Bright's Blog

4 comments from readers

Oliver Miles
22 June 2008 at 09:57

The decision of the Labour Party not to put up a candidate to fight David Davis was not unexpected, but nevertheless a disappointment for aficionados of political bullfighting. What is to become of our sport if the bull is allowed to choose not to appear?

Harriet Harman's explanation on World at One (largely missed by the papers) that this affair is actually about disagreement within the Conservative party reassured us that there are still some laughs to be had. The Labour Party (“a party of zombies” – P. Toynbee) [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/13/gordonbr...] was and remains split wide open. But where is the evidence for Conservative disagreements? Whatever their internal disagreements and disputes they have held their line in public, with the solitary exception of Ann Widdecombe. Those who believe that politics is a serious matter to be worked out inside the Palace of Westminster rather than by the vulgar crowd outside, and they appear to include most politicians and nearly all political commentators, seized on the comment by David Cameron that David Davis was "brave" and explained that it was code for "bonkers". I enjoy the jokes in Yes Minister as much as anyone, but I didn't know it had become part of the British constitution.

Are we to be deprived of our fun at Haltemprice and Howden? I still hope not. One possibility would be for a Gordon Brown lookalike to stand. He would not have to make up his speeches, he could simply draw on the Prime Minister's keynote speech on liberty last year [http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page13630.asp], the one in which the PM quoted Magna Carta, Milton, Locke, Orwell, Churchill, Bolingbroke, Coke, Macaulay, and many others. The candidate could scour the works of all those worthies for passages supporting the view that the executive should be free to lock people up for a long time without process.

But here is a better idea. Tories and socialists may be divided, but not, thanks be to the gods, those seven men of principle of the Democratic Unionist Party, who we are told know a thing or two about terrorism, and who voted for the Government without fear or presumably favour. Surely one of them would be willing to give up his seat at Westminster and stand in Haltemprice and Howden? My personal choice would be the Reverend William McCrea, who would be the first to admit that he is better known for his principles than his brains. He could bring his guitar and hymnbook across the water and try his luck serenading the voters of Yorkshire. I don't know if Ann Widdecombe can sing, but together they would make a formidable impact. Perhaps they could persuade that silent majority, who we are assured follow the Sun, to come out and vote for the principle of lock'em up and throw away the key.

Rupert Read
25 June 2008 at 22:51

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/3473

The Green Party is going to stand against Davis, for exactly the reasons Martin Bright discusses / argues for.

Martin, I hope you'll endorse us!

knave
27 June 2008 at 17:16

What about yourself Martin.

To paraphrase Shaw.

Those who can, do

Those who can’t , teach

Those who can’t teach become journalists and just sit of the side lines making snide comments about others.

Have Cohen as your agent.

You can run on a policy of No to 42 but we want Guantamino and get rid of amnesty international

( Because you both seem to approve of George Bush’s policies on human rights )

slightlyiratecouncillor
01 July 2008 at 14:09

Check out Adrian Ramsay's Green Party piece, directly responding to Martin Bright here:

http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2008/06/civil-libert...