tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316904890367789805.post3271155629520049795..comments2023-11-05T07:18:30.231+00:00Comments on Hug A Hoodie: Richard Porter: “Why I defected to the Tories”Jonny Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07414994559548890103noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316904890367789805.post-12529869767896289372007-04-19T23:24:00.000+01:002007-04-19T23:24:00.000+01:00I'm a former ward colleague, the Southwark group w...I'm a former ward colleague, the Southwark group was not surprised at RP's decision to join the Tories. He seemed to have left us long before, then suddenly resigned his executive post. I'm not surprised that JW refutes his claim to have 'written the mini manifesto' RP's claims were manifold, and knowing RP as I did, I am bound to support JW's claim!<BR/>Good luck to the Tories - I'm sure they'll see right through him.<BR/>Anomymous - what are you implying?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316904890367789805.post-43059241674507538222007-04-09T18:04:00.000+01:002007-04-09T18:04:00.000+01:00Off topic Jonny, but I've tagged you. I'm required...Off topic Jonny, but I've tagged you. I'm required to tell you, for some reason.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316904890367789805.post-979185468756431852007-04-08T22:20:00.000+01:002007-04-08T22:20:00.000+01:00I have to agree with Leo here.It is tempting to im...I have to agree with Leo here.<BR/><BR/>It is tempting to imagine that politics is all about principle and policies, but (shock horror) real politicians are not in general all above selling out for personal advantage.<BR/><BR/>Only Porter will know the real answer but Leo's suggestion cannot be ruled out.<BR/><BR/>In fairness, there is a lot to be said for leaping on board when you spot a likely winning team. If you have talent and ambition, why waste it in the wilderness?<BR/><BR/>You have talent Jonny. If you are a Lib Dem because you believe in the principles and philosophies, and want your two penn'th from the sidelines than that's fine. But if you ever get serious about politics as a career you would do better to follow Porter and co to the Tories. Whether you like their policies, principles, Cameron as an individual, believe in their reborn compassionate toryism ... or not ... they are far more likely to form the next Government than the Lid Dems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316904890367789805.post-51187779989566062842007-04-08T01:23:00.000+01:002007-04-08T01:23:00.000+01:00It seems to me that the likeliest reason for Mr Po...It seems to me that the likeliest reason for Mr Porter's sudden defection may lie in his career prospects, rather than a sudden change of philosophical tack.<BR/><BR/>The reason MPs such as David Laws and Nick Clegg will probably never defect to the Conservatives is simply that they're successful enough already, and Then decided to become an MP. Mr Porter is only a PPC and also somewhat younger. <BR/><BR/>Now that it would no longer seem that the Conservative party is quite so homophobic as it perhaps once was, it is now not hypocritical for Mr Porter to join them.<BR/><BR/>I suspect that his recent comments have been more aimed at pleasing his new Tory masters than letting the public know the horrible truth about Ming the Merciless.<BR/><BR/>Ultimately, it's people like PPCs who are most susceptible to the Cameronian siren-song, and i anticipate that we may see a fair few Labour, as well as Lib Dem, PPCs defect to the Tories. It's one of the inevitable downsides of looking like you're going to get elected.<BR/><BR/>If there's any silver lining to the proverbial cloud of being the 3rd party in a two-party system, it's that we're never going to find ruthless careerists too much of a problem. Unless something disastrous happens like we get elected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316904890367789805.post-30480953079279143342007-04-07T22:16:00.000+01:002007-04-07T22:16:00.000+01:00To be fair to RP, there are all sorts of other way...To be fair to RP, there are all sorts of other ways in which you can addle your brain. Perhaps that's the explanation for his change of views?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316904890367789805.post-74702698662697155642007-04-07T20:09:00.001+01:002007-04-07T20:09:00.001+01:00Let's stop repeating the claim, made by the Tories...Let's stop repeating the claim, made by the Tories, that Richard Porter wrote the Lib Dems' LGBT mini-manifesto. He didn't. If anyone wrote it, it was me in the days when I worked in the Policy Unit. It pulled together all our LGBT policy and I do admit that Richard was consulted on the drafts. But to say he wrote it is a load of XXXX.<BR/><BR/>As I have said before, I am disappointed that Richard has gone off to the Conservatives. All I would say is that given the current voting record of the Conservatives in Parliament, especially in the Lords (but also recently in the Commons on recent regulations to end discrimination in the provision of goods and services to same sex couples) Richard really does have to ask himself if he can feel comfortable with jumping into bed with a bunch of homophobes who frankly have not changes their spots.<BR/><BR/>To use a one night stand comparison - you have a little bit too much to drink, you think the guy you've just met is great, you go back to his place and in the morning you wake up and think, what the hell am I doing here? Maybe Richard's morning alarm call has not yet arrived.......Jonathan Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com