Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for nine years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
The general thrust of David Aaronovitch's piece in The Times today certainly seems to sum up the views of the man on the Clapham omnibus (or in my case the Sacks of Potatoes bar on Sunday) is anything to go by:
It isn't a surprise to me that the public - as measured by an opinion poll - should have supported the decision of David Davis to resign as an MP on a point of principle. In these cynical times the public would probably support any MP's decision to resign on a point of principle - on principle. Or just to resign, on no particular principle at all. But I am not a cynic and I don't want to join those accusing Mr Davis of low motives such as coveting his leader's ass, so to speak, or of suffering a public midlife crisis. I have no difficulty in believing that he is completely sincere.
Except that Aaronovitch then proceeds to accuse Davis of being a rather cynical social authoritarian hiding behind a fig leaf of the Magna Carta.
Perhaps the real problem lies with Aaronovitch's suggestion that the public now hold politicians in such contempt that any action is regarded with cynicism and distrust. On the evolutionary scale we have fallen way behind the legal profession, door-to-door salesmen, and estate agents with regards to who we trust. I know that even when I get embroiled in an argument about something like football in our Sunday sessions in the pub, that at some stage, whatever stance I am adopting, someone will inevitably say something like... "typical politician." I say it's a problem, but perhaps it isn't really. It is possible to argue that a natural distrust of those who make decisions that affect our daily lives is healthy, and that we should be far more worried about those who blindly follow their leaders' every decision.
Certainly that's the stance I tend to take myself. So whilst those who know David Davis, be they his former Chief-of-Staff, or Tony Benn who did a speaking tour with him, tell us that he is a sincere and committed individual with a genuine concern for civil liberties.... me, all I see is a politician. Someone who has worked out that his climb up the greasy pole is blocked by a younger man whose instincts and beliefs he doesn't trust, and who has taken a calculated gamble that the younger man may slip up, and when he does the Party will turn to his natural successor, the hard man with a streak of principle.
But, hey, what do I know? I'm bound to say that... typical politician!
Poor old DD. If he wants to make a stand on civil liberties then why doesn't he come clean about voting for very illiberal legislation in the past? Not a hint of self-critique on his new website!
I think DA is on to something.I suspect the public supports any politician who resigns on any issue and declares it an issue of principle.People just don't like politicians very much....
If he really is trying to position himself against the Boy David by resigning then he would have been wise to choose something closer to the Tory hearts. To be honest I'm sure that there is far more sympathy for the government position amongst the tory party than is stated. To an extent their position is to keep the Lib Dems onside and also to play politics. I'm sure most Tory MPs would instinctively go to 420 days let alone 42.
If he was going to resign out of principle to posture against Cameron surely he would have done it over the lack of a referendum over the EU constitution. That way every Tory would be almost orgasmic and his position mightily enhanced. Yes there would be some sniping but nothing to the extent that there is now.
At the end of the day reading blogs such as Rachael from North London would indicate he is a sincere man in this regard. I also firmly believe he's spot on although I don't see it as a populist viewpoint. On this occasion I think those of like minded opinion should rally round regardless of other differences and ensure it is a single issue campaign.
Finally I really have to wonder what on earth is happening when the likes of Shami Chakrabarti is championing a Tory over the Labour party.
I think you'll find Chakrabarti is quite close to the Notting Hill set. On the wider point, you may well be right... only time will tell. As I've said on a dozen occasions, I am opposed to 42 days, but no way would I support a right wing tory just because we had that in common. Enoch Powell might have been kind to old ladies, for all I know.
Frankly having thought about this a lot I am sick of him . I see no earthly point in the whole thing and I donot believe he has been treated other than with great generosity. I think it can only be interpreted as a throwing of toys from the Pram and he is a prat.
Point to you I suppose but a passing one . There is no split in the Party .He is right in what he says but then he is repeating the Conservative position which in fact is looking at cutting 28 days, same on ID cards so.....what ? .Its ludicrous nonsensical and I can only thankl god it does not appear to have had a bad effect on the Polls. Well thanks Brown who could , at this point , be beaten by a chimp
June 17, 2008 1:22 PM | permalink
Poor old DD. If he wants to make a stand on civil liberties then why doesn't he come clean about voting for very illiberal legislation in the past? Not a hint of self-critique on his new website!