And another thing…

I am a Eurosceptic and Tebbit does not speak for me!

Disingenuous! er..as usual

He did not say that one should’t vote for his party; he said that one should not vote for the major parties.

That is a significant difference. What you then read into the comment is one thing; but you could at least have the honesty to correctly analyse what someone has said and then address the issue rather than twisting his words to fit your preconceived conclusion.

Cameron out. Simple as. My heart is UKIP in Europe and Tory at home. what do I do? Tebbit being thrown out for hinting Cameron’s wrong? that’s a disgrace – Lord Tebbit is one of the best Conservatives for years, and Cameron is far from it.

Tom, I was wondering. How do you feel about your parties extremist alliances in the EP with terrorists, 9/11 deniers and militant Troskyites? Serious question.

Who does Gordon Brown speak for?

No-one. McCavity’s gone to ground again.

I’m sure that there are many socialists within the Labour Party who mourn the passing of clause 4. So what? Can a political party not contain members with differing views? I think it is healthy to have a proper debate instead of the meek toeing of the ‘party line’ we are served up these days. Politics has become a game show soundbite of insipid point scoring these days it seems and I award you nil points (a la Eurovision).

Well, ok, in fairness Tebbit isn’t particularly healthy…but that’s another thing altogether!

On the bright the Lib Dems have gained 4 points. Only another 20 to go!!!

Lord Tebbit served his party and his country well in the past, but asking voters not to vote for the Conservatives (for that would be the outcome should one ‘not vote for the major parties’) would seem to be a straightforward act of betrayal. I can’t see how Cameron has any option other than to discipline him.

I’m euro-sceptic, tory and want to remain in the EU! All 3 positions are entirely reconcilable, i want to the UK to remain as a central player in the EU but reform it in a way more attune to what the people want from it as an institution. This is entirely in line with both front bench policy and the members opinions.

Tom, you have absolutely no idea what the Tory grass roots think. There are a minority who agree with Tebbit but the vast majority, no matter what their opinion would advocate sacking him for advocating voting for another party. His method is not the way to change a policy you agree with.

“It says a lot about the Tories that one of their elder statesmen”

It shows they have moved on and rightly so. He is a dinosaur that doesn’t reflect the Tories at all. He’s always been a anti jonny foriegner and Cameron is best shot of him.

This column is really bad by your normal standards Tom however as we are talking about Europe (in a way) lets start talking about the Lisborn Treaty. Another Labour own goal.

@ Jack Clayton – “Can a political party not contain members with differing views?”

It’s perfectly acceptable in most parties to hold a dissenting view but that’s a world away from telling people to vote for another party.

Personally I’d like to get out of Europe but I’d rather have a Conservative Government even if it means staying in.

Oh dear. Tom Harris you really dont do the nasty little shit stirrer role very well.

Now granted it will be interesting to see what Storming Norman will do now he’s be given a Yellow Card by his leader. I presume he will calm down and go back to feasting on raw socialist.

And whilst many of we right of centre bunnies were a tad discontent this morning we are now content little bunnies again because we know we have a leader who is decisive listens to the British people and acts. No more flipping, no more CGT avoidance, no more food allowances, no more glittery toilet seats, no more claiming maintenance or repairs for that boiler that was too hot. No our leader has given the offenders a right caning and a warning that if they do not toe the line they are gone.

So there won’t be any dividing us today.

By the way where’s Gordon? Oh yes he was talking about Crime today? Did he take Smith and Blears and McNulty and Moran and Cohen and Vaz and Follett and Ussher and all the rest with him. I count 20 plus so far. Perhaps they could have talked about serial offending, recidivism and rehabilitation?

Shame we have not heard a dickie bird about expenses from your National Leader. Oh of course you got that e-mail telling you that you were all alright and there was nothing to pay back. Thats OK then

NOT!

How is it when your leader has two choices he always chooses the wrong one?

So can I suggest people like your good self when in glass houses where all the glass has already been smashed keep very quiet and duck coz we’re throwing all the stones back where they belong!

PS I was impressed with the Labour People going round the TV Stations – Mann and Ffoulkes – what delightful examples of true Labour refinement they are. The class bigot and the bully (fancy picking on girls – three times he did in an hour!).You must be so proud!

Lord Tebbit has been a consistent opponent of the full frontal Euro embrace for years.

His view are not a surprise. His call to ignore the major parties, however, represents a distinct hardening.

As far as I’m concerned, the mystical, political and soul-melding properties of the EU, so often promoted by its supporters, are poppycock of the highest order.

