Wednesday, June 27, 2007

 

Round One Emphatically to Gordon

There is are some lovely ironies about the events of the past 24 hours. A Conservative MP departs his own party on the grounds that it is driven by superficiality and PR for a party which established itself via this very means. In doing so he gives the new prime minister a major PR coup. Davies accused Cameron, damagingly, of 'superficiality, unreliability and an apparent lack of any clear convictions', accusations which will resonate with critics, on the right as well as the left within the Conservative Party.

This could not have been a better gift to Brown as he seeks to establish a momentum which might well culminate in an early general election. Some predict a date in the middle of next year; Iain Dale suggests that even this coming October might be the chosen month.

I doubt this very much for the simple reason that Labour is currently broke and can hardly refill coffers via the expedient of donations let alone loans. Maybe Gordon could tap the unions for a few million but they are likely to ask a price which embarrass him and his attempt to gain that (to him) all important fourth term. I have to say it's nice to see Tories doing what they do so love doing: savaging each other.

Dale(see link above) provides a link to the Newsnight debate between apostate Quentin Davies('he hasn't got a socialist bone in his body') and cutesey little Alan Duncan, which Iain thinks Duncan won hands down- I thought that, as usual, Paxo was the real winner. I tend to agree Davies is not the kind of person I would welcome: Michael White gives chapter and verse on the floor-crossing. Interestingly Dale reports Ed Balls has hinted there is at least one more Tory to make the make transition. Hold your breath.

Finally, I have just seen a very puffy eyed Tony Blair's final PMQs and was astonished to see both sides of the chamber give him an unprecedented standing ovation after heartfelt tributes from Ian Paisley and the Father of the House, the often rebellious Welshman, Alan Williams. Some send-off; flawed certainly, but some politician.

Comments:
Quentin Davies is a pro hunting, anti gay rights country squire,why are we celebrating?
 
anon
Because of the timing and the content of the criticisms.
 
I suspect most Tories are glad to see the back of him. And most people know the real reason for his defection. You're welcome to him.
 
Michael
I'm not going to welcome a pro hunting,homophobic old school Tory but I do welcome the manner of his transition. I assume you think he left for an 'ignoble' reason like disappointed office seeking?
 
It's well known. Iain Dale, for once, got it right: "he doesn't have a socialist bone in his body". On many issues he is more reactionary than me. And his hatred for Labour is well known. He has clearly been offered a peerage, probably after the next election.

Alan Duncan - not my favourite person - made him look very stupid on Newsnight. But then Quentin IS very stupid. And I question the moral worth of anyone who welcomes any MP - for whatever reason - cheating the clearly expressed wishes of his constituents.
 
Michael
Tend to agree with your last point and would like to see a constitutional amendment to the relevant Parliament Act making crossing the floor possible only if a by-election follows.
 
I would support that. I am not even happy when I see Labour MPs defect to the Tories(not a problem recently admittedly). Their new parties never really trust these sorts either(Duncan was right - Davies is being used for a stunt, and will be spat out when he isn't needed) and the old parties never forgive them(hence the venom from Duncan). That is why so many of them end up in the Lords or other quangos.

It is the same argument for Broon calling an immediate election. Constitutionally we elect MPs. But in real life, most people choose a President from Brown, Cameron or even Campbell(don't laugh it's not nice). Brown has no mandate. Nor does Davies, his constituency wanted a Tory MP. The Tories are limited by the argument they didn't call an election in 1990(I wish they had now, if Kinnock had won - as he surely would have - there would have been no Blair and no Nu Labor). But there was a difference. Thatcher hadn't SPECIFICALLY promised five years, and there was still the semblance of cabinet Government. Brown is effectively a President. He will load No.10 with Treasury lackeys and be the most powerful PM in history - without any mandate.

BTW I doubt the ridiculous Cameron would win an election. This is another good reason for having an election now.
 
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