tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post943830088797265199..comments2024-03-28T10:46:35.575+00:00Comments on SCOT goes POP!: Alistair Carmichael : was he even Clegg's third choice for SoS?James Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-87257028927496691152010-05-31T07:13:28.426+01:002010-05-31T07:13:28.426+01:00Hythlodaeus - Absolutely, Carmichael is very much ...Hythlodaeus - Absolutely, Carmichael is very much on the left of the Lib Dems, but he isn't actually refusing to serve with the Tories - he's the government's Deputy Chief Whip. My guess is (as Doug suggests) it's more of a case of Clegg refusing to countenance having someone with his views round the cabinet table, in much the same way that talented left-wingers were kept to the junior ministerial ranks under New Labour.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-22385359541940439602010-05-31T00:15:54.538+01:002010-05-31T00:15:54.538+01:00I think Hythlodaeus has perhaps hit the nail on th...I think Hythlodaeus has perhaps hit the nail on the head. Carmichael certainly seems to be more of the social democratic wing of the Lib Dems, whereas the Lib Dems in the cabinet are generally of the free market liberal side. Just look at the contributors to the Orange Book that set the tone for the Lib Dems' shift back towards the centre-right - Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, Chris Huhne, Ed Davey, Steve Webb, and of course David Laws. They've all gotten ministerial posts, and the only contributors that didn't were those who are no longer MPs. Danny Alexander isn't among these contributors, but his role as Clegg's right-hand man implies he's of the same train of thought.<br /><br />In fact, looking up the centre-left Beveridge Group gives even more credence to Hythlodaeus's theory - check out this quote from one of the MPs that set up the group:<br /><br /><i>"Should the party of Beveridge and Keynes approach issues with a prejudice in favour of the free market system? Should we enter every policy debate with an underlying belief that private is always better than public? I certainly do not think so. That was the approach which led the Conservatives to undertake the disastrous privatisation of British Rail in the mid 1990s."</i><br /><br />The MP in question? Alistair Carmichael.<br /><br />Incidentally, Huhne is in both camps, which is perhaps why he was overlooked for the post of Chief Secretary to the Treasury, despite being the obvious successor to Laws if you're looking for someone of a similar background in economics.Doug Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15017218581660887134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-68555153777914463102010-05-30T22:23:31.916+01:002010-05-30T22:23:31.916+01:00I'm rather inclined to suspect that Alastair C...I'm rather inclined to suspect that Alastair Carmichael would refuse to serve with the Tories. From what I gather his views are radically at odds with those of Clegg, Laws and Alexander, tending more towards those of Labour and the SNP. <br /><br />Failing that, he may simply be too dangerous for Clegg to promote. Would he toe the coalition line when push came to shove or would he stand up for Scotland's social democratic traditions?Hythlodaeushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402232122699414720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-72671057250079294812010-05-30T17:28:38.726+01:002010-05-30T17:28:38.726+01:00Anon - stripping away the standard Telegraph spin,...Anon - stripping away the standard Telegraph spin, that sounds pretty much like the strategy the SNP have been following for some time now. If the Tory/Lib Dem government are really prepared to engage seriously on the fiscal powers of the Scottish Parliament (remains to be seen, of course), that's a huge opportunity that must be seized. What the Telegraph don't seem to understand about a 'gradualist' strategy is that the destination it's designed to gradually get us to is full independence!James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-37542772430885813112010-05-30T16:35:38.345+01:002010-05-30T16:35:38.345+01:00http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politic...http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7779076/Alex-Salmond-drops-independence-for-the-time-being.html<br /><br />what do you make of this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-85354561021448137372010-05-30T16:16:44.675+01:002010-05-30T16:16:44.675+01:00re Alexander:
Mutton dressed as lamb.
Marciare Alexander:<br /><br />Mutton dressed as lamb.<br /><br /><br />MarciaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-48335890207644474792010-05-30T15:36:47.431+01:002010-05-30T15:36:47.431+01:00That's a good point, Sophia - given the circum...That's a good point, Sophia - given the circumstances, the Lib Dems could really have done with someone more charismatic. I know there isn't exactly an embarrassment of riches on that front, but even so. Actually, the person they really need is Charles Kennedy, but that was never going to happen for obvious reasons.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-24798438391470579272010-05-30T14:57:26.731+01:002010-05-30T14:57:26.731+01:00Aye it's a wee shame is it no? Ah got up this ...Aye it's a wee shame is it no? Ah got up this mornin' an' put the news on. Ye wid honestly think that Mr Laws had got hit by a bus while in the process o' pushin' a wee bairn oot its road. Whit a hero, whit bad luck this should happen tae him, whit a great guy he wis, oan an' oan...<br /><br />Ah've really nae sympathy fer him. Aw the background shite aboot his 'relationship' aside, whit seems tae hae caught him wis the sense o' entitlement which aw the MPs share. At any point in the past fower years, since they changed the rules oan claimin' fer yer bidie-in, he could've stopped claimin'. But aw naw. He had tae keep pittin' in his dishonest claims 'cos he had tae have a second hoose tae dae his job' <br /><br />Ah expect MPs' expenses scandals'll be wi' us fer quite a while.<br /><br />So we've got the lovely Michael Moore tae play wi'. He's a bit widden is he no? Hae ye ever seen him smile? Ah dinnae suppose he'll be smilin' much now, as he tries tae stop the Liberal vote in Scotland fae meltin' awa' like snaw aff a dyke.Sophia Panglosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089164117446635962noreply@blogger.com