Cameron must speak up on the Speaker
James Forsyth 10:11am
To date, David Cameron has played the expenses crisis skilfully. The polls show that the public have seen Cameron as being decisive and Brown as dithering. But this morning on the Today programme, Cameron tied himself in knots talking about the Speaker’s position. Cameron, obviously, doesn’t feel that it is constitutionally right for him to comment on the subject—but why then did he do the 8.10am interview when the future of the Speaker is Topic A? Cameron wouldn’t even back the compromise position of saying that the motion of no confidence in the Speaker needs to be debated.
The public are crying out for some straight talk from their politicians. They perceive the whole system as rotten. But with his fence-straddling on the Speaker, Cameron seems evasive and part of the Westminster club. By contrast, Nick Clegg—who has grown in stature these past few weeks—appears to be speaking for the country with his well-put call for the Speaker to go. If Cameron wants to continue to lead on this crisis, he is going to have to be prepared to give a lead on the Speaker.
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Vulture
May 19th, 2009 10:22am Report this commentQuite right, James, and well and courageously said - especially as you are a true believing Cameroon. This is the second time in a week or so that Cameron has been wrong-footed by Clegg ( the first time was on the Gurkhas) on a popular issue.
He is in dithering Dave mode, and it just won't work. If he is serious abt reform he should start by ridding us of Martin, and follow up with a no confidence vote in the Govt. This is smelling to an angry public as if Westminster is only interested in preserving itself against justified voter rage. The reckoning - when it comes - will be astronomic.
MattsDad
May 19th, 2009 10:25am Report this commentNick Clegg can call for the Speaker's resignation as much as he likes knowing he will not be the next Prime Minister.
I sympathise with DC. There is good reason why the parliamentary rules lack procedure for the removal of the Speaker. It would risk such calls at the whim of any Party or Member who takes a dislike to the encumbent.
Knowing the difficulties he has ahead of him in any event, I can see why DC would want to avoid setting such a precedent.
That said, were the present Speaker an honourable, honest and decent person, he would heed the calls to resign, having lost the respect of the House.
TBF
May 19th, 2009 10:26am Report this commentCameron should but he wont. They should get formally behind Carswell's motion, but they won't. I just found this from Archbishop Cranmer:
"And if the Early Day Motion never becomes a Substantive Motion, then Andrew Motion must pen an ode to the Brownian motion by which Parliament was reduced to a bowel motion."
I've suggested this before - I don't know why The Spectator doesn't give him a permanent platform.
Philip
May 19th, 2009 10:29am Report this commentIf the political class has lost control of the narrative perhaps there is little Cameron can do now but wait for the dust to settle, and then hazard a way through the wreckage.
Grim.
john miller
May 19th, 2009 10:33am Report this commentHmm. Dave Nice to Clegg's Mike Smash?
He needs to take advice from Harry Enfield, I think.
AK
May 19th, 2009 10:41am Report this commentCameron is mistaken to be worrying about constitutional convention when it comes to this Speaker. He was installed in breach of convention (should have been a non Labour MP), he has been partisan in the way in which he has conducted himself in the Commons and he has brought the Parliament into severe disrepute. If Cameron doesn't challenge him and withdraw Conservative support, he will be exposed as a prisoner of the system rather than a true reformer and will lose political credibility and votes.
John Rattray
May 19th, 2009 10:45am Report this commentAgreed. As I was listening to Cameron I thought "nothing's changed".
His interest in defending the convention appeared to be ahead of his interest in defending the country against the excesses of this Rotten Parliament. So I don't think he's really got it after all.
The ridiculous conventions of parliament need dragging into the 21st century. Get rid of all the silly wigs, tights, maces, ceremonies, etc and the officeholders thereof. All this "nod and a wink stuff" must go to give us lean, swift and efficient democratic representation. Oh and while we're at it: end the whip system.
Minnie Ovens
May 19th, 2009 11:08am Report this commentThank you for that, Mr Forsyth.
It is a time of crisis and the real Leaders must be seen to lead.
Cameron may well have been skilful and politically expedient but where is the moral leadership of a person outraged by the corruption, greed, cowardice and reprehensible clinging to power?
These are times when it is important to act skilfully and forcefully outside conventional parameters.
I have not seen that with Cameron.
Mark
May 19th, 2009 11:23am Report this commentAgree with MattsDad, Cameron played this as well as the probable future Prime Minister. This was a backbench work of art, Clegg jumped on later.
Can't help thinking Cameron avoided one of Brown's clumsy traps into the bargain.
Simon Denis
May 19th, 2009 12:23pm Report this commentQuite so - Cameron has stood back from a rather nasty fray. Martin will excite pity very soon and the unhappy spectacle of his hounding will not endear the parties to the voters. After all, in the eyes of Joe Public, the Speaker is but one of a very dubious crew. The cartoon in today's "Times" puts it very well. Cameron has acted with the quality of mercy.
NickL
May 19th, 2009 12:36pm Report this commentGiven that the Speaker is now in the process of resigning, could you James acknowledge that DC has played a blinder here too: not only has he stuck to his principles about potential PMs not getting involved in defenestrating Speakers, but politically he cannot be accused by Labour of chopping down down mr Martin in an act of party (or class) politics, alongside the LibDems.
Tiberius
May 19th, 2009 12:58pm Report this commentI agree with MattsDad and Mark.
Martin is now going without the likely next PM having to demean himself by breaking long-established protocol.
New Labour have done enough damage by indulging in such behaviour, but I doubt this will stop Cameron's critics from keeping on about how he's Blair Mk II.
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