Howard Flight, the former MP who was 'sacked' by Michael Howard, has given an interview to a Sussex newspaper in which he makes clear he expects to be on the A List of Tory candidates. He told the Brighton Argus: "I intend to return to Westminster." He said it was unlikely he would contest a Sussex seat "largely because that's a closed chapter" and ruled out a return to Arundel because "it won't be vacant". Mr Flight denied the episode had left him bitter. He said: "Both sides agreed it was a good idea to bury the hatchet. I remained a loyal and committed Conservative throughout and I have had a very friendly meeting with David Cameron." Mr Flight said his comments in March 2005 about a "continuing agenda" of savings had been misrepresented. My view? He was treated disgracefully and fair play should be the determining factor here. Forget anything else. But what do you think?Saturday, April 22, 2006
Howard Flight to be on the 'A' List?
Howard Flight, the former MP who was 'sacked' by Michael Howard, has given an interview to a Sussex newspaper in which he makes clear he expects to be on the A List of Tory candidates. He told the Brighton Argus: "I intend to return to Westminster." He said it was unlikely he would contest a Sussex seat "largely because that's a closed chapter" and ruled out a return to Arundel because "it won't be vacant". Mr Flight denied the episode had left him bitter. He said: "Both sides agreed it was a good idea to bury the hatchet. I remained a loyal and committed Conservative throughout and I have had a very friendly meeting with David Cameron." Mr Flight said his comments in March 2005 about a "continuing agenda" of savings had been misrepresented. My view? He was treated disgracefully and fair play should be the determining factor here. Forget anything else. But what do you think?
Rightly or wrongly, what happened happened. Raking over old ground isn't going to help the party, and I can't see that Howard Flight has anything to offer that makes him prime A-list material.
ReplyDeleteAn absolutely splendid chap, and thoroughly sound. I would be delighted to see someone of his calibre on the front bench of a Cameron administration.
ReplyDeleteNot being a tory I can't comment on wether he is A list but I did think he was treated disgracefully. I can't help wonder wether he would have won as an independent on a "bugger the lot of them" ticket had he stood. At the end of the day he was making conservative remarks to a private function and if you get summarily dismissed by high command for that then we really are in a presidential system.
ReplyDeleteOh please tell me this isn't true. The man is a proven liability, with little to offer in terms of political talent, who has shown that he cannot be trusted. Alastair Campbell must be rubbing his hands with glee.
ReplyDeleteFlight behaved as a self opinionated undisiplined fool, the sort of person in style and attitude that has done so much harm to the party. He couldn't even shut up when sacked and show some disinterested loyalty. He clearly thought he was bigger than the party and that he could act the careless, cocky clown and we would still win.
ReplyDeleteHe should find another flight path.
Howard Flight suffers from foot-in-mouth disease.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cronic condition that is currently underepresented in our party. We only have John Bercow.
Of course he should be on the list !
The man is pathetic, he was completely off-message during an election campaign.
ReplyDeleteIf you go off message you have no way of controlling the agenda. His little outburst destroyed the parties chances.
He has nothing to offer the party as an MP and clearly has no political instincts.
I cannot think of one single reason for allowing him back on the list.
When I first heard of the bloke (shooting his mouth off , to a hostile press that would LOVE to misinterpret,in the midst of an election), I asked myself 'who is this guy?' An unknown that becomes known only when he causes damage. Keep him far away from the A list.
ReplyDeleteNo he shouldn't - he's of the past. Sorry and all that - but he's had his day. Someone else more representative of normal people should have his place on any list.
ReplyDeleteMy impression of Flight is that he is a braying city big-shot with red braces and a pinstripe suit. But I admit I really don't know.
ReplyDeleteIf he is anything like my impression, then he is a liability to a party that wants to change its image.
I am aghast. The other two victims of Michael Howard's irrationalism (Adrian Hilton and Danny Kruger) are far more deserving of A-list compensation.
ReplyDeleteHoward Flight put his feet in it on the eve of a General Election, despite warnings, and then ranted disloyally throughout.
A-list material? No. No. No.