Tom Harris and the big, bad Tory
As is his wont, Tom Harris is attacking democracy yet again.
He has his knickers in a knot over this (rather excellent) speech given by MEP Daniel Hannan after Gordon Brown addressed the European Parliament this week.
Here's what Tom Harris had to say about it:
So, basically, if you are representing the UK abroad, you are above criticism? And in what way is Hannan's speech a "personal attack"? He sets out where the Prime Minister has gone wrong and points out the hyprocritical nature of his comments. It's what opposition politicians do!
This is the kind of drivel that I've come to expect from my occasional glances at Harris' blog. The kind of thing that he hopes the papers will pick up to raise his profile in the hope that the devil people know beats the anyone else in his Glasgow constituency next time round.
The worrying thing is, he's probably right - about his chances, not Dan Hannan. His comments about the speech are nothing short of jealousy of the coverage Hannan is getting on the blogosphere and concern that he might cut off the supply of Harris photos in newspapers. Unless people start to see his attention-seeking for what it is, he'll undoubtedly return to the House of Commons whenever the next election comes around.
(Note to Tom Harris - just in case you don't recognise it, this probably does constitute a personal attack).
It seems that criticism is of an "esteemed" leader is above some of our politicians. And that is a sad state of affairs.
Rant over.
He has his knickers in a knot over this (rather excellent) speech given by MEP Daniel Hannan after Gordon Brown addressed the European Parliament this week.
Here's what Tom Harris had to say about it:
"Gordon Brown isn’t just Labour’s prime minister; he’s Britain’s prime minister, and for any UK politician to launch such a disgraceful, personal attack on his country’s leader — in a foreign country — is nothing short of disgraceful."
So, basically, if you are representing the UK abroad, you are above criticism? And in what way is Hannan's speech a "personal attack"? He sets out where the Prime Minister has gone wrong and points out the hyprocritical nature of his comments. It's what opposition politicians do!
This is the kind of drivel that I've come to expect from my occasional glances at Harris' blog. The kind of thing that he hopes the papers will pick up to raise his profile in the hope that the devil people know beats the anyone else in his Glasgow constituency next time round.
The worrying thing is, he's probably right - about his chances, not Dan Hannan. His comments about the speech are nothing short of jealousy of the coverage Hannan is getting on the blogosphere and concern that he might cut off the supply of Harris photos in newspapers. Unless people start to see his attention-seeking for what it is, he'll undoubtedly return to the House of Commons whenever the next election comes around.
(Note to Tom Harris - just in case you don't recognise it, this probably does constitute a personal attack).
It seems that criticism is of an "esteemed" leader is above some of our politicians. And that is a sad state of affairs.
Rant over.
5 comments:
This reminds me of the first President Bush attacking Bill Clinton for protesting against the Vietnam War while over here.
The idea is as out of touch now as it was then .
I'm surprised Nigel Griffiths hasn't been out defending Brown yet. Saying that, he's probably too busy getting his baws wet.
In general terms I agree with Malc, but on the other hand Tom Harris's post was responding to the over the top reaction to Hannan's speech (as I've blogged about), so perhaps it's the usual case of frenzy begetting hysteria, or something like that!
On the other hand I think your comments about Tom Harris are a bit harsh, Malc, since his actions that you criticise are hardly confined to him or to his party colleagues.
Presumably the reason he uses his blog in the way you castigate is because he's rather good at it - can't say I'm an avid reader of his, but if even Iain Dale regrets that Tom wasn't shortlisted for the Orwell prize then he must be doing something right!
Stuart,
Your post on the reaction to the speech is fair analysis.
And I am perhaps being a bit harsh. I was really trying to demonstrate what a personal attack would look like. That's not to say his blog doesn't do that.
I guess my point is more the double standards of it - his pointing out the blogosphere's outcry that Hannan's speech hasn't been picked up by the MSM... yet himself using the blogosphere to be picked up by the MSM in order to win votes.
You konw it was a good and effectve speech when Tom retuns to his labour hack posture.
Tom writes well, indeed his unpredictablity is his appea. But I could have predicted this one
These labourites dont like it up them.
Post a Comment