Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Quentin Davies defection update

Well, there has needless to say been some reaction to this defection.

Conservative Home has the full text of his letter here. It seems one of his prime motivations was David Cameron's fairly Euro sceptic stance.

David Cameron's reply is:


Dear Quentin,

Thank you for your letter. Your decision does not come as a surprise to me.

The Conservative Party has changed, as you say. We need to do more to protect the environment and tackle climate change. That will mean taking tough measures on carbon emissions. And it does mean looking at ways to encourage greater use of alternative sources of energy. Of course, I will also continue to stand up for Britain’s interests in Europe, and work to give the British people the referendum they were promised.

People see that we are now focusing on what matters to them. That is why so many people are supporting us once again – as shown in May, when we won over 900 Council seats.

I am sorry that you feel unable to be part of today’s Conservative Party, and join us in campaigning on what matters to people – for example, against the NHS cuts or for a better deal for pensioners. The big dividing line in British politics is between Labour’s approach of top down State control and the Conservative vision of pushing power outwards and downwards from central government, trusting people and sharing responsibility with them. You have made your choice and the British people will make theirs.

Thank you for your support in the past. We will watch your future career with interest.

Other reactions from this BBC article:
But Mr Hill said: "I think it's a slap in the face for all of those people who supported and went round for him.

"I feel very strongly, I don't approve of politicians who stand under one flag and then change to another flag for their own convenience. It is an act of treachery and betrayal, frankly."

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said he was "extremely surprised" at the news.

Sir Nicholas Winterton, Conservative MP for Macclesfield, called for Mr Davies to resign his seat, adding: "All I say is 'good riddance'."

Tory peer Lord Tebbit said: "This defection will raise the average standard of members on the Conservative side and lower it on the Labour side."

Shadow industry secretary Alan Duncan said Mr Davies was "not socially liberal" and against "a changed Conservative Party".

He added: "And basically he's quite grand and old fashioned, and I'm surprised that he finds that the Labour Party will offer him a happy home for those attitudes."
There are also rumours that he faced deselection in his constituency.

Nick Robinson has an interesting piece on his blog here. Iain Dale also has this interesting article here, and what Quentin thought of Gordon Brown today and last year!

Update:

I forgot to hat tip Rik W on politicalbetting.com for the text of Cameron's letter.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

My God. David uses his first paragraph to push the ridiculous mantra of "climate change". That was what was uppermost in his mind when he wrote to this defecting MP. Dave is such a loser, loser, loser. He does not have a clue about the life of the average person.

The "man made climate change" industry will soon be packing up its dusty bags and retiring to common rooms and Notting Hill drawing rooms to think up the next wheeze. As long as Cameron is the "leader" (as in follower and promoter of popular, empty trends), the Tories will not see my vote.

Benedict White said...

Verity, are you saying that the climate is not changing, or that you think it has nothing to do with man but it is changing?

Did you vote for Mrs Thatcher? She not only believed in climate change, she put in place policies to deal with it.

Anonymous said...

Benny, cum-ere, I want a word in your shell-loik.
From my own studies, the climate warming gravy train never had any wheels. Finally, distinguished professors around the globe are coming out in force to say the science is wrong, statistics are willfully flawed, assumptions are politically motivated, in short, it's another gravy train for drum beaters.
The whole thing is a fraud.
The latest statements from honest sources are saying that the drivers will reverse in 15 years, give or take, and we should prepare for significant cooling.
Significantly the current momentum is politically led, and totally divorced from the truth.
(Well, wodduyu expect from politicians?)
BTW, according to IHT, last week China passed the US on production of co2.

Benedict White said...

Erik, I would be grateful for some links or sources for what you claim.

I am aware that China has now over taken the USA on CO2 production.

Anonymous said...

explore the links on this page too
and here
and here
and here too
try this for size
also this
why not this?
Now if that lot don't convince you that the folks who promote this crap are a bunch of self serving scum, I don't know what will.
Understand, Benedict, that the truth is out there, and it is NEVER spoken by politicians.

Anonymous said...

evidence of scum

Anonymous said...

And finally.
Like the estimates for the London Olympics, the costs of Stern were deliberately
under estimated
Don't you get it Benedict.
Politicians are professional liars. Period.

Benedict White said...

Many thanks for the links Erik, I will have a look at them later.