Toby Helm, writing in The Guardian, notes the growing unease of Tory rebel 'Young Guns' who are disenchanted with life in the Coalition, believing that it is inhibiting their progress up the political ladder.
"Unhappy at having to govern with the Liberal Democrats? Frustrated at the lack of opportunities for promotion? Miffed at not having the ear of No 10? All are symptoms of a malaise among young Tory MPs disappointed by their life as backbenchers in a coalition." (Emphasis mine)
But surely, it is a wish to serve those that elect an MP, not the potential for personal advancement, that makes one stand for office? Or have I missed the plot and 'politics' is indeed a career?
Amongst those cited as being 'unhappy' is Priti Patel (although surely, a misnomer where the 'first' name is concerned), someone who wishes for "a ressertion of Tory policy updated for the 21st century" - which must include a belief in self-government - yet this is an MP who has made herself 'unavailable' when important votes on matters EU have been held.
The fact that we may well have 'exciting' times to come within the Conservative Party could well be true - if only we had a Conservative Party..............
4 comments:
I thought that you would have learnt long ago that at least 95% of politicians are in politics for their own good.
I think I would be hard pushed to find more than a dozen whom I feel have gone into politics because they believe that they can do something for their constituents, and hopefully the country.
Maybe it's me but Priti Patel would not be sent from the SAoT bed in disgrace.....
She's all yours then SAoT.
Many MPs view politics and their tenure as a career rather than a calling or public service. But then, this is because we have allowed that to happen. We have abdicated our responsibility for scrutinising the selection of candidates within parties, who are then elected to Parliament. We seem to think that just because we currently live in a democracy (well, we don't, but at least some people believe it to be the case), we can sit back and that will always be the case. Not so.
EP: I have now 'learnt' - so just making up for lost ground.........
Saot: And there was I believing you were someone of taste - I may be getting on a bit, but I'm not that desperate yet......
CP: Agreed, yes agreed tenfold! We are indeed just as guilty.....
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