Chishti - The Movie

Labour's Recess Monkey may have first broken the story of Rehman Chishti's defection to the Conservative Party but ConservativeHome has Chishti - The Movie.  World exclusive!

The video shows Francis Maude's opponent-turned-adviser meeting David Cameron and explaining the reasons for his departure.

Mr Chishti was also interviewed on this morning's Today programme.  He cited Labour's glorification of terror measures and Tony Blair's failure to secure UN approval for the Iraq campaign as part of the reason for his defection.   

Tomorrow's 'scoop' will be an exclusive article from David Cameron.  The Conservative leader will be writing for ConservativeHome on his 100th day as party supremo.

Comments

[Chad]

"Tony Blair's failure to secure UN approval for the Iraq campaign as part of the reason for his defection"

Is this a joke? He happily stands as an official Labour candidate two years after the war, but then jumps ship to the other party that also supported the war without UN approval.

If he was making a principled stand on this issue, would he not have resigned in 2003 and joined the LibDems instead of keeping quiet to avoid damaging his chances of standing for Labour as a PPC?

[Editor]

I have to say that the UN is the most morally compromised of institutions and my heart sank when I heard our new colleague talk about the second resolution. The Iraq war may have been a mistake (not imo) but it wasn't made a mistake by failing to get the endorsement of the dictators of China and the blanket bombers of Grozny.

[Chad]

Sure Tim, but the point here is not the war, but that the defector stayed with a party after the war, later had no moral issues about standing as an official election candidate two years later but suddenly, after jumping ship, suddenly quotes the war as a reason for defecting?

That is morally bankrupt and cynical, imho.

[malcolm]

You know my views on Iraq etc Editor but this bloke sounds as insincere as hell.If he genuinely believed what he was saying wouldn't he have joined the Liberal Democrats?

[MattSimpson]

In the video, why does Cameron mention all these "marginal seats in Kent", unless...

[Frank Young]

Indeed Matt, indeed. I thought the same thing.

This has done nothing to help his cause or reassure those of us who are profoundly sceptical about this. I just hope he isn't forced upon a unwilling constituency.

[Hmmmm]

its pathetic and cosmetic. This guy comes across as incoherent, and worse makes us look desperate. We HAVE to convince people that we are interested in substance not cosmetics - short term publicity hits with sinking ship deserters, makes us look lame and opportunistic.

[Tory T]

Sounds Iike yet another Muslim who is weak on fighting terrorism. There are plenty who aren't but we seem to end up with those who carry the victim mentality - ie - any attempt to tackle extremism is an 'attack' on the Muslim community. Do you remember when the police initially raided the Finsbury Park Mosque? Even though the extremism of Abu Hamza and his followers was well known, lots of "moderate" Muslims condemned the police for violating a holy place. My message to our new Tory is - back the fight. If you can't bring yourself to do that then at least have the decency to get out the way. The Conservative Party is not a sanctuary for Muslims who want to carp about Labour being too tough - that's the Lib Dems' job.

[Voice from the South West]

I agree with the sentiments other posters have expressed regarding Chishti’s defection. I have to say though after watching the video for the first time I couldn't help but laugh when he claimed he was "working class" when his accent sounded like anything else

[James Cleverly]

I’m quite happy to have this guy on board. As long as he has to slog it out with the rest of us I don’t have a problem with him being on the candidates list either. There are always going to be some contradictions when someone moves from one party to another and there are plenty of Conservatives who were against the war.

The benefits of winning over a young man at the start of his political career are greater than the potential risks. Remember if a voter were to change his mind and join us we would be happy so why change our position when a PPC does it.

The advisor job with Francis Maude is a signal to others who may want to come across that there will be a welcome for them although I am surprised that we weren’t a bit more imaginative with the role. I don’t think that it would be desirable or even possible to hand him a safe seat so the advisor role is a good enough carrot.

I don’t think he came across badly in the video although I also had a chuckle when he described himself as working class in one of the plumiest accents I’ve heard since the fifties.

He still has associations to win over and they can be a pretty tough crowd.

[Mark Fulford]

Welcome to the Conservative Party Mr Chishti. Yes, this really is what we're like!

[James Maskell]

Oh God, this videos rubbish. Its so set up and fake. I find it hard to believe that he can suddenly change his mind so soon after a General Election.

[TC]

Following the link to Recess Monkey, I was appalled to see the following bit of NuLab prejudice: "Safe Tory constituencies will tonight be shuddering at the thought of a brown Labour defector being foisted upon them ".

Whilst meant to be an attack on us, the reality is that it is showing what a bigotted, nasty party Labour have become. With that sort of mentality, you can hardly blame Mr Chishti for moving.

[Chad]

I find it hard to believe that he can suddenly change his mind so soon after a General Election.

Particularly as he campaigned on the manifesto that Labour is now seeking to deliver.

Now perhaps if he had quit over the hypocrisy of the "voluntary" ID cards, he would have won a lot of support as it would have shown the government breaking the pledge he stood for.

