Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery

Jag Singh Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:32:51 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

David Cameron has just announced that he's withdrawing the Conservative Whip from Derek Conway, hours after enduring a massive onslaught of criticism from the general public and his own grassroots and only hours after his initial reaction on the matter included support for Derek Conway.

David Davis is said to have been furious after Cameron's U-turn. Could this have been the end of Dave, or would it have been dealt swiftly by Lord Ashcroft? Cameron's latest statement came just hours after we learned that Conway's eldest son was also possibly siphoning taxpayers funds to subsidise his higher education costs. The internal dynamics of team Cameron have also been fractured, as there had been talk of various grassroots organisations preparing to overtly lobby Cameron on the issue.






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Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery | 31 comments (31 topical)

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#1)

by Prbo on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:38:41 PM GMT

Sorry, what was the flip-flop?  I think I'm right in saying that once a second police inquiry was looming, then things looked untenable for him & that's when Dave acted.


Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#3)

by rwendland on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 04:14:23 PM GMT

Earlier this morning the Whip definitely wasn't going to be withdrawn from Conway:

A Conservative party spokesman confirmed that he would keep the whip, saying: "Derek Conway has apologised fully on the floor of the House. The appropriate punishment is being administered."

Flip-Flop. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#4)

by Prbo on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 04:24:47 PM GMT

You may like to think that, but Cameron's action was taken after the second inquiry was announced.  That changes the circumstances.  Call me petty, but I'm not entirely sure the labour party is in a great position to comment on matters of financial proprierty amongst MPs at the moment...


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#11)

by NorthernMonkey on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 07:19:42 PM GMT

So what you're saying is, we in the Labour party should stay absolutely silent whilst the Tories get away with stealing thousands of pounds of British taxpayers money? I don't think so!


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#17)

by spiderlounge on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:00:34 AM GMT

It is worth pointing out that throughout the Watts/Harman/Alexander/Hain/Johnson stuff Labour activists tried hard to support their own, which is admirable in it's way I suppose, but in Conway's case most Tories called for his head pretty quickly once the facts were known.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#21)

by NorthernMonkey on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:50:55 PM GMT

That's because Conway stole thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money and the Labour ones didn't. If there was a Labour MP who had done this, I would call for them to resign.


Also, you shouldn't have included Johnson's name in there as it's pretty clear that he did nothing wrong whatsoever.


I don't believe there was much support for Peter Watt - he certainly was right to resign.




[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#10)

by NorthernMonkey on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 07:18:14 PM GMT

Wake up prbo - you can't criticise us for being tribalist and then let Cameron off the hook.

Last night, Cameron very clearly stated that he wasn't going to punish Conway any further because the apology to the Commons was 'enough'. This was a truly pathetic decision.

Only when the media onslught hit him this morning, did his PR men tell him to quickly do a u-turn and dump Conway.

Unlike Maggie, Cameron certaining is for 'turning'.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#2)

by Timka on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:49:18 PM GMT

So, Cameron does the right thing and you castigate him for it.

Removal of the whip is the most serious sanction a party can give to an MP. It is not something that should be done lightly. I say well done for taking a strong stance on this. If only Mr Brown was as quick to act...


Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#5)

by RedRooster on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 04:26:40 PM GMT

The 'right thing' or the 'wrong thing' was immaterial to Cameron.  He decided on one course of action, then when he saw it would be unpopular, he changed his mind- just like over Northern Rock.  The issue here is that Cameron does not have the guts to stick with unpopular decisions.  Now sometimes that's great! (hi Iraq).  But sometimes it is absolutely necessary to take a short term hit for the long term good, and Cameron has systemetically failed to demonstrate that he can ever be that brave.


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Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#6)

by dickwishart on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 05:35:45 PM GMT

I suppose you could say exactly the same about Gordon Brown the biggest ditherer in the history of politics.
Its a shame that MPs cannot be sacked because Derek Conways offence deserves it, OK he's had the whip taken away, not much else David Cameron can do. However if his local Association has any steel they should de-select him immediately, this man along with Hain, & Harmon,  are not fit to be in Parliament.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#8)

by RedRooster on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 06:44:21 PM GMT

" I suppose you could say exactly the same about Gordon Brown the biggest ditherer in the history of politics."

You 'suppose?'  Rubbish.  Either say so, and back it up with evidence, or don't say it at all.

Just because David Cameron keeps on throwing the term 'ditherer' around doesn't mean it actually means anything.  GB took horribly difficult decisions on Northern Rock and on public sector pay.  Cameron changes his views depending on the latest headline.

The one legitimate thing GB obviously did 'dither' on was the General Election- but I see that more as a case of a naive team trying to emulate the politics of spin that had served Blair so well in his early years.  Every time Gordon Brown actually makes a decision for himself, he does fine.  He only has problems when he tries to triangulate and do what he thinks people want him to do, rather than what is actually right. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#9)

by dickwishart on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 06:50:26 PM GMT

I'm sorry I thought I had said so, never mind you just carry on living in your own dream world ( no doubt you also believe that inflation is only 2%).


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#18)

by spiderlounge on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:02:13 AM GMT

So you mean Cameron should have stuck by Conway? That's ridiculous!


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Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#12)

by NorthernMonkey on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 07:24:53 PM GMT

It's so typical of Conservatives to throw the 'well you're just as bad as we are' card.

Why can't you just take responsibility this time and admit that your party screwed up over this?


