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RSSFarage v Bercow
What a shame they can't both lose
By Mehdi Hasan Published 03 September 2009 13:34
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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Mehdi Hasan is a contributing writer for the New Statesman and the co-author of Ed: The Milibands and the Making of a Labour Leader. He was the New Statesman's senior editor (politics) from 2009-12.
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20 comments
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?
Lol@Guido!
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?
Yawn.
Given the death tolls, economic damage, etc, surely Iran and Iraq _did_ both lose by any reasonable definition...?
My understanding of democracy is that they can both lose to another third candidate.
You really are a sophisticated political analyst.
Guido is right, I'm afraid!
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.
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).
not that bright are you?
Hasan, in 2005 there were 7 candidates for the then speakers seat. So take your pick.
Whats your job title again?
Farage would be wasted as Speaker. Prime Minister would be more befitting.
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).
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).
Sorry for the double post
jesus stop being so litteral and picking out every word, its a tory stronghold of course one of them will win
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.
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)
"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.
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?