Pnewsology

The week’s news with a dash of psychology!

Jane Ogden (Professor in Health Psychology, Emeritus; email janeogden509@gmail.com; based on a conversation with James Cannon at Radio Surrey; 8.40 am 21/11/25)

Week ending 21/11/25

In the 1980’s Margaret Thatcher famously announced that ‘The Lady’s not for turning’ as a sign that she was strong minded and not one for U-turns.  In contrast, this week’s news has involved U-turns everywhere you look.  Is a good sign if someone can change their mind or are they better sticking to their guns regardless?

The government’s manifesto just over a year ago promised not to raise taxes and they have made much of sticking to their promise.  Last week, ahead of the budget we heard that Rachel Reeves was considering breaking this promise and raising income tax.  The press responded, the markets responded and even the millionaires responded.  But then we heard that she had changed her mind and income tax was going to stay as it was.  A U turn or maybe a double U turn (a W turn?).

We also heard from the COVID inquiry how Boris Johnson’s indecisiveness and constant U-turns over the level of restrictions (groups of 3 or 6? Schools closed or open? Wedding or funerals allowed??) probably caused excess deaths in the second wave of the pandemic and contributed to the lasting impact on young people’s mental health.

And lo and behold President Trump changed his mind (again) over the Epstein Files and encouraged everyone to vote to have them released (although the level of redaction is yet to be seen).

But in contrast, Keir Starmer announced that will definitely lead the Labour party into the next election (after rumours of a leadership challenge).  And we also heard how the determination to follow a herd immunity approach at the start of COVID caused delays in introducing any restriction causing an estimated 23,000 deaths.  Definitely a hint of Thatcher and sticking to their guns, just like Jeremy Corbyn who was said to have stuck to his own ideological and policy guns since the 1970’s.

So what is better – U- turns or sticking.

It seems to me that there are two reasons people change their mind.  The first reason is due to new evidence emerging whether it be through time, changes in the world order or the natural environment.  With a war in Ukraine, Russian drones over Poland, Belgium, Norway and Sweden and the Netherlands and Israel still bombarding Gaza, the narrative is clearly there to raise taxes and put more money into the armed forces.  With wild unpredictable weather it is also there to invest in renewable energy, to save the planet and make us more self-sufficient.  I think people would have accepted tax increases to do this.  And sometimes this new evidence is just personal experience.  John McCaine changed his views on LGBTQ rights in terms of military service and marriage as his wife and gay daughter became ambassadors for equality.  These seem to be perfectly good reasons for a change of mind and are a sign of strength.

But the second reason is a less positive one – fear.  Fear of the press, fear of the voters and fear of how they might look to their colleagues can be behind a lot of U-Turns and ironically can end up backfiring making the U-turner look the very thing they are trying to avoid – weak.

U-turns are neither good nor bad nor inherently a sign of strength or weakness.  We all change our minds all the time – what to wear, eat, what job to do or even who to be married to.  But why we make them is what matters. And sticking to your guns may sound like you know your own mind, but if you do this regardless of the evidence then you are probably just stuck in the past.

All opinions are those of Jane Ogden