Tory-supporting author, Frederick Forsyth, is unimpressed with New Labour:
"We see our soldiers treated like dirt; we are cripplingly taxed, over-regulated into the ground, in daily thraldom to an unseen government in Brussels and watching our pensions destroyed. Not a single Blairite pledge that I can think of has been fulfilled. So what might the Tories do about it..?"
Like Ann Widdecombe, Freddie thinks the Tories need a streetfighter and, for him, that means David Davis. This is what he writes for today's Yorkshire Post (not online):
"Adopting the working-class Dave as a first name, [David Cameron] tells us he will adopt policies that are careful, moderate, cautious. For which I read "timid". But, you know, unless Tories are truly daft, they should not pick timid...
That's why my vote is going for the other David: the Yorkshire-born one, as tough as the Pennines he hikes over. The one who fought his way up from housing estate to grammar school, to Warwick University, to Harvard Business School. The one who joined the Territorial Army to use the bounty to put himself through college; the one who tested himself with boxing, flying, free-falling, rugby, fell-walking and rock-climbing.
David Davis will never, like David Cameron, try to please all of the people all of the time; he simply cannot be all things to all men. Maybe the charm, the beam, the beautiful manners of the Old Etonian are what you want. Then Cameron is for you. But a word of caution.
Whoever takes over the Conservative Party is going to have to take on New Labour's attack dogs and they are provenly vicious. And Paris and Brussels over EU reform and they are ruthless. And the vested interests who live off all our backs and they are devious and unscrupulous. So that is the real choice. I plump for the man who has been there for 20 years. Occupied five senior offices. Been round the block a few times. Taken hardship, opposition and tough times and beaten them all. It's the tested fighter or the beaming Tory Boy.
Just put it this way: if you were in an alley late at night, with two yobs bearing down, which one would you prefer beside you? Ah, you say, politics are not like that. Oh yes they are, chum, oh yes they are."
Great writing. If only FF had written DD's conference speech...
This is the only place on the web where I've seen people use their real name.
unimaginative lot........which party was it ?
Posted by: Rick | 23 November 2005 at 12:47
For all those people who derided Jack for talking about compassion and offering hope, just remind yourselves of Margaret Thatcher's words on the steps of Number ten after winning in 1979.
On the steps of Number 10, she quoted from St Francis of Assisi: "Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope."
Posted by: Graham D'Amiral | 23 November 2005 at 13:01
On the steps of Number 10, she quoted from St Francis of Assisi: "Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope."
last night on German TV Channel Phoenix they showed a documentary on Thatcher (presumably because Merkel became Germany's youngest Chancellor yesterday) and after this little homily was delivered on screen it cut to Jim Prior saying he felt like throwing up on the spot when he heard her say this.
Posted by: Rick | 23 November 2005 at 13:12
Mr Deckchair - how nice to be remembered, even if I find the description of my posting as eccentric a trifle less than flattering.
Posted by: Betty Fowler | 23 November 2005 at 13:37
Speaking of absent friends, whither Disraeli and AnotherNick?
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 23 November 2005 at 14:01