What a way to start
James Forsyth 6:59pm
It seems that Dominic Grieve has, as he did with grammar schools, forced a re-write of Tory policy. Last night, the Tory position was that they would almost certainly repeal the 42 days legislation but not that they would repeal it. That was still the position when David Cameron spoke to the press to announce that Grieve was the new shadow Home Secretary. But then in his first interview, the new man announced the Tories would definitely repeal it. There was no caveat about this being dependent on it being passed in its current form, no new evidence emerging or anything else. Just a definite commitment.
There are three possible explanations for this. One is that Grieve slipped up. After all, it is an awfully big leap from being shadow Attorney General to shadow Home Secretary. The second is that Grieve, a lawyer who in his maiden speech supported incorporating the European convention on human rights into English law, unilaterally shifted the policy, upsetting the rather delicate balance that had been reached. The third is that the Tory leadership has now decided to move to a new position. From what I’m hearing, the last is the least plausible option.
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PAM
June 12th, 2008 7:15pm Report this commentI THOUGHT IT WAS CAMERON'S POLICY TO SCRAP THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT. THE TORIES ARE NOW IN TOTAL DISARRAY.
Prodicus
June 12th, 2008 7:44pm Report this commentGrieve is said to be extremely close to Davis and Davis's preferred successor as Home Sec. There is nothing they disagree about, or so it's said. Grieve has endorsed Davis's parting shot wothout blinking. I can't believe Cameron has not known about and endoresed this. Nine tenths of this very surprising iceberg has yet to reveal itself, I think.
Drew
June 12th, 2008 7:55pm Report this commentIt is said, how accurately one couldn't judge, that Grieve only ever opens his mouth to change feet.
Quite where his superstar-political-colossus-in-waiting status has come from is unclear.
Chaz
June 12th, 2008 8:04pm Report this commentGrieve slipped up.
It's was clear when I watched the interview, body language, face, everything.
JimBob
June 12th, 2008 8:09pm Report this commenthe does have the 'upper class twit' look about him, so I vote for option 1
Nicholas
June 12th, 2008 9:14pm Report this comment"THE TORIES ARE NOW IN TOTAL DISARRAY"
Yes, the precise words we have heard from several Labour and pro-Labour mouths today. Labour blogging central must be out in force with the spin for today script. Running scared of truth and justice - as usual.
Wait and see. Brown and Labour do disarray better than anyone else.
Not a Grieve supporter
June 12th, 2008 9:24pm Report this commentHas David Cameron lost his mind? Dominic Grieve? Another White, middle aged, elitest, man in the shadow cabinet, GREAT NOT!
Kirsty
June 12th, 2008 9:25pm Report this commentDominic Grieve is a disastrous choice. He has not got a profile with the public, he seems a bit of a geek and I do not think he is the right person to take on Jacqui Smith.
NOT HAPPY!
June 12th, 2008 9:26pm Report this commentGrieve just represents the stereo-typical Tory!
Tina
June 12th, 2008 9:27pm Report this commentDominic Grieve is a rubbish choice for home sec. He does not resonate with the public and has a very strange voice.
Tiberius
June 12th, 2008 9:45pm Report this commentIt's the Tory version of the Brown/Wee Wendy show about the referendum.
I'd say a case of mouth engaging before brain. Not helpful, but probably not fatal.
C Powell
June 12th, 2008 10:13pm Report this commentOn Channel 4 news this evening when asked this very question he said that there was no evidence to support the 42-day proposal. So not a definite commitment; rather a weaselly, lawyerly wording which gives them the wiggle room to justify not repealing this in future. With Davis's departure I rather fear that the Tories' opposition to other similar measures (ID cards etc) may weaken.
JALondon
June 12th, 2008 10:27pm Report this commentLabour are clearly frit.
Brown very carefully explaining that he talked to the DUP members on Friday night [lick lips anxiously] so he's obviously worried someone else is on to him.
And what did he promise the Northern Irish, I wonder? Free water at our expense?
CS
June 13th, 2008 10:34am Report this comment***Has David Cameron lost his mind? Dominic Grieve? Another White, middle aged, elitest, man in the shadow cabinet, GREAT NOT!***
Yes, God forbid that we should have an elitist in the Shadow Cabinet. Try not to confuse a distrust of intellectuals with a distrust of intelligence.
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