[Victoria Street]

Welcome to the party, Ray. I, for one am happy to have on board anyone who believes in Conservative solutions to a range of modern problems.
Don't worry too much about the criticism on this site. The party - and the broader conservative family - contains many opinions and many members who are unafraid to express their views.
You will also notice that putting your head above the parapet here will expose you to personal abuse from a range of usual suspects who hide, like me, behind a pseudonym. You will find that one aspect of your identity or views will be highlighted and other balancing factors will be ignored, in an attempt to put you down. Don't let the b*st*rds grind you down.

[James Maskell]

My name is not a pseudonym. Nor do I criticise him for one aspect of his identity, nor give him personal abuse.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"ConservativeHome has Chishti - The Movie. World exclusive!"

Script by Richard Curtis? Or our very own movie impresario William Norton?

[Chad]

People assume I use a pseudonym because my name is so silly.

In fact when Norwich South complained about a comment I made here, they referred to me as "Chad" (with quotes) which brought a smile to my face.

Like an ex (but new at the time) girlfriend who sent me a Christmas card with "Dear Chad (sorry I don't know your real name)"

:-)

[James Cleverly]

My nickname in the army was a four letter word begining with "C"

[James Maskell]

All friends in the army then James?

[Chad]

My nickname in the army was a four letter word begining with "C"

Clev? ;-)

[Donal Blaney]

Please get our new friend Ray to have some media training: the hand gestures are soooo Tony Blair, circa 1997 :)

[Recess Monkey]

TC,

You can say I'm bigoted if you like but please, not before you have said the same of Howarth, Winterton, Rosindell and a host of others.

Recess Monkey

[James Maskell]

There were Andrew Marr style hand gestures there!

[Donal Blaney]

Perfect James: that is EXACTLY who the hand gestures and the stilted speech reminded me of..!

[James Hellyer]

Well, I can see why he's defected to the Conservatives. Chishti's mannerisms are from the same Gerry Anderson series that David Cameron must have spend so much time studying.

[James Cleverly]

This guy needs some more rough edges, it comes across as if he is trying too hard to be professional and polished.

Once he has bedded in a little I hope we see more of the real him and less of the slightly nervous TV presenter persona.

Interestingly few of the news sites are running with this story.

[Sam Coates]

Interestingly few of the news sites are running with this story.
Indeed, I was getting worried I'd seen a hoax press release last night as it was not reported anywhere (apart from Recess Monkey apparently) The BBC website have finally mentioned it, in one of those obscure links in thepolitics section this lunchtime. He was on the R4's Today programme.

[Richard]

"I find it hard to believe that he can suddenly change his mind so soon after a General Election."

Hasn't David Cameron done the same thing?

[Appalled]

In the video, Chairman Maude points that Mr Chishti won the campaign but not the election. So our experienced Chairman was out-campaigned by a 27 year old novice. Be afraid, very afraid.

[Frank Young]

I've possibly been overly negative here. While I have reservations if this chap reads these pages I do hope he will feel welcome and I sincerely wish him the best of luck.

[Appalled]

There will be a lot of ethnic candidates who stood at the election that will be miffed at his appointment as an ethnic adviser to Maude. It seems that treachery and betrayal is surer route to the top of the new "compassionate" Conservative Party than loyalty and integrity.

[Donal Blaney]

According to Medway Council's website, Atta-Ur-Rehman Chishti was one of three Labour councillors elected to represent Gillingham North ward (polling the least votes of the three elected councillors for that ward).

Medway Council Labour Group shows that he remains a Labour councillor in Medway (albeit the article about him is dated 18 August). Has he defected to the Tories on the council (and if so, has he been given front bench responsibility there, perhaps a useful testing ground to see what he would be like if he is centrally imposed in place of the sound Mark Reckless)?

Most interestingly, however, is the election result in Horsham. From all the coverage about his defection, I had thought that Atta-Ur-Rehman was a campaigning genius who had bucked the trend and come close to forcing out Francis Maude. I now see that he, in fact, finished THIRD in Horsham.

MAUDE, Francis (Con) - 27,240 (-1.5%)
SHARPLEY, Rosie (LD) - 14,613 (+2.2%)
CHISHTI, Rehman (Lab) - 9,320 (-3.1%)
MILLER, Hugo (UKIP) - 2,552 (+1.8%)
DUGGAN, Jim (Ind) - 416 (+0.8%)

Swing: 1.9% from Con to LD

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Most interestingly, however, is the election result in Horsham. From all the coverage about his defection, I had thought that Atta-Ur-Rehman was a campaigning genius who had bucked the trend and come close to forcing out Francis Maude. I now see that he, in fact, finished THIRD in Horsham.

MAUDE, Francis (Con) - 27,240 (-1.5%)
SHARPLEY, Rosie (LD) - 14,613 (+2.2%)
CHISHTI, Rehman (Lab) - 9,320 (-3.1%)
MILLER, Hugo (UKIP) - 2,552 (+1.8%)
DUGGAN, Jim (Ind) - 416 (+0.8%)"

Well if that performance is Francis's idea of 'winning the campaign', all I have to say is let the good times roll!

