There is a particular kind of condescension practised in Westminster that politicians rarely recognise in themselves. It manifests as a tendency to explain, to simplify, to reduce the extraordinary complexity of public opinion into something manageable and controllable.
The assumption is that voters are emotional, short-termist and easily distracted. The data says otherwise. Focus groups, ethnographic research and long-form polling consistently reveal an electorate that is thoughtful, pragmatic and capable of holding nuance in ways that party strategists find uncomfortable.
The gap between what Westminster thinks voters want and what voters actually want has never been wider. Until politicians close that gap — through genuine listening rather than message-tested performance — trust will continue to erode.