Living in a country where power see-saws between two fairly unappealing political parties is bad enough, but now the Conservative Party is doing its best to win elections for Labour. Not content with embarrassing splits on European policy and arcane leadership struggles, the Tories have now invited a racist, sexist comedian to address their party conference.
I dislike most Conservative policies, but I would like an opposition that challenges Labour, that asks difficult questions and can earn respect from even non-supporters like me. I suspect now that even this is to much to ask.
It looks very much as if they Conservative party is trying to reposition itself toward being a party of the people by making certain noises and hiring comedians who would probably be seen by the party heirarchy as appealing to the blue collar workers.
It just shows how out of touch they are, I do not know any folk who would unreservedly endorse Jim’s act, you sometimes see folk react with a guilty smirk at some of his material but it is as much a reaction to a realisation that this is more than just stretching humour to forbidden territory and one of inwardly being amused at something that is inherently wrong.
Jim sees himself as a great patriot, he does go to some trouble to put shows on for the armed forces in far flung and pretty hostile places, and he is known for his charity work but sadly this is far outweighed by his controversial material.
He isn’t really any differant from the person who emerged on the UK media in the late 70’s but things have moved on a good deal and he has been left high and dry.
I suppose the Conservatives are like a stranded fish trying to make it back to water, flapping around futiley and inneffectively, not understanding the political environment has altered.
They seem to lack coherance, making noises that are often at odds with the image that most Britons have of them.
The supposed changes that Ian Duncan-Smith tries out are most unconvincing when the gut feeling is that it is not genuinely felt by the rest of that party, there is a lack of sincerity.
Those 18 years of Tory misrule, of corruption and of whole regions of the UK and complete layers of society being alienated to Conservative ideals are now costing them dearly.
That’s a great description. Very apt. I just fail to understand just how out-of-touch the party can become, or how it can fail to see how Labour’s unprincipled pragmatism (which was the founding ‘principle’ of the Conservatives, I always believed) allows them to adapt so quickly.
I actually have nothing personal against Davidson. I don’t like his style of humour, but I’m sure many do and you’re right, he does do a lot of good things.
Excellent. Doesn’t this come on the back of that anti-EU Hitler promo ?
Absolutely agree, casdave – utterly out of touch.
I actually know very little of Jim Davidson although I’m familiar with the accusations of sexism and racism. Having said that, I do vaguely recall the “nig nog” stuff from, perhaps, 15-20 years ago but times, understandings and sensibilities have changed. Is he really the same now – I just don’t know ?
I have to say that, as a relatively unreconstructed Labourite, he seems a wonderful choice: 20 years out of date, ignorant, Thatcherite…everything you don’t want in your trendy luvvy supporters.
I recall a little while ago hearing Davidson warning off an interviewer who had referred to his material as racist. He claimed that had been disproven in court, but didn’t add any further details (and since I’m old enough to remember the Chalky White stuff it held no water for me). He also said with a cheery smile that calling him a sexist would have been OK.
Although I’ve spent my whole adult life despising the Tory party I agree that any democracy needs a vigorous opposition, and there hasn’t been one for some years now.
Anybody else catch Duncan-Smith as guest “B” on Johnny Vaughn the other night? Pitiable.
Yeah well … for how many year/elections/generations could the Tories rely on Labour’s immolation?
Such malarkey is a sure sign that a party has become resigned to the realisation that they may be in opposition for their entire career. An opposition behaving as a rabble doesn’t make for good government.
New Labour is the result of a long civil war within the party. The Tories look like they are in the throes of a similar struggle. I wonder whether the outcome might be analogous ie the creation of a middle ground party (which will largely ape New Labour, but will be electable once the goverment grows stale), and the creation of one or more fringle extreme right parties (or perhaps a major boost for the UK Independence mob).