Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging thinktanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", 2019 parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, "Speedboat", "The Cockroach", eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Two Tories Rule, OK?
Even not counting the Dimblebeys, there are always two Tories on Question Time or Any Questions?, but usually a politician and a commentator. This week, however, Question Time will feature not only William Hague, but also, in Sir Richard Dannatt, a man who has already accepted a Tory peerage and would be a Minister in a Cameron Government. When last did two parliamentarians, or even one parliamentarian and one PPC for a safe seat, appear together from the same party? And which party was it? I think we can all guess the answer to that one.
Are there really usually two Tories? I agree with you about this week's panel, but I'm struggling to remember a preponderance of people on the Right, and my impression is that the bias of the panels is usually rather to the Left.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the left-wingers are not usually conservative left-wingers, nor are the right-wingers usually conservative right-wingers. The real problem with Dannatt and Hague as a combination is that they are both potential ministers. Where are the Tory backwoodsmen and non-ministrables? If I were being picky about definitions I can't remember ever seeing a Tory on such a programme; Church and King seem not to be the core philosophy any more.
Wishful thinking apart, my opening question is not purely rhetorical; I'd genuinely like to see your political analysis of a few weeks' worth of panellists.