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Monday, January 25, 2010
Interviewing David Owen
Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going to be interviewing David Owen for my next In Conversation interview for Total Politics.
Does Dr Owen think that his flip remark about plugging his wife into the mains if she had post-natal depression helped or hindered his political progress ?
Given the bias in the electoral system, why does not he come out and tell people to vote conservative. Can he really tolerate the possibility of the return of this labour govt.
‘Moffat faces deselection after police called to club rebellion’
East Lothian MP Anne Moffat is facing deselection by her local party after a rebellion which saw police called to Prestonpans Labour Club on Friday night.
Lothian and Borders Police confirmed officers had moved on 20 to 25 people from outside the club.
Inside, party members voted 25 to five to reopen the selection process to find a candidate for the general election.
Having said on oath at the Milosevic "trial" that Milosevic was actively not racist & bearing in mind that no actual evidence could be produced against him, does he think international law can be trusted by any nation if the NATO leaders, who supported a patently illegal war & subsequent ethnic cleansing, genocide & dissections of living people across Kosovo are not brought to trial?
"Your Wikipdia entry characterises you pejoratively as a serial resigner. Is that fair?"
"What are your core beliefs and how have you translated these into enduring commitments?"
"I assume you find the Brown regime and more generally the New Labour dream abhorrent. Given this will you be advising people to vote Conservative due to the high risk of a vote for the Libs may bring back Brown?"
"What personal plans do you have to help stop the march of European Federalism?"
Looking back does he wish he'd kept the SDP going, especially as UKIP have grown faster than other party and in real election results and are pushing the main parties strongly in local and by elections. As a member of Davids SDP I have since switched to UKIP and actually see it as the only party in touch with he british people on a range of issues not just the EU.
Given his study of hubris in political leaders, does he believe that hubris is inevitable in national leaders nowadays, and what might the Doctor provide as a remedy for (political) hubris?
Does he regret not joing the Conservatives?
ReplyDeleteDo you think there is any vesige of the Social Democrats, left in the Libdems. i.e. is the word left in the phrase Liberal Democrats redundant?
ReplyDeleteDoes Dr Owen think that his flip remark about plugging his wife into the mains if she had post-natal depression helped or hindered his political progress ?
ReplyDeleteAlan Douglas
How can it be consistent for him to believe in individual liberty and democracy but be a supporter of the European Union?
ReplyDeleteGiven the bias in the electoral system, why does not he come out and tell people to vote conservative. Can he really tolerate the possibility of the return of this labour govt.
ReplyDeleteOr is he still a labour socialist at heart.
‘Moffat faces deselection after police called to club rebellion’
ReplyDeleteEast Lothian MP Anne Moffat is facing deselection by her local party after a rebellion which saw police called to Prestonpans Labour Club on Friday night.
Lothian and Borders Police confirmed officers had moved on 20 to 25 people from outside the club.
Inside, party members voted 25 to five to reopen the selection process to find a candidate for the general election.
http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Moffat-faces-deselection-after-police.6010307.jp
Laugh a minute. I wonder if Iain Gray (MSP for East Lothian) was one of the 25?
Having said on oath at the Milosevic "trial" that Milosevic was actively not racist & bearing in mind that no actual evidence could be produced against him, does he think international law can be trusted by any nation if the NATO leaders, who supported a patently illegal war & subsequent ethnic cleansing, genocide & dissections of living people across Kosovo are not brought to trial?
ReplyDeleteIn 1986 I was 17 and joined the Liberals. Today I am a Lib Dem Cllr and have been for many years.
ReplyDeleteAt the time of the merger I was an admirer of David Owen and would most probably have voted for him as leader of the new merged party.
Why did he think the rump SDP could survive against another centre-left party that comprised Liberals and ex-SDP competing for the same ground?
"Your Wikipdia entry characterises you pejoratively as a serial resigner. Is that fair?"
ReplyDelete"What are your core beliefs and how have you translated these into enduring commitments?"
"I assume you find the Brown regime and more generally the New Labour dream abhorrent. Given this will you be advising people to vote Conservative due to the high risk of a vote for the Libs may bring back Brown?"
"What personal plans do you have to help stop the march of European Federalism?"
If he had a choice between labour and conservative, who would he vote for. Come on - get off the fence.
ReplyDeleteDid you rip off the taxpayer when claiming excessive allowances and expenses during your time in Bosnia?
ReplyDeleteViews on the English question. Barnett Formula, undemocratic balkanisation of England via the "English regions", English Parliament etc. Please.
ReplyDeleteReckon I know already but it would be good to get him on the record.
Looking back does he wish he'd kept the SDP going, especially as UKIP have grown faster than other party and in real election results and are pushing the main parties strongly in local and by elections. As a member of Davids SDP I have since switched to UKIP and actually see it as the only party in touch with he british people on a range of issues not just the EU.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the one his mother used to ask?
ReplyDeleteGiven his study of hubris in political leaders, does he believe that hubris is inevitable in national leaders nowadays, and what might the Doctor provide as a remedy for (political) hubris?
ReplyDelete"Do you think there is any vesige of the Social Democrats, left in the Libdems. i.e. is the word left in the phrase Liberal Democrats redundant?"
ReplyDelete"Ask him why the Lib Dems have made little or no progress since they were formed."
These two posts belong together.
The Liberals have been entirely taken over by the SocDems, which is why they are so irrelevant.
Alan Clark said of you [Owen] as PM, "we could do a lot worse"? Flattered or horrified?
ReplyDelete