tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post113804233728935582..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Is This Man David Cameron's First LibDem Defector?Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138579518225316302006-01-30T00:05:00.000+00:002006-01-30T00:05:00.000+00:00I don't understand the logic of those expecting La...I don't understand the logic of those expecting Laws to defect. All this years he has been one of the few economically liberal Lib Dems, supporting for instance private health care in his chapter of the Orange Book, and now, when Cameron has rejected economical liberalism and private health care, you expect him to defect to the Tories? I doubt, that Camerons new policies tempt him, but you could try social conservatives from the Left wing of the Lib Dems, such as Colin Breed, Steve Webb and John Pugh. They could find the new policies of the Tories appealing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138199076185631192006-01-25T14:24:00.000+00:002006-01-25T14:24:00.000+00:00Anonymous, I am so sorry to disappoint you, but I ...Anonymous, I am so sorry to disappoint you, but I announced some time ago that I would not re-contest the North Norfolk seat. Bet you're gutted.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138198801598062672006-01-25T14:20:00.000+00:002006-01-25T14:20:00.000+00:00Anthony - I am all for parliamentary democracy, an...Anthony - I am all for parliamentary democracy, and I do indeed applaud Mr. Dale for standing. And I look forward to him standing again in Norfolk North, where no doubt incumbent MP Norman Lamb, who would also never defect to the Tories, will no doubt score another resounding win.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138197025592499302006-01-25T13:50:00.000+00:002006-01-25T13:50:00.000+00:00I am quite sure he is no Tory, I believe the man h...I am quite sure he is no Tory, I believe the man himself has dismissed the rumour with a resounding no.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138196094915882572006-01-25T13:34:00.000+00:002006-01-25T13:34:00.000+00:00Anonymous, If you read the headline, I asked a que...Anonymous, If you read the headline, I asked a question.Your answer is no. Mine is, I don't know but from all accounts it's possible. People in his constituency certainly think so.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138195807881957742006-01-25T13:30:00.000+00:002006-01-25T13:30:00.000+00:00Laws is not about to defect - he is a Liberal not ...Laws is not about to defect - he is a Liberal not just for the reasons listed. Where does Dale get this false 'insider' knowledge??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138121657605757642006-01-24T16:54:00.000+00:002006-01-24T16:54:00.000+00:00anonymous... that's a bit harsh. At least he submi...anonymous... that's a bit harsh. At least he submitted himself for election, something which should be applauded!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138096275773135612006-01-24T09:51:00.000+00:002006-01-24T09:51:00.000+00:00er, no. about as likely as Iain Dale getting elect...er, no. about as likely as Iain Dale getting elected (enjoy your drubbing in May last year??) and Iain's suggestion that the tories now have social justice at the forefront of policy? still waiting for those policy details...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138078866456972462006-01-24T05:01:00.000+00:002006-01-24T05:01:00.000+00:00Well the problem with this is that in order for hi...Well the problem with this is that in order for him to jump ship he'll have to be offered something and once you start that game it can all get messy very quickly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138075513975280652006-01-24T04:05:00.000+00:002006-01-24T04:05:00.000+00:00I wouldn't mind Laws coming over. He is one of the...I wouldn't mind Laws coming over. He is one of the few Lib Dems that I actually rate. He is also very talented.<BR/><BR/>I hope the Iain Dale curse doesn't beset him as it did Oaten and we don't read about him eating ****Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138063913652649082006-01-24T00:51:00.000+00:002006-01-24T00:51:00.000+00:00I don't think so... if he were to change parties, ...I don't think so... if he were to change parties, I'm not totally convinced the Yeovil Tories would welcome him with open arms and there are plenty of other LibDems who would happily take over this constituency.<BR/><BR/>Moreover, Laws remains close to a lot of the party hierarchy - Paddy Ashdown inter alia - and, I think, has spent too much time building himself up as a LibDem in Yeovil.<BR/><BR/>Although you never know... after all 'Somerset born and Somerset bred, strong in the arm and thick in the head'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138061865523677812006-01-24T00:17:00.000+00:002006-01-24T00:17:00.000+00:00Typical outrageous, ridiculous Dale fantasy, never...Typical outrageous, ridiculous Dale fantasy, never going to happen :p.Tory Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344290171496651426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138050814283291802006-01-23T21:13:00.000+00:002006-01-23T21:13:00.000+00:00Its probable that he will defect to the Tories bef...Its probable that he will defect to the Tories before May - from what I know of his politics he's a Tory anyway, e.g. his Orange Book section on social insurance instead of the NHS. However, he'll be looking for a good deal since he is in Yeovil, which is Ashdown's old seat and pretty safe Lib Dem. I'd do a deal based more on the safeness of the seat than any Shadow Cabinet position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138048010946918102006-01-23T20:26:00.000+00:002006-01-23T20:26:00.000+00:00I do hope Mr Laws joins us, in that photo he looks...I do hope Mr Laws joins us, in that photo he looks even more dashing than I thought he was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138045353584670102006-01-23T19:42:00.000+00:002006-01-23T19:42:00.000+00:00I'm not going to go off on one Iain, other than to...I'm not going to go off on one Iain, other than to say I think you're barking up the wrong tree. If he was seriously considering his position in the party, why would he be one of the most prominent advocates of Ming Campbell; the man who is shortly to become the party leader?Paul Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03941688096751778537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1138043415298929342006-01-23T19:10:00.000+00:002006-01-23T19:10:00.000+00:00Let the man speak for himself:-http://www.guardian...Let the man speak for himself:-<BR/><BR/>http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1682174,00.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com