An decision for unfortunate reasons.
I think I will be voting for Clegg, not because of anything he’s done, but because of the behaviour of many Huhne supporters and the Huhne campaign in general.
This is unfortunate, but I don’t think that the message I’ve got from the Huhne camp is going to be conducive to a party which can most fully utilise all the talents we possess and I don’t think it will be open to debate. Nick Clegg has manage to unify the so-called wings of the party, he does not seem to be ideologically opposed to any part of liberalism.
I think what has happened is that Huhne has appealed to a certain sector of the party, the section which I’ve always had problems with, those who made a big thing about the Orange Book and the ‘evils’ of economic liberalism, although they don’t seem to understand the ideas.
There are some Huhne supporters who I have a great deal of respect for, and I hope that their support means that my fears will not be realised if Huhne becomes leader, but the behaviour and the campaign I’ve seen in the last few weeks doesn’t leave me with much hope.
Its a shame, I really wanted to support a candidate for positive reasons, but right now the feeling is that my vote must go against a candidate, not for one. At least Huhne’s election would not be a resigning issue for me, I would definitely give him a chance as leader, but I don’t want to chance it if possible.
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November 16th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
See - I kind of agree with you that Chris has played to a certain audience, one that perhaps might have been on Simon Hughes’s side last time, and that has disappointed me a little. Because if anyone in the party’s higher understands the potential of the old early 20th century liberal political economy it’s Chris, and, as I’ll finish in a blog post this evening, I think that’s what has the potential to propel us into power. So, despite some issues I have with the way he’s played it, it’s still going to be Chris for me.
November 16th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Here here! Are you Jock Gallagher by the way?!
November 16th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Well, as someone who was a Hughes supporter last time I fail to see what Chris has said to play to me! And I do share Tristan’s concern (crikey Tristan we must stop agreeing like this!) that the message from the Huhne camp is not going to be conducive to utilising all the talents -I just don’t think he is a team player sort of guy and his campaign up til now has had a streak of divisiveness as opposed to a feeling of seeking unity. I personally really worry about how he will rebuild trust and support if he does get elected. On economic liberalism and the Orange Book - that is a subject for another day!
November 16th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Nick is not ready for our top position……yet. I watched QT last night & went to a Hustings this week. Nick has been built up as the ‘heir’ by some in the Party - but Chris is more up to the job - it was just plain to see last night by a mile. Nick was floored by some of the questions he doesnt appear to have the ‘politcal weight’ that Chris has & is required.
As I have said elsewhere, Chris now - Nick in ten years.