Elizabeth Peacock: Trump victory was people's revolution

In effect, it is a revolution that is already providing widespread consequences for America and the rest the world. He has rocked more boats than any other President-elect in modern times. He recognises the weakness and inertia of the ruling Washington elite and is determined, as he puts it undiplomatically, to ‘drain the swamp’

As a dedicated supporter of the campaign to get more women into positions of influence, I had hoped that Hillary Clinton would become the first female President of the USA.

I did, however, speculate that Donald Trump might win if he could describe his view of a ‘new’ America, and he did so with resounding success. At the election, the American people demonstrated that they wanted change and the Trump victory will change the dynamics of American politics, moving power away from Washington to the electorate, driven by a President who can control both Congress and the Senate.

I draw this conclusion from my contacts around the USA who are confident that the grassroots of America are positive that change is here to stay.

To achieve his victory, Trump had to gain the ‘swing states’ which he did so in style. More importantly, he had studied the ethnic groupings that play such an important part in American politics. He spotted that the blue collar workers of America and their families had a strong vote in most States, and had been neglected for decades. They are predominantly white, disadvantaged by the system and without a dedicated voice, which he could provide once in office.

For decades, the historic political system has allowed the Washington metropolitan elite of politicians, civil servants and lawyers to run the country in a manner which they favoured and which substantially failed to respond to the needs of the people.

We may not have enjoyed the rough, tough and often vulgar style of Trump during the election, but we must recognise that he was talking to these blue collar workers – and their families – in a language they fully understood.

This got them out to vote, many for the first time, and they are now a force to be reckoned with as they are the foot soldiers of this revolution. It has been summised as this: at the election 50 million Americans stood, in defiance, in front of the grinding wheel of the nation, even though the media said their stand was useless. They faced this down even though the urban elite taunted them. They were the workers whose jobs had been transferred to foreign lands, they were the families who could not afford healthcare, they were the womenfolk afraid of being attacked by migrants flooding into town. They stood and then they voted to fight back. They voted and they won.

Now Donald Trump has the power to reshape industry and international trading. He also intends bring back business from foreign lands and rejuvenate the coal and steel industries. Equally he can get a better control of immigration if he takes the positive steps demanded by the people, something we recognise here in Britain as part of our own demands as we prepare to leave the European Union.

In the last few weeks, reality has set in, with the Trump swashbuckling approach causing people to say ‘We have now got Trump, many of us did not want him but I as a responsible member of the nation should buck up and stop whining. We live in a democracy and can change leader next time if this one is not a success. In the meantime we should work together and let him lead us to a better and fairer country, if he can – let him make America Great Again!’

My recent view of American politics and international policy is that it does need a big shake-up, it has been ruled by the political families and dynasties for far too long. The election is now a revolution which will not stay in the USA but is bound to have an influence across the globe with major ramifications for Russia and China as well as implications for Britain and Europe.

In summary, it could be said that the ‘workers’ of America and Britain made the decision for change – for Britain to get out of the European Union and for an exciting American revolution with Donald Trump at the helm.

Elizabeth Peacock was Conservative MP for Batley & Spen from 1983-97.