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#20)

by dickwishart on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:09:39 PM GMT

It will be interesting to see your comments about Lord hoyle taking the brown envelopes, or will you just ignore it as you did with Hain, Harmon, Alexander?


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#22)

by NorthernMonkey on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:52:36 PM GMT

That has no relevance to this article - as I said, stop deflecting blame and admit the Tories screwed this one up.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#25)

by dickwishart on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:54:08 PM GMT

I am in no way deflecting blame as you can see from earlier post No 6, nor am I in a state of denial which seems to afflict you.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#27)

by NorthernMonkey on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:40:54 AM GMT

I've not denied anything which is undeniable.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#7)

by JM on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 05:36:45 PM GMT

The real story in this is the split between the Davisites, of which Conway is one, and the Cameroons.

Nick Robinson said that Davis clearly wanted Conway to stay. This is Cameron giving a real slap in the face to his previous opponent.


Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#13)

by bishophill on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 08:02:25 PM GMT

I'm sure everyone who is interested in the integrity of Parliament will welcome Conway's having the whip withdrawn. With a bit of luck, his constituency will deselect him.

I'm sure there will be widespread agreement among commenters here that lawmakers cannot be lawbreakers. 

 


Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#14)

by dickwishart on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 08:07:24 PM GMT

I agree completely.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#15)

by Al on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 08:19:00 PM GMT

Nick Robinson seems to believe it shows a split within ranks of the Tories. I think the whole thing will blow over but it will provide some welcome relief for Labour and PMQs should hopefully be a chance for Gordon to score a few points off Cameron this week.

It might be more interesting if things get tough for the tories in the next couple of years and the split resurfaces.

I'd expect Labour to try fling a few U-turn and dithering insults back at Cameron (which would be true, unlike "some" of the dithering taunts thrown at Brown lately) but I expect they might hold back as the word is too associated with Brown now!


Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#16)

by lastword on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 08:53:21 PM GMT

Labour people whould stop underestimating Cameron.  He's another Thatcher in the making and hard as nails with it.  I know we're all Labour supporters, but trying to pretend that Brown is decisive and Cameron isn't just for the sake of political punch and judy is ridiculous.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#19)

by swatantra on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 09:21:28 AM GMT

As we've said before, all parties have to look again at how their MP's use public money. The good thing about all these funding and expenses rows is that the public are no longer preprared to put up with their MPs trying to skate around the rules which any other decent citizen has to put up with. MPs have to be more accountable and a bit more business like in keeping proper records and evidence of their expenses. And Party funding has to be a bit more transparent,


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#23)

by NorthernMonkey on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 05:57:47 PM GMT

Cameron's not decisive - he just makes every decision based on what the media reaction is.

Take his u-turn on grammar schools, taking the Tories into a new European Parliament party and Derek Conway as just three examples of this.

Brown on the other hand, gave independence to the Bank of England on the very first day he became Chancellor. You can't get more decisive than this.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#24)

by lastword on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 07:49:15 PM GMT

I'm sorry but I were a member of the general public at the moment I would be blowing Cameron's way.  It's time for new blood at the top of our party.  Roll on Balls vs Miliband.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#26)

by NorthernMonkey on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:40:07 AM GMT

lastword, I can't help but remembering that you are a Tory.

Wouldn't be surprising since so many are here (must be getting dull over at Dale's site).

When you come out with comments like "I'm sorry but I were a member of the general public at the moment I would be blowing Cameron's way", it kinds of makes it obvious. Nice try though, but be more subtle next time.


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#29)

by JM on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 09:09:24 AM GMT

"At the top of our party"

??? You admitted you were a Tory the other day (after admitting that you were trying to pretend to be a Labour supporter) 


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#30)

by lastword on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:53:19 PM GMT

Sorry, guys, I'm afraid I'm a fully paid member of the LP.  I have never rated Brown and think he's about to lose us the next election.  Bury your heads in the sand by all means but to me Balls or Miliband would do a better job of keeping us in power next time around...


[ Parent ]

Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#28)

by Just Labour on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 08:49:56 AM GMT

I dont think that the Conway situation or the news that Tory MPs have now been told they can and should participate in the newspaper survey on spousal/familial employment (having the previous day been told they should not) is a sign of Cameron the ditherer...more, Cameron the flip flopper. Maybe he takes more from Romney than Obama!


Re: Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery (#31)

by rwendland on Fri Feb 01, 2008 at 11:01:39 AM GMT

Was amused to read that Henry Conway, the elder son, had written a piece in the New Statesman about a fashion exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum 3 years ago. The Tories don't seem keen on the family (now?), gossipping ""His job appears to be throwing parties at clubs for spoilt trust-fund kids," says one unimpressed Tory worker. News that he held a "F*** Off I'm Rich" party at a Chelsea nightclub last November says it all."

Another interesting Tory view on Conway the MP is:

Some think that Conway was "psychologically damaged" by losing his seat in 1997. "He thinks he and his family lost out, that he gave his pound of flesh to politics and it was time to be repaid."

He first became an MP at age 30 (1983: Shrewsbury and Atcham), so had 3 terms before losing at age 43. A career as an MP certainly has its risks as well as benefits for a family. The temptation for "recompense" must be strong when you get back in. We certainly need more openness on expenses and allowances to control this.


Cameron Flip-Flops on the Conway Controvery | 31 comments (31 topical)