Trade with Europe, love of Europe, does not require political control by Europe. (Just over seventy per cent of our legislation at the moment.)

Let’s derail the Bisto express to the happy troughing grounds of Brussels.
Let’s simply have the European Trade Group we all voted for.

Our MPs may well be snouters to a man or woman.

But they’re our snouters.

@Matt

“My heart is UKIP in Europe and Tory at home. what do I do?”

I don’t normally vote for a party as ‘mainstream’ as UKIP, but I am thinking of voting for them this time, as getting out the EU is so vital for our freedom.

Of course, other parties are also for us withdrawing, like the BNP, but Tom might not approve this comment if I say so.

Anyway, today my lifelong loathing of Norman Tebbit has come to an end. What a guy! Makes you proud to be British.

Norman Tebbit hasn’t spoken for the Conservative Party for 20 years…

To be honest Europe isn’t really the big issue that it was in Thatcher or Major’s day. Most Conservatives are pretty eurosceptic, but not better off outers, and the few of us who are pro-EU recognise that it has faults and that it is not worth fighting to the death for. Frankly there are just bigger fish to fry nowadays…

Say’s nothing, other than DC’s tories have left dinasour Tebbit behind

Disengenious mince from you Tom – what would you be blogging had auld Norman given a warm endorsermnt of NuTories?

Does Tebbit speak for Tory members?

No.

@Richard

Yes, you’re right – I articulated my point poorly.

My point to Tom is that one comment by a former minister does not mean that the rest of the party’s supporters agree with him.

Tom might as well argued that one speech by Tony Benn regarding clause 4 meant that the entire Labour Party were still in favour of nationalisation.

It is a poor example – because I can’t remember any recent speeches by Tony Benn – but the point is valid. A party is not a single person’s view.

By the way, apologies for mentioning Tony Benn (how Parliament could do with someone of his principles at the moment) and Norman Tebbit in the same sentence!

Tory, and Tory policy works for me. UKIP are not worthy of a vote – never mind that their policies are wrong.

Hmmm. And of course, the Labour whip doesn’t give a damn which way you guys … swing?

Don’t think so, Tom. How would Brown react if, say, Tony Benn told the people NOT to vote Labour?

“I think it is healthy to have a proper debate instead of the meek toeing of the ‘party line’ we are served up these days. Politics has become a game show soundbite of insipid point scoring these days”

Totally agree.

Who should previous Labour voters who don’t agree with ID cards, trident, Iraq,
and privatisation vote for?

@ Jack Clayton : “Tom might as well argued that one speech by Tony Benn regarding clause 4 meant that the entire Labour Party were still in favour of nationalisation.”

But they are, that’s the great big fat elephant in the room. Labour have been redistributing wealth like crazy (incompetently I might add) for years and the government is the UK’s largest employer by a factor of five. They’ve nationalised the whole country on the sly…

A tad disingenuous of you, Tom, to write: It says a lot that [he] should be threatened with expulsion from his party for telling voters not to vote for his party

Tebbit didn’t call upon voters to not vote Tory. He called upon them to not vote for any of the major parties.

And the warning from Cameron was slightly veiled:

“He’s treading a very careful path and I would warn him if he falls off that path he may find himself to be an independent.”

I love it! The political classes tearing themselves apart! I hope the electorate takes Tebbit’s advice.

He made these comments before Cameron acted.
Its of more concern to me on what Labour are going to do with its party and the Speaker.

Well done Norman, there are many people in the UK who want independence for the UK, if no mainstream party is willing to accept that aim, then no one should be surprised when people vote for smaller or extreme parties.

Tebbit is not speaking for me, happy to see him go.

There is nothing wrong with Norman tebbitt that retirement and a period of quiet contemplation will not cure.

He’s as relevant to the political scene today as Mrs Thatcher and Neil Kinnock are.

I am a Conservative party member and, for what it’s worth, he most certainly does not speak for me.

What Tebbit ignores is that in the county council elections, it’s not just some national opinion poll exercise, people will be stuck with these people for four years running authorities with budgets in the hundreds of millions. People should vote for councillors who they think are the right people for this task, or risk getting stuck with a “protest” candidate with far-reaching, quite possibly negative consequences for their local areas.

@ Mark Heenan – “What Tebbit ignores is that in the county council elections, it’s not just some national opinion poll exercise”

Actually he said that people should vote Conservative in the Council elections and spoil their ballots or vote for a minority party in the Euros.

@Richard

Have a look at his interview with Nick Robinson again, and you’ll find that’s not what he said.