main topics of conversation with their friends will be how right they are about everything and how they can't find a partner.
If this is your first experience of a General Election, Steve's advice is to be open to the possibility that someone who disagrees with you may not be a fascist. Remember that it's unlikely that you'll be right about everything 100% of the time. It's okay to listen and be friends with someone who has different political views. And after this election, they may just need a friend.
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