Yesterday, I wound up for the Opposition in the annual St David’s Day debate in the Commons. The debate was opened by Peter Hain, who spent most of his time denigrating the Tories; he must be deeply worried, which pleases me greatly.
An intriguing moment came when the veteran Labour Member, Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley), spoke about her early days in Parliament:
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): I first became an elected Member in 1979, when the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Mr. Williams) was in Brecon and Radnorshire, which was in my European constituency. I hope that I do not embarrass him, but I was very grateful for his help at that time. We remain good friends, even though we are on opposite sides of the Chamber, and I hope that he might help me in other campaigns some time in the future.
Roger Williams, the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, turned scarlet.
“Were you one of them, Roger?” asked Cheryl Gillan, but received no answer.
So was Roger a Labour supporter? Perhaps a reader knows the answer.
“Williams joined the Labour Party in 1969, but left to join the SDP at the formation of the party in 1981 and represented it and subsequently the Liberal Democrats on Powys County Council.”
I can’t see problems in changing party. Churchill did so. Could any Labour member be critisized for doing so when Labour changed it’s spots by getting rid of clause 4 just to be elected?
David Cameron is little better with his wishy washy policies in place of unvarnished Conservatism. Who was behind the Julie Fallon(invisible Smith) debacle and the “Gordon Brown’s a Bully” saga? Petty like this will not attract many real Conservative voters, leading most likely to a hung Parliament. We’re looking for some Thatcher Thunder, not tittle tattle.