Your questions for Francis Maude
Peter Hoskin 6:35pm
It's been a few days now since we asked CoffeeHousers to put forward their questions for Francis Maude. We've since picked out the best five, which have now been put to the Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office. He'll get back to us at the start of next week.
Here are the questions:
David Lindsay
Why did you sign the Maastricht Treaty?
Gawain
As Coffee House has highlighted, Brown is winning the propoganda war with a stream of dodgy statistics, particularly his debt figures and dubious economics. He is getting away with blue murder (pun intended). Is there anything the opposition can do to use Parliament to expose this and to hold the ONS and Brown to account? If Parliament is no protection for the taxpayer and cannot uphold honesty in public life what is the point of it?
Melissa Forward
It is well known that you and Douglas Hurd signed the Maastricht Treaty on behalf of the UK. How would you vote in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty that your leader has promised (subject to caveats) - for or against?
Sue Denim
The Tories are ignoring their base to chase the votes of the soft centre-left. Discuss.
James
If Labour manage to win the next general election, where do you think the blame will lie?
DM Again
Do you accept the BBC is institutionally biased against the Tories?
Previous
Frank P
November 14th, 2008 7:19pm Report this commentWhat are you and your party going to do to reverse The Long March Through The Institutions, prescribed by Anthony Gramsci and others of his ilk, which is still proceeding apace?
Hysteria
November 14th, 2008 7:34pm Report this commentPity the "pick four" approach did not gain favour.
You have selected two around Maastricht. And Gawain's question is actually an assertion followed by two questions - the second of which is not adddressed in the opening assertion and so is a non-sequiter.
Many in the original post were on the theme of effective political opposition - where is that reflected in the questions you have selected?
I reckon you could (and should) have been a lot tougher.
nev parker
November 15th, 2008 7:02am Report this commentThis is from Australia and I'm sorry but I've never heard of Francis Maude but if that's her photo -- well I respect your choice, maybe a wig might help -- just goes to show how far from what's happening we are -- I didn't even know we were at war with Maastrictia
Rhoda Klapp
November 15th, 2008 8:59am Report this commentIn what universe is Maastrict a current issue? Tory World?
Tiberius
November 15th, 2008 10:46am Report this commentQuestions 4 and 5 are part of a circular narrative, which he can't allow himself to give an honest answer to.
Take a look at the BBC website's report today of Osborne "holding the Government to account" (one of his supposed failings) over the exchange rate. It simply can't help dragging the discussion down to a personal level, despite the country's "share value" plummeting thanks to the Kirkcaldy Kipper's economic vandalism.
We have to hope the electorate can finally judge these things for themselves.
Ruairi
November 15th, 2008 2:46pm Report this commentEh - correct me if I'm wrong gentlemen - but you promised to pick out the best "ten" questions for Mr Maude (11/11/08). This has now shrunk to 5...
There are a number of possible explanations...
1. Mr Maude only feels like answering 5
2. You decided that 10 questions would be an excessive demand on Mr Maude
3. You decided that there were only 5 "good" questions, and that the "coffee house" readers were incapable of providing ten.
Explanation please!
Regards
R
Frank P
November 15th, 2008 4:09pm Report this commentI don't suppose Mr Maude wants to spend too much time answering the questions of the hoi polloi; he may not have any answers to most of them and to fudge up some replies to the carefully selected ones will probably interrupt his social activities for far too long as it is.
I'm still waiting for an answer to my question to Dominic Grieve: what are you going to do about the GLPA and the NBPA. Since I asked it, the latter has contributed to the downfall of a Commissioner and cost the public a very tidy sum in compensation. The morale of the police plummets even further into the abyss. These token blog clinics are risible.
How about you Tory politicians refraining from asking us what you should do and providing some sanguine leadership in attacking this appalling Government. There are enough open goals to kick the ball through without asking us to swing your dainty little leg for you. Shape up man, for Gods's sake.
Gordon Musgo-soon
November 16th, 2008 11:54am Report this commentMy quandary is whether to write my response to his answers before I read them or wait until after. I'm pretty sure I'll be writing the same stuff no matter which.
Hands up all those who think we'll be getting sensible answers as opposed to the grievous claptrap we got last time we tried this.
Back to top