tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post2916077317846961142..comments2024-01-23T16:53:02.428+00:00Comments on Mark Thompson: I blame David DavisMark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-47259577942354933392012-06-25T11:28:24.596+01:002012-06-25T11:28:24.596+01:00@Mark:
Sorry for the delay in replying -- a bunch...@Mark:<br /><br />Sorry for the delay in replying -- a bunch of guys kicking a ball around got in the way.<br /><br />My final comment was a little glib, sorry: it was merely meant to indicate that while people appointed to the front bench are so because they have power within the party and, yes, of course they then have greater sway over the implementation of policy but powerful backbenchers exist, and can have substantial influence over the general views and directions of the party.<br /><br />I still don't think you are fair to blame Davis, though. His actions in standing down and forcing that byelection may have been a little eccentric, but it seems to me wrong to prohibit politicians from taking a stance on an issue which is important to them on the grounds that the actions might, later, reduce their chances of the gaining executive power to actually make the changes.Stuart Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448577864182126540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-70667414206432777172012-06-24T20:45:20.185+01:002012-06-24T20:45:20.185+01:00"against him" should say "against t..."against him" should say "against them" in the 5th paragraph. <br /><br />I must again emphasise that Davis' struggles weren't just against Labour, but elements of his own party who opposed his libertarianism. We know there were always Tory authoritarians and they're still there now, which is why extraparliamentary work in my view has always been the most important work of all, through supporting independent bodies such as Liberty.<br /><br />Did you know btw that your mate Pete Hitchens has an excellent record on civil liberties? His book "The Abolition of Liberty" is of great interest.asquithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246701347539264295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-43766828145000991332012-06-24T20:41:20.252+01:002012-06-24T20:41:20.252+01:00I credit Davis with forcing a debate and sink this...I credit Davis with forcing a debate and sink this idea (largely through winning round people who had supported 42 days originally, but as the debate went on changed their position as they saw what they'd originally thought was half-baked shite).<br /><br />Do you remember the massive debate over whether it was liberal to support him, even though a lot of his views are traditionally right-wing, such as his support for the death penalty? I said at the time that we should welcome people like him on civil liberties platforrm, as well as certain socialists and anyone who opposed what Blair and Brown were doing.<br /><br />His resignation, I think, was in recognition of the fact that his staunchly principled stand wasn't shared by many in his party, who were either authoritarians or prepared to go along with authoritarianism to avoid offending filth like Kelvin Mackenzie.<br /><br />And it also exposed the sheer nastiness of many Labourites, who (lacking a positive case to make) could only deride civil libertarians. And it was at this point that it was finally hammered home to me that they needed to be defeated.<br /><br />I, thus, disagree with what you're saying because Davis started a debate that we've largely won. The Mays of this world are always going to be around and I suppose Davis simply couldn't hold out against him.<br /><br />There are also some right-wing people, like Dominic Raab and Dominic Grieve, who were sharpened in their stance after the events of 2008, another positive I think.<br /><br />Davis is probably not the most pleasant or agreeable man ever to be born, but I think he achieved more than you give him credit for, and what he hasn't done probably couldn't have been done at all.asquithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246701347539264295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-87760125505545878372012-06-24T16:49:15.473+01:002012-06-24T16:49:15.473+01:00@Stuart - You are right that there was no bar to C...@Stuart - You are right that there was no bar to Cameron reappointing him to the front bench but you can hardly blame him for not doing so. Davis's action was very strange and the fact remains he voluntarily resigned. Cameron was under no obligation to reappoint him and indeed possibly feared further eccentric behaviour. Both you and I may want more colourful characters in politics but leaders of the opposition/PMs understandably don't like to rock the boat in this way.<br /><br />I am a little perplexed by your final comment. I agree that there are some back benchers (and indeed people not in parliament) who have more influence than say junior ministers (by dint of public profile or strong campaigning credentials on specific subjects) but the idea that any back bencher, however senior can have more influence on Home Office policy than the Home Secretary (if that it what you are implying) is not realistic.<br /><br />Davis had a very good chance at being Home Secretary. He gave up that chance to fight an unnecessary by-election that changed nothing. Now he is just one voice from the back of the bus when he could have been the driver.Mark Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-89935382888202513832012-06-24T12:55:43.057+01:002012-06-24T12:55:43.057+01:00A little unfair, I think. Davis's actions were...A little unfair, I think. Davis's actions were based on a point of principle (something I rather feel is lacking in today's world; especially from Clegg and co) and he can hardly be held accountable for speculative outcomes after the fact. To say "he voluntarily gave up his chance at being the minister" is nonsense: there is no bar to a PM sympathetic to civil liberties from re-appointing him to the front bench; just as had he <i>not</i> stepped down that is absolutely no guarantee that he wouldn't have been otherwise sidelined or de-front-benchified.<br /><br />Your argument seems to depend upon the assumption that influence within a party is dependent upon which bench one sits; surely you are politically astute enough to realize that, if anything, the directionality goes the other way.Stuart Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448577864182126540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-91307118681690333432012-06-24T11:21:28.132+01:002012-06-24T11:21:28.132+01:00If you're going, maybe you could ask him about...If you're going, maybe you could ask him about this!Mark Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-74628499836431770962012-06-24T10:29:24.559+01:002012-06-24T10:29:24.559+01:00Davis is speaking at an event on intercepting soci...Davis is speaking at an event on intercepting social media communications for intelligence purposes at the Frontline Club on Tuesday, should be interesting.eoghanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02408335744825873080noreply@blogger.com