Amused over John's quotes
I'M always amused when socialists like John Appleyard try to embarrass me by quoting Tory ultras like Ann Widdecombe at me. A bit like me trying to embarrass him by quoting Nye Bevan.
I can understand why John is sensitive about the 1970s, but every Labour government since 1945 has ended in a disastrous economic shambles, it's just that 1979 was the worst. Well, at least until now!
What a pity the Lord Ashcroft nonsense was cleared up by the Electoral Commission before John could pose the standard Labour party smear question.
But, just one point. Lord Ashcroft renegotiated his terms of admission to the House of Lords with the Cabinet Office on 2000.
Now, you can't get much closer to the Prime Minister than that, unless you are sitting on his knee, so, why were these questions about Lord Ashcroft's tax position being flung about when the answer was already there.
Unless, of course, the Cabinet Office doesn't talk to ministers, or the Prime Minister. With the sort of mess we are in today, who would be surprised by that?
As for my opinions as a life-long Tory, John knows very well I have never been afraid to voice my differences about Tory policies, and individuals, in these columns.
And John also knows, as a die-hard Labourite, that it is possible to be critical of your party and still support them, because whatever differences one might have, we are always held together by those principles that unite us. It's called democracy!
For the record, having been involved over the years in the selection of hundreds of Tory candidates, I have never been happy with candidates being parachuted into a constituency. But it's nothing new! To be fair, most of them have turned into good local MPs, and I've seen Tory associations make an absolute pig's-ear of a totally local selection.
There are no easy methods of selecting candidates.
But, I'd be interested in John's take on the latest Hatty Harman farce, where this doyenne of feminism and all-women shortlists, was prepared to go against her principles so that her trade unionist hubby could get a Labour safe Parliamentary seat.
Don't try and embarrass a life-long Tory John, I've seen too much of your lot over the years, for that to wash. All political parties have got skeletons where they could, and should, have done things differently, but that's all part of being human, and not controlled by regulations.
Not that Gordon Brown's style of government would accept that. As we will find out if he wins the general election.
ALAN CARCAS
Cornmill Lane
LIVERSEDGE
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Saturday 04 February 2012
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