I got up early today as I am about to drive to Manchester to attend the Conservative Spring Forum, so I broke the habit of a lifetime and switched on the Today Programme at 6.30am. About third in the headline running order was this grave item. Tory MEP Caroline Jackson has accused David Cameron of being all talk on the environment but no action. Typically, the Today Programme omitted to share with its listeners the fact that her husband, former MP Robert Jackson, defected to New Labour 18 months ago. I wonder if the leader of the Tory MEPs Tim Kirkhope will now discipline Jackson in the same way he dealt with Roger Helmer. I doubt it, but one can only hope. Caroline Jackson knows her days in the Tory Group are numbered, as she has already made clear she intends to stay in the EPP if the Tories leave. Oh happy days.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Tory MEP Must be Disciplined
I got up early today as I am about to drive to Manchester to attend the Conservative Spring Forum, so I broke the habit of a lifetime and switched on the Today Programme at 6.30am. About third in the headline running order was this grave item. Tory MEP Caroline Jackson has accused David Cameron of being all talk on the environment but no action. Typically, the Today Programme omitted to share with its listeners the fact that her husband, former MP Robert Jackson, defected to New Labour 18 months ago. I wonder if the leader of the Tory MEPs Tim Kirkhope will now discipline Jackson in the same way he dealt with Roger Helmer. I doubt it, but one can only hope. Caroline Jackson knows her days in the Tory Group are numbered, as she has already made clear she intends to stay in the EPP if the Tories leave. Oh happy days.
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9 comments:
We need to spring clean the MEPs, so that they share the range of opinions that actual party members have.
This criticism is also far worse than attacks from the right, which may even strengthen Mr Cameron. It totally undermines his attempts to change the party's image, something that all of us agree is needed.
Good bye Caroline Jackson. You shall not be missed!
As a Labour Party member I hope she is disciplined as it will make this a bigger story and possibly cause her to leave, so hammering another nail into new boy Cameron's already impressive coffin.
Good grief. What a vile so-and-so... There is no current basis for this at all!
What habit of a lifetime did you break? Listening to the today programme?
Are you sure you're a 'new' Tory?You seem awfully keen to condemn people because of the actions of their spouses; first Tessa Jowell and now Dr Jackson. Or is it just the ladies? Should the little women perhaps just follow their husbands' views and have none of their own?
Dr Jackson seems to me to be spot on re Dave's environmental credentials. Having a bicycle or an expensive windmill on ones roof , both of which will have released loads of CO2 during their construction and delivery, is unlikely to save humankind......
Excuse me Iain but why is it relevant in a report about Caroline Jackson to mention that her husband is a New Labour supporter? Do broadcasters normally make a habit of mentioning the political persuasions of their partners when covering news stories about politicians?
Iain, making enemies of its friends and even commited members, supporters and activists is exactly what has made the Conservative party what it is today. The venom and bile that you heap on each other is the cause of your problems. I know several Conservative activists and even MEPs, and even though I am a Lib Dem, we engage in civilised and rational debate. The fact that you guys can not do this amongst yourselves never looks nice. As for the EPP thing, treating those who oppose leaving the EPP as anti Conservative heretics who should probably be taken to the market place and burned is only going to make things worse. if I was a Tory MEP I would find the way I was treated by my own party pretty sickening to be honest...
As a lobbyist who spends a little of my time in Brussels, I can tell you that she will not be the only one who rebels if Cameron follows the kamikaze policy of leaving the EPP. There are at least a dozen MEPS (some very senior) who will tell Dave to get stuffed because 1) they refuse to join some crackpot right wing grouping 2) No other centre-right party will join them in setting up a new grouping 3) They don't want to lose their infuence on Committees and in parliament simply because Dave didn't have a clue what he was talking about when he mouthed off about the EPP.
This one will run and run and while Dave will see what he thinks of as positive EU-bashing headlines, his standing in the party will be damaged. Don't forget MEPs have a lot of time on their hands and can ferment to their heart's content.....
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