So Lembit Opik has resigned as Spokesman for the Lib Dems in Wales. Step forwards Roger Williams. Now I could claim Lembit's resignation as my first political scalp. Lembit has told the BBC that he wants to concentrate on his constituency - which suggests that he has some concern about whether he can hang onto the seat at the next election. I've promised him that I intend to fight like a tigress to win it - and I mean it.
But when I read the bitterness in some of his reported comments, I had to ask myself whether there is more to this than is obvious at first glance. At today's Lib Dem conference in Aberystwyth he launched a bitter attack on those in his party who have been undermining him by criticism behind his back. And I'm told repeated this to the media. I agree with Lembit about the distastefulness of this sort of thing. Most politicians suffer from it occasionally, but normally things have to be really venomous to 'go public' about it. This aspect of his resignation comments makes me think that he might just have been pushed, and chose to jump first.
Anyway, I feel some sliver of satisfaction. Montgomeryshire once again has an MP who is promising to give more attention to the constituency. I hope that the General Election contest in Montgomeryshire turns out to be a ferocious battle between candidates who have a total commitment to the constituency. I will play my part. Let battle be joined.
10 comments:
It reminds me of a story a once heard (it could be Apocryphal)
A young Tory MP on his first day was eyeing the Labour benches. "So that's the enemy" he says, and Enoch Powell taps him on the shoulder and says "No, that's the opposition. The enemy are all around you"
Mind you we saw how ruthless the Lib Dems can be when they ousted Charles Kennedy.
It looks as if Montgomeryshire is going to be an interesting election. Sitting members have such a big advantage that it needs an opponent with your determination to make a fight of it. Go for it Glyn
He's scared Glyn, very scared.
This saddo no morals MP of ours fears the game may be up. The Libido-dems will put up the usual dirty fight, but even they realis it WILL be a fight in Mont. At last people are tuning in to what's going on here. Grope-it will lose this seat and has his own revolting behaviour to blame for it. We need a person with authority and substance like yourself. Onwards and upwards!
You have Grope-it running scared Glyn. And about time. At last people are tuning in to what's going on up here. I don't know a single Lib dem who's going to vote for this immoral idiot MP of ours. All their votes are going to you, even those who've given money to Grope-it's election campaigns in the past. He HAS to go and you're the man to oust him
He's runninbg scared Glyn. Grope-it fears the game may be up. And about time too. Bury him once and for all. For the sake of all of us in Mont
You've got him running wscared Glyn. Onwards to victory
left field - I always thought it was a Churchill quote - but perhaps it was Powell. I can tell you that it is very true.
Anons - It looks as if its the same person who has posted most of the comments. And I rejected another one that I thought went too far. Comment moderation is causing me a problem in that I am accepting comments that I wouldn't make myself - but I did promise that I would censor nothing except the really offensive.
I do want to win the election in Montgomeryshire - but by persuading voters to support me rather than by being offensive or negative about Lembit Opik.
The fact Glyn is that most people here in Welshpool agree with Anon. It's exactly the sentiment being expressed in this area. People feel very let down by him and do feel strongly
I'm not so sure the promise of representing his constituency stands out for me in the media statements he ahs made. Sure, if he chooses to stand for the presidency of the national party it will take him away from here more than his cheeky girls or as spokesman for business and Wales?
All I can tell you witness is that the media were contacting me to tell me what he had said. And you will notice that it was this angle that the BBC's Betsan picked up on her blog. Its always as well to differentiate between what a resigning politician puts out as a reason, and what the media believe is the real reason.
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