Opinion

Tom Collins: Annoying our politicians is a democratic right

Tom Collins

Tom Collins

Tom Collins is an Irish News columnist and former editor of the newspaper.

Irish News cartoonist Ian Knox. Picture: Hugh Russell
Irish News cartoonist Ian Knox. Picture: Hugh Russell Irish News cartoonist Ian Knox. Picture: Hugh Russell

One of the problems about writing about politics for the Irish News is having to share a page with Ian Knox.

It’s not that I have anything against the man. He’s quite personable, and much less malign than his critics think him to be. It’s just that he is so blooming talented.

With a few scribbles, Knox can get to the heart of a story, and express it with more power than I can manage in 750 words or so. (Don’t tell the editor.)

I suspect fellow contributors feel the same. I have visions of Alex Kane seething over his Crunchy Nut Cornflakes as Knox skewers one of Kane’s targets with rapier-like efficiency; or Brian Feeney smashing his toast soldiers into his soft-boiled egg in rage at Knox’s ability to sum up the stupidity of the political class succinctly.

But our discomfort pales into insignificance alongside the ire of politicians who are regularly shown up for what they are.

Read more: Irish News cartoonist Ian Knox 'vindicated' after press regulator rejects complaints

I never cease to be amazed by the thin skins of those who are happy to dish it out; and who believe they have a god-given right to make decisions which dramatically affect people’s lives, without those decisions being open to scrutiny.

For some reason, cartoons seem to get under the skin in a way that words fail to.

An element of that is the cartoonists’ focus in on physical characteristics which make a public figure distinctive – the shock of untamed hair, the over large nose, the pointed chin, the smirk.

Some take offence. Smart politicians, however, are flattered and recognise that the art form – and it is an art form – is part of a tradition that stretches back centuries.

Former Conservative minister Kenneth Baker – often lampooned himself – had an extensive collection of political cartoons, and was an expert on their impact on political discourse and history.

He recognised, as today’s thinner-skinned politicians should too, that the political cartoon is as critical for the preservation of democracy as free speech, an unfettered press, or an elected parliament.

The political cartoon is not a joke – though humour is often one of the cartoonist’s most incisive tools – it is something much more profound.

At their very best, cartoons reveal hidden truths, and Knox has been forensic in his exposure of the worst – and sometimes best – of politics here. In any other society he would be regarded as a visionary.

Instead he has often been vilified by politicians who would prefer to keep their inadequacies, their game-playing and their petty hypocrisies hidden from view.

In my opinion, he is the sharpest political commentator this island has – and his journalism (for that is what it is) dissects the political scene without favour.

His work has always courted controversy – as it should – but of late he has been the subject of cynical ‘storms’ whipped up for narrow political ends by those who have no interest in proper and reasoned political debate.

Sadly, some people spend an undue amount of their energy looking for opportunities to ‘be offended’. Some of these people represent nobody but themselves.

It is deeply disappointing, however, when those in a leadership position join in. Arlene Foster, for example, should have known better than making a deeply personal assault on Knox in a Tweet last month on the back of a trumped-up row over his exploration of the ‘Planter’ controversy.

As a former first minister, with a chequered record in government, Foster was and remains fair game. A better politician than her would have been buying up the originals (as Baker often did).

In denigrating cartoonists, politicians attack the very root of the democratic process.

This is not a little local difficulty. Around the world, journalists are under increasing pressure from people in power – in democracies and dictatorships alike. We have seen that here this past week with loyalist threats against a Sunday World journalist.

There is barely a week that passes without reports of journalists killed and maimed for doing their jobs – which is to hold power to account, and to give voice to the marginalised.

As I write this, statistics show that 27 journalists have been killed this year so far. Some 62 journalists have been imprisoned this year for doing their jobs.

In Northern Ireland, it is not only journalists who are being intimidated. There is a concerted attempt to subdue proper debate in academia and wider civil society.

Politicians worth their salt should be standing up for their critics – not adding their voices to those who wish to quash debate.

Read more: Irish News cartoonist Ian Knox 'vindicated' after press regulator rejects complaints