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February 10 posts
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jgale | 
25 February 2010 at 19:26 | 283 views
Parliament returns this week after a 5 day recess, and we enter what is likely to be the last session of the current Parliament. Most people expect Parliament to be dissolved before the Easter recess, and an election to be fixed for Thursday 6th May.
The Prime Minister must have been cheered for a few brief moments by another recent opinion poll which suggested that the gap between the Labour Party and its opponents was narrowing. But no sooner had this news been received when the PM was hit by the revelations of “bullying” in the new book by Observer columnist Andrew Rawnsley.
Andrew Rawnsley is a respected political commentator, who talks regularly to the most senior politicians in the country, so there is little doubt that most of his book will be well sourced. The picture he paints of our Prime Minister is likely to be an accurate one.
And the picture is not a particularly pleasant one – it is of a Prime Minister who regularly shouts and screams at staff, and whose henchmen are used to destroy political reputations with off-the-record briefings, in order to protect and enhance the position of Mr. Brown himself.
But does this tittle tattle really matter? Some people will say that Prime Ministers do operate under immense stress, and that throwing objects around the room is not a big deal.
And which politician, others will say, does not brief against political enemies, and seek to get their own “spin” into the press?
But the problem with Mr. Brown is, I think, serious. Firstly, because we have a portrait of a man who does not listen, and who cannot tolerate dissent or differences of view. One insider is quoted as saying: “He does not listen to argument. He just tries to bully you.”
This rings many bells for me, because I well remember visiting Gordon Brown in his Treasury office in 2007, with Vince Cable, to talk about the flaws in his tax credits system – flaws that had driven many people on low incomes deeply into debt. Was Mr. Brown interested in debating the issue or discussing the solutions? Sadly not. He bullied. He blustered. He tried to change the subject. He claimed the flaws were not flaws. And then that that they might be flaws, but that they were already fixed. What he did not do was listen. And as we argued with each other, I noticed that the single civil servant who was sitting in on our meeting to take notes was looking increasingly surprised that anyone should stand up to the “Iron Chancellor”. Clearly this did not happen often. Legitimate comment and criticism of a failing Government policy was about as welcome to the then Chancellor as a night out with Cherie Blair.
Having a Prime Minister who will not listen to advice or criticism is very dangerous, and it has long meant that Mr. Brown relies only on a tiny inner core of loyal Brownites, who no doubt tell him what he wants to hear.
And then there is the vicious briefing against colleagues. Now this has long gone on in Government, but under Mr. Brown and his henchmen it has become particularly vicious and destructive. Recall the demise of Peter Mandelson, before his extraordinary restoration under Mr. Brown. On the first occasion, Mr. Mandelson was brought down because of the revelation of a hidden loan from Geoffrey Robinson MP, a close friend of Mr. Brown.
The revelation, by one of Mr. Brown’s spin-doctors, caused Peter Mandelson to have to resign from the Cabinet. It also prompted the departure from Government of Mr. Brown’s so-called friend, Mr. Robinson. To use a “friend” in such a way, to destroy a potential rival, suggests a degree of brutality which is unusual even in a politician.
And we now know that the current Chancellor, Alistair Darling, once one of Mr. Brown’s closest friends, has received the same brutal treatment from “friends of the Prime Minister”.
This is a standard of behaviour which demeans our politics, and undermines good Government. Mr. Rawnsley’s book is more than political tittle tattle. It sheds light on a style of politics that this country would be better off without.
Ever,
David.
jgale | 04 February 2010 at 10:54 | 275 views
Last week I arrived back from London on Thursday night, after an 11 hour debate on the Government’s latest Education Bill.
On Friday morning, I held an Advice Centre in South Petherton, at the David Hall, after which I strolled through the village to buy some stamps at the Post Office.
I noticed what a terrible state parts of the main road are in, after the recent icy weather, and I am raising this issue with the County Council. Large pot holes seem to be emerging all over our area. If there are any bad areas of road near you, please let the County Highways Department know, or get in contact with me so I can raise the matter with them.
On Friday afternoon I called in at Redstart School, where they were holding an “MP’s Question Time”. There were about 25 pupils who grilled me for 45 minutes on a whole range of issues – so now I know what the Prime Minister feels like each Wednesday (though the Redstart pupils had much better manners than most MPs!).
Redstart School seems to be doing very well under its Head teacher, Suzanne Flack, and her dedicated staff, and pupil numbers have increased significantly in recent years. The school still has to rely on too many temporary classrooms, and I have promised to look into this to see if we can eventually replace these with a permanent building.
This week I will be back in Westminster, and there will be another 10 or 20 hours of debate on the Education Bill.
On Monday evening, I met up with an old friend of mine from one of the other political parties. At Westminster the MPs from the different parties tend to stick fairly closely together, on party lines. Indeed, in the Members’ Dining Room there is a “Labour” part of the room, a “Liberal Democrat” middle bit of the room, and an area for the Conservatives at the other end! It is exactly the same in the Members “Tea Room”, where Labour MPs congregate near the entrance door, and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats occupy the other end of the room!
But, of course, sometimes friendships are forged across parties, and there are both Labour MPs and Conservatives who I get on well with and talk with in a pretty frank and open way.
On Monday, then, I met with Andrew Adonis, now Lord Adonis. Andrew Adonis used to be Tony Blair’s adviser on Education, but he is now the Secretary of State for Transport. Lord Adonis is a passionate rail supporter, and he spent last summer travelling all over the country by rail to find out about the experience of passengers at the “sharp end”. Gordon Brown and Lord Adonis were never regarded as being the best of buddies, but the Prime Minister was impressed enough by Andrew to promote him from rail minister to Secretary of State last year.
One of the issues which I have raised with Lord Adonis is Chard Junction Railway Station. I support the re-opening of this station, which would would help improve local access to the rail network – not least because the car parking at Axminster and Crewkerne can often be very difficult.
The land around Chard Junction is owned by the British Rail Residuary Board, who have recently been trying to sell it off. I intervened in December to stop the sell of this vital land, and to give time for Somerset County Council to buy the land to help deliver on their aspiration of re-opening the station.
Unfortunately, so far, the County Council seems to be dithering over whether to try to secure the land. While they are publicly claiming to be interested, their private position seems to be that they won’t pay a penny to secure this very important asset. It would be a disaster if we are prevented from re-opening this station because the County Council won’t make a small investment in this precious asset – particularly as the price has fallen so much. I hope the Conservatives on the County Council will think again – and help breathe some life back into Somerset’s rail network,
Ever,
David.