I resign! (Probably)
So I win Nick Barlow's IDS sweepstake with a 100% accurate forecast of the number of 'no' votes, 90.It's (once you get over the inevitable 'didn't he do well?', itself telling) a terrible indictment of IDS's leadership that even with all the institutional bias towards keeping your leader only 75 Tory MPs had confidence in him.
And now to Michael Howard. When I joined the Tory party I hoped to be able to influence IDS's successor. I got my timing right -- I am eligible to vote on November 11th.
Unfortunately it looks like it was £12 wasted.
I can't agree with the party official on Newsnight last night who was so angry about the lack of 'democracy'. For a start, despite what he was saying, the Conservative Party has never been a democratic party. Until the 1960s it didn't even have a formalised leadership process. Second most party members are revolting and you wouldn't trust them with your old boots, let alone choosing a potential PM.
Nevertheless I also can't remain in a party with Michael Howard as leader.
Is there anything in his favour? So, he's 'forensic'? Useful is you are a scientist, perhaps. I suppose you could say that the Conservative Party is going the way of all other European centre-right political parties in choosing a grey, safe, dull man and that might get them back into power at some point. And at least -- for the first time since the 1960s we aren't going to have the most right-wing candidate on offer (well we are, but you know what I mean).
But Michael Howard?! Is this really the man to provide the massive overhaul we need to win back power?
To win power we need to do a few things quickly, 1. Forget about Thatcher, 2. Forget about IDS. 3. Try to realise that public bad, private good is not how most of the electorate think. 4. Come up with some policies that don't involve being nasty to foreigners.
Is Michael Howard up to the task? Of course not.
Therefore with a heavy heart I will tender my resignation from the Conservative Party once Howard is elected, unless he does something radical like bring Ken Clarke back.
ps Memo to party -- don't choose the candidate Thatcher backs -- Major, Hague, IDS -- see a link?
ps Oliver Letwin basically owes Andrew Rawnsley £1000
posted by Matthew @ 10/30/2003 01:25:00 PM
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