Differences Over Davis: Westminster Village v the People
David Davis’ resignation from the Shadow Cabinet and Parliament shows the fundamental differences between Westminster politicians and commentariat the people.
Whilst they appear to look at it solely through the eyes of party politics - asking questions such as “how will this affect the Conservative party” and “how will this affect David Davis’ career” - the people, whilst suspicious of his motives, are generally supportive of him and glad to see that a politician is putting his principles in to practice.
They are glad to see a politician who, firstly has principles - a rare thing - and, even rarer, a politician who is willing to put his job and career on the line for his principles. A politician who is willingly subjecting himself to an election. Asking the people to make a choice themselves, rather than dictating to them from a parliamentary bench.
And this is why, rather than Davis’ resignation causing a backlash against the Tories, it has seen a shift in the polls in their favour. This shift will increase over time as Davis demonstrates his reasons in full, and his integrity is made clear.
This entry is filed under David Davis, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
The Davis resignation throws up two issues which both deserves political analysis: namely the reasons for Davis doing this and also the wider political impacts. The two of course are very closely linked.
Davis’ support of our civil liberties is something I support and I am glad he taken this stand in many ways.
However, there are impacts on the Conservative party - and not necessarily as you report them.
“And this is why, rather than Davis’ resignation causing a backlash against the Tories, it has seen a shift in the polls in their favour.”
The backlash against the Tories is not likely to come directly as a result of Davis’ action. Rather, it is more likely that Davis’ actions will lead to ruptures in the Tory party. If and when these ruptures are played out publicly it is then more likely the Tory support will be tested. A party battling with itself rarely does well at the polls.
There are obviously some big “ifs” in all this, but public backing for Davis is not in itself the end of this story. The ironic thing is, if Davis is extremely successful in this stand the impacts could be even greater on in-house Tory relations.
Every street corner should have a poster stuck up!