Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Farage v Bercow

Posted by Mehdi Hasan - 03 September 2009 12:34

What a shame they can't both lose

Ukip's Nigel Farage has announced that he will break with parliamentary convention to challenge the new Speaker, John Bercow, in his Buckingham constituency at the next election, because, he says:

. . . MPs "have broken the trust" of the British people and Mr Bercow "represents the worst" of the Commons.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

The contest will put Farage -- he of "£2m MEP expenses" fame -- against Bercow -- he of "£760 window-seat cushions" fame.

I pity the poor people of Buckingham and I can't help but be reminded of Henry Kissinger's dictum on the Iran-Iraq war: "What a shame they can't both lose."

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20 comments from readers

jonn elledge
03 September 2009 at 13:29

Given the death tolls, economic damage, etc, surely Iran and Iraq _did_ both lose by any reasonable definition...?

guido
03 September 2009 at 13:58

My understanding of democracy is that they can both lose to another third candidate.

You really are a sophisticated political analyst.

Nick
03 September 2009 at 14:42

Guido is right, I'm afraid!

Rags
03 September 2009 at 14:53

Lol@Guido!

zachary albion
03 September 2009 at 15:08

Yawn.

goose
03 September 2009 at 16:47

They can both lose.

In fact as they will be going for the same type of voters you can argue that by both standing it's more likley they both lose. They could split the vote, leaving a third candidate to win.

What's your job title again?

Mehdi Hasan
03 September 2009 at 17:50

Let me ask "Guido", "Goose" and "Nick": which third candidate are you referring to? If neither Labour nor the Lib Dems put up a candidate, which they won't, and if there is no independent Rantzen-style candidate with national profile and/or local backing, which there currently isn't, then either Bercow or Farage will win. No one else can. I stand by that "sophisticated" (obvious?) piece of political analysis - unless, that is, you're all making the logical, if trivial, point that an imaginary third candidate could THEORETICALLY win.

Hey
03 September 2009 at 18:40

If you're so disgusted by their politics and the lack of candidates, you might go so far as standing yourself!

Shocking, out of the box thinking I know, but there you are. Would interfere with your attempts to convert/smite the kuffar and write lefty harangues, so there are downsides.

This is the big problem with the internet - everyone sees what you write, not just dimwitted leftists (but I repeat myself).

kuffar
03 September 2009 at 19:22

not that bright are you?

goose
03 September 2009 at 22:07

Hasan, in 2005 there were 7 candidates for the then speakers seat. So take your pick.

Whats your job title again?

Gareth
03 September 2009 at 22:10

Farage would be wasted as Speaker. Prime Minister would be more befitting.

James
03 September 2009 at 22:32

Mark of success for a journalist: slightly mad right wing social recluses stalk your website, which publishes nothing they will ever agree with, to post dull debating society witticisms they have been drafting for 20 minutes.

Mehdi, I salute you.

(PS. - I use the above description to separate these people from genuine conservatives, many of whom are not complete idiots).

James
03 September 2009 at 22:33

Mehdi, I salute you.

(PS. - I use the above description to separate these people from genuine conservatives, many of whom are not complete idiots).

James
03 September 2009 at 22:35

Sorry for the double post

bleep bloop
03 September 2009 at 22:45

jesus stop being so litteral and picking out every word, its a tory stronghold of course one of them will win

Robert Brown
04 September 2009 at 16:46

You are exactly right Mehdi, but I do not think there is any real competition, Bercow will win, with an increased majority. Not only that, but as a Labour supporter I want him to stay, just to annoy the Tories a bit from the Speaker's chair.

kedeviss
05 September 2009 at 02:38

Wow, the right wing nut-jobs really are stalking these pages now aren't they?!

Based on the way the political see-saw is going at the moment, I expect Bercow will win with a massively increased majority, partly because the tories look to be on the road to power and partly because labour and the lib dems wont stand against him

What will be interesting, is how many votes Farage is actually able to nab and IF a 3rd candidate stands, which currently looks unlikely, how many that candidate is able to get.

Basically, will the people of Buckingham punish Bercow for his poor response to the expenses scandal (can't believe we're still talking about this) or will the people stick to voting Tory (even if he isn't "really" a Tory candidate)

Siberian Tory
05 September 2009 at 12:05

"Wow, the right wing nut-jobs really are stalking these pages now aren't they?! "

It'd be pretty quiet around here if they weren't.

James
06 September 2009 at 23:58

Should Farage's challenge to establishment party politics and convention not be applauded Mr Hasan, even if you do not agree with his views? If this was about a genuine socialist taking on a New Labour sell-out in their own safe seat, where would you stand? I find Farage's move refreshing; it cuts to the heart of what is wrong with our political system. Many Conservatives in Buckingham feel obliged to vote for Bercow because he represents the Conservative Party, even though most of them can't stand him. Now they will have a choice, and that can only be good for politics.

And on the subject of expenses, the 2 million claimed by UKIP was for the running of the party and the payment of its staff over the course of a decade. That I find morally acceptable. Billing the tax-payer £760 for window-seat cushions (in addition to the rest that you have conveniently ignored, including £1,000 for tax advice on expenses) I do not.

What's that job title again?

James
09 September 2009 at 20:52

My last post carried the term 'kuffar' after my name, but this has been deleted by the NS censors. Am I correct, then, in assuming that it is acceptable for Mr. Hasan to insult all non-Muslims with this term, but not so for me to place it alongside my name?

Funny how all this liberalism works, isn't it?