Monday, March 20, 2006
An unseemly row that shows no-one in a good light
BBC NEWS | Politics | Tories will not name key backers
Confused by the latest spat over cash for peerages? Amazed by the duplicity of our leading politicians? Or just bored by another dreary day in our increasingly dreary national life?
The current spat over cash for peerages sadly confirms everyone's most cynical feelings about politics and politicians.
If you believe the story, as told, that New Labour have been playing the old game of political favours for money, then you are probably also thinking back to the cash in brown envelopes that helped to bring abou the fall of John Major's government.
On the other hand, if you only half believe the allegation -- which is unproven, and for which there is no actual evidence -- that Labour loners (sorry, that's 'loaners') were promised peerages for cash, and you are troubled by the fact that 2/3 of the lenders (is that a better word?) have not been offered a peerage, then you are probably wondering if it is ever possible to discover anything which is both true and relevant about the way this country is run.
On the other, other hand (Zaphod) if you have not been taken in by any of this, you are probably groaning at the spin and counter spin of the Tories accusing Labour, and then Labour publishing its backers to put the Tories on the back foot, and then the Tories refusing to name their backers but at the same time saying there should not ever be any more political loans... well, if you weren't taken in by the whole thing you already know what you think.
What is troubling for the ordinary voter (or, indeed, the ordinary parliamentary candidate, young and idealistic, longing to make his or her way into the House, desperately trying to believe that it isn't as murky as it's made out to be) is the dreariness of the whole thing. We want to know about global warming, about the future of the NHS, about the pensions crisis, about avian flu (or pandemic flu, for the better informed). We want answers to terrorism, and something done for Africa, and solutions for drugs, obesity, too much drinking and unplanned teenage pregnancies. We want less crime committed, and to be sure that we're safe on the internet, and for the next generation to get jobs and be able to afford houses.
The bizarre goings-on of the honours system and huge loans to political parties is just more information than we want right now.
At the end of the day, we want to elect (or, for candidates, we want to be) people who are both trustworthy and competent, and who have a vision for a better Britain and a better world which chimes with our own hopes. We don't want to elect a load of Peter-Pan politicians who never grow up and spend their lives scoring points of each other (and no doubt calling each other 'oiks' when the microphones are switched off) and experimenting with the school rules to see how they can give out more detentions and do less homework. But every scandal of this nature, pumped up by both sides, merely confirms the notion that Westminster is an overgrown boys prep-school with unfathomable traditions and a strict code of ethics that has no connection with anybody else's ideas of right and wrong.
O, Britain, Britain (to paraphrase Macduff). What will become of you?
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Conference resounding success
Today's Federal Party Conference finished on a high note. Menzies Campbell's leadership withstood its first test on Saturday, as delegates overwhelmingly voted through the parliamentary party's policy on Post Offices. This was the motion that had been sent back by the autumn conference -- but yesterday tables were turned and it was the (now rather few) rebels who were defeated. Today the party proved that it has the will to take the fight to its political enemies.
Everywhere there was a sense that change is in the air. This wasn't just the thrilling Harrogate weather. Elsewhere Labour was going through another regretful crisis. While in Wales David Cameron was pleading with his party not to be frightened by the pace of his changes.
We should not gloat over the discomfiture of Tessa Jowell. Her situation is a tragedy largely not of her making. Nor should we be gleeful over the down-turn on Tory confidence in Cameron. Britain needs rejuvenation in its parties, and if the Tories are too slow-witted to see that, then that is their loss and ours.
In fact, the time for continuously comparing ourselves with our opponents and our poll-ratings has reached its end. Scandal may sell newspapers, but it does not make for good government.
Outside of the tiny world of British party politics, the world is changing. The environment is deteriorating far faster than most people are willing to believe. The West's recent adventures in war and publishing have dramatically destabilised our relationship with the entire Muslim world. The economic development of China and India is a seismic shift in international trade. And, all the while, the worldwide growth in human trafficking for the sex-industry sees more than five million people sold into slavery each year -- a blight on our consciences about which are doing almost nothing.
We no longer have time for bickering.
And Liberal-Democrats, at least, are ready to engage in constructive politics.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Now we move forwards!
Link
BBC NEWS | Politics | Sir Menzies wins Lib Dem contest
Many congratulations to Menzies Campbell for his victory today. It was a leadership election where each of the three final candidates was in the lead at one point -- fitting testimony to the fact that we had three candidates each of whom stood head and shoulders above the leaders of the other parties.
Menzies Campbell has my unqualified support. He is a leader all of us can look up to. At a time when foreign affairs are more important than they have been for a generation, having Ming at the helm will give us the incisive direction which the other two parties have convincingly proven that they woefully lack.
Even in the middle of our leadership campaign, when we were at our lowest position in the polls for years, and the Tories were at their highest, we convincingly trounced Labour in the Dunfermline by-election, and pushed the sorrowful Tories into fourth place.
Tomorrow, our first conference of the new leadership will launch us into a prolonged period of growth.
It is now for us to make the most of it. Now we move forwards.
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