Today Norman Tebbit called for electors to boycott the big parties. He claims that he doesn't want people to vote BNP and there are lots of other small parties with which they can register their votes with. Either Tebbit is more stupid than we thought or he's playing a very dangerous game.
First, lets consider who actually listens to Tebbit? On the left he is a dispised figure. A proclamation such as this will actually get Labour voters out, especially as they probably realise that this will encourage the BNP. Ditto for any Lib Dems who are feeling a bit lazy. Canvassers up and down the country will be saying "Look, even if you are unhappy, if the BNP get a big enough share of the vote, they will get MEP's and the funds to organise which goess with it"
What about Conservatives? They take a different view of Tebbit. They will listen. Who will they vote for? Some will vote UKIP, some will want to send a stronger message. They will vote BNP. The BNP are on around 4% of the popular vote in many areas. A small shift, inspired by Tebbit, can make a huge difference. MEP's have large expenses and funds available. This could be a signficant breakthrough for them. This would be at the expense of Camerons Tories. A poor showing from the Tories, at a time such as this would be a major blow. What would this do to party morale in the run up to an election? Old wounds would be opened, old arguments started. David Cameron would be damaged. Not a good start to an election year.
The thing is, if you think logically, Tebbit is being most unfair to the Tory MEP candidates. They are not operating under Westminster rules, they have a completely different set up and a completely different job. None of the MEP's coming up for reelection are involved in the issue. Tebbit is saying "punish people who have done nothing wrong, but vote for the villians next year". This makes no sense at all. Lets just summarise why Tebbit is dangerous, wrong and stupid.
1) It will boost the BNP's share of the vote
2) It will increase the chances of the BNP getting European funding to organise racist campaigns
3) It will damage Tebbit's own party at the expense of neo fascists
4) It will punish MEP candidates who have done nothing wrong
5) It won't punish the troughers who have been abusing the system
My advice to David Cameron, withdraw the whip from Tebbit. My advice to Tory voters - ignore his dangerous rantings.
2 comments:
Rog
I have met Lord Tebbit several times and in private conversation he is nothing like the rabid right-winger as portrayed on Spitting Image. He will be very upset if people start voting for the BNP as a consequence of what he said yesterday.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and perhaps he should have chosen his words more carefully, but he was only saying out loud what many people have been saying in private - that the main political parties need a good kick up the backside.
John Major’s government was brought down by sleaze. The public were fed up with MPs stuffing their pockets with outside directorships and, as a consequence, we have seen the rise of the career politician. But the pendulum has swung too far.
We need politicians to have more outside jobs, not just so that they can experience life in the real world, but so that they do not have to rely on the parliamentary salary to live. Being an MP used to be about public service. The only way to restore that ethos is to cut the pay of all but Cabinet members, and let them earn the rest by honest endeavours.
David,
Tebbit may be a lovely bloke in private. He may be horrfied if he gets the BNP more votes, but that is a likely effect. He's been around long enough to know that.
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