Is there a Statesman in British Politics ?
Posted by: Don Atkinson on 24 October 2014
Listening today to Cameron's childish tirade against the EU's invoice for £1.7bn, left me wondering if we actually have any Statesmen (or women) in British politics.
I couldn't think of a single one. Any recommendations ?
I don't see GG as playing to a gallery. He says what he honestly believes, and that is what gives him a statesman like quality.
He is responsible for representing the people of Bradford West in parliament - hardly "no responsibility for anything".
Galloway is a grandstanding populist, unafraid to switch his views in order to appeal to the crowd. I had the misfortune to meet him and see him in action once.
Statesman need to have integrity, and above all be able to take a long view, even if it may be unpopular. I struggle to think of many recently who have had that quality.
Ken Clarke has always seemed to me to have the potential to rise above some of the internecine squabbling and assume some moral authority-as did Chris Patten who handled the HK handover with considerable skill. Jack Straw had something about him, but maybe lacked some leadership ability to rise a few steps higher. A great community MP though.
I'm not sure about Brown, too many insecurities to be bold or clear as a leader.
Bruce
Galloway is a grandstanding populist, unafraid to switch his views in order to appeal to the crowd. I had the misfortune to meet him and see him in action once.
Statesman need to have integrity, and above all be able to take a long view, even if it may be unpopular. I struggle to think of many recently who have had that quality.
Ken Clarke has always seemed to me to have the potential to rise above some of the internecine squabbling and assume some moral authority-as did Chris Patten who handled the HK handover with considerable skill. Jack Straw had something about him, but maybe lacked some leadership ability to rise a few steps higher. A great community MP though.
I'm not sure about Brown, too many insecurities to be bold or clear as a leader.
Bruce
I think we're of a like mind on this topic, Bruce.
I was not impressed yesterday by Osborne's stumbling statement that he had reduced the bill to £850m, payable in two installments next year etc etc, nor Cameron's faux-stone-faced assersion that this was another "victory" for the UK.
I'm still not sure whether the rebate that is clearly involved, would have reduced the bill anyway (assuming the accountants realised our entitlement), or whether this element of rebate was indeed a new rebate, obtained as the result of new negotiations
Ed Ball's input showed no signs of statesmanship either.
Trying to chose between Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond is rather depressing.
OK, looks like the rebate wasn't a definite given. It took 4 hours of discussion to sort out the rules. How the hell can 20+ nations in Europe not know the precise rules for contributions and rebates. Is this just pure incompetence ? Shouldn't somebody know these rules without needing a 4 hour discussion ?
Might this suggest (I really hope this isn't libel) that other incompetencies exist within the European Commission ?