[James Cleverly]

Come on guys, what else would Maude do? Slag him off?

[James Hellyer]

Why not? It's what he does to established Conservatives.

[Donal Blaney]

I am sure there have been defections of PPCs and councillors in days gone by: the red carpet and personal blessing of the Party leadership was not offered to them, however.

If he shows how the Party has changed, how about offering him the seat of Horsham...

[Rob G]

I know you're all having fun imagining how outraged you will be if Rehman is parachuted into a safe seat (or any other seat for that matter). But is there any evidence that this might happen? At the very worst I would have thought he might get on the Gold List, but constituencies would then have another 199 or 99 (I forget which) candidates to choose from, so that would hardly count as forcing him on anyone.

Also, does anyone know whether his role as adviser to Francis Maude is paid or voluntary. If the latter, I would think it was quite a good idea. I am sure someone recently suggested (in relation to another possible addition to the Party) that we should "stick a label on him and put him to work".

[PassingThru]

All these young buck go getters seem to fall off some politician production line. He has the same mannerisms, same speech patterns, same blandness of every other politician. Other than his genericness, he seems a thoughroughly nice guy. Would have liked to here a bit more about why hints by implication that colour or creed would have barred him from joining the conservative sooner though.

[Donal Blaney]

i will have a lot of respect for him if he works hard for the conservative cause and his constituents in Medway - where he is a councillor. If he does, I am sure Gillingham Conservative Association will give this criminal defence barrister due consideration.

[Andrew Woodman]

I wonder if this will be the first of a few defections by career politicans who choose their party by which way the wind is blowing rather than genuine conviction. If so, then we must be heading for government.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

In the absence of William Norton, let me treat you to a preview of a new release to hit our cinemas this weekend:

Swindlers List
Francis Maude is the hero in this moving drama about a man who saved the careers of dozens of political opportunists by including them in his priority list and giving them jobs within his party.
Starring Liam Neeson as Francis Maude, Ben Kingsley as Rehman Chishti and Ralph Fiennes as Chad Noble.

[johnC]

This week's must-see:

'Rehman Chishti - The Movie'

Rehman's a working class guy from the estate who's broken up with his mates after Tony forced him to support the gang's break-in at Sad Hussein's petrol station. Now his new boss Frankie's introduced him to Dave, the rival gang leader on the estate. But unknown to him Frankie's a con-man who's looking for a minder for a job in Kent. Can Rehman cut it with Dave's mates ?
Can he keep out of Frankie's evil clutches ? Can anyone pronounce his name ?

A loss of innocence movie about growing up on the wrong side of the political tracks.

Starring: Art Malik as Rehman, Sir Alan Sugar as Frankie, Sir Ian Blair as the beat cop.

[Selsdon Man]

"I am sure Gillingham Conservative Association will give this criminal defence barrister due consideration."

Donal Blaney should know better. Tim Butcher should be reselected to fight Gillingham. He got the majority down to 267.

[Rebel]

G-d, just when I thought it couldn't get any worse:

"Tony Blair's failure to secure UN approval for the Iraq campaign as part of the reason for his defection"

People like this should be defecting to the Lib Dems where they belong.

Can the Editor now save us his harangues in favor of these types?

[Rebel]

He also basically called the Conservative Party rascist. Since "ten years" ago, i.e. 1996! someone of a working class background and an ethnic majority would never have joined the Tories. Oh really? Well at the time we had the son of a circus performer who never went to university as prime minister, but never mind the facts.

[Richard]

"In the video, Chairman Maude points that Mr Chishti won the campaign but not the election. So our experienced Chairman was out-campaigned by a 27 year old novice. Be afraid, very afraid."

Surely an entry for comedy quote of the week?

[Donal Blaney]

Selsdon Man: I was being sarcastic!

[Selsdon Man]

I am glad that it was a sarcastic comment, Donal. In these PC times, however, it is risky to make such a sarcastic suggestion. CCHQ might take you seriously,

[Sean Fear]

"If he shows how the Party has changed, how about offering him the seat of Horsham"

Now, there's an idea!

[Donal Blaney]

You are right indeed, Selsdon Man. There is no place for humour in the Tory Party or for mavericks it seems!

[Yusuf Smith]

[He also basically called the Conservative Party rascist. Since "ten years" ago, i.e. 1996! someone of a working class background and an ethnic majority would never have joined the Tories. Oh really? Well at the time we had the son of a circus performer who never went to university as prime minister, but never mind the facts.]

Well, Zell Miller, who cheered on Bush at the last US presidential election, had previously given a speech to the effect that we can't all be born into a wealthy family and that's why we (they) have a Democratic party. Then again, Miller didn't actually become a Republican.

I was at Aberystwyth at the same time he was, and there was just one person who was a known Tory who was taken seriously (Mike Wood). Becoming a Tory would probably not have even occurred to someone in that milieu.