What would happen if politicians actually answered the question? Paul R, via email
Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.
Readers reply
I’m glad you asked me that question because it deals with what I want to talk about. PeteTheBeat
We will never know. dallastxhollywood
The NHS would be overwhelmed by fainting citizens. Matthew Rosedon, by email
You may ask that, but what the British people really want to know … DocLobster1960
Voters would vote with more confidence. We would respect our politicians for the difficult job they do if they explained the rock and hard place between which they are often trapped. Instead, they blather on about how badly the other party handles things and gloss over their own mistakes. Taking citizens for fools does not benefit them, but alienates us.
Politicians could explain that without migrants our health, education and building systems – to name only a few – would instantly collapse. They could explain that without raising taxes, particularly on those who can well afford to pay them, we shall be unable to look after the young, the old and the disabled. They could explain that they often refuse to tackle certain industries – and we know which they are – because those industries contribute such enormous amounts to party coffers. I could go on, but I won’t. Caroline Lurie, Sydney, by email
They’d get absolute dog’s abuse. That’s why they don’t do it. People want a comforting lie. Originaloli
There’s a lot of work being done on this one, we’ll be able to tell you everything you want to know in about two weeks. Justanaverageguy
I’ve long believed that when asking politicians to answer an important question there should only be three alternatives: yes, no or don’t know.
Any other answer wouldn’t be broadcast or printed. It might concentrate their minds wonderfully. And news programmes would be shorter and a whole lot sweeter. Brian Robertson, Hawick, Roxburghshire
They are there to make statements and get across a policy – questions add no value to a crafted statement so they avoid them. YeOldPhart
Why don’t journalists factcheck when they know a politico is lying? It baffles me. yogainspain
Well, if journalists continue to ask contrived questions and report answers selectively, nothing good. Porthos
This very question was recently tackled gamely on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme by my local MP, the Right Honourable Phillip Airtime. EddieChorepost
My nephew (then aged about eight) once remarked that a certain politician didn’t answer the question: “Well, he wouldn’t do very well in the SATs, would he, Auntie?” From the mouths of babes. Habfan1
When politicians tell the truth, they get fired. Since they’re employed by the voting public, we might ponder whether that makes much sense. Dorkalicious
The world would collapse. thatoldbloke
If it was why wasn’t something being funded, and they said it was because something else was more important to people’s welfare, OK. If they said it was because they were giving handouts to privatised utilities instead of, eg, ending the two-child benefit cap, there could be a riot. A lot of the time the real answer is years of austerity and the markets getting spooked and we can’t have that, can we? Not sure how people would react to that. scouser58
Because the answer would be “I don’t know,” or “I’ve been told not to talk about that because the answer would make us look bad.” Hardly any better than not answering. Alex42
The smoke and mirrors would fall away. LorLala
The elephant in the room is the truth. Never address the elephant. woodworm20
