Comments on: Slings and arrows http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:23:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: mavis http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1345 mavis Sun, 08 Jan 2006 13:41:05 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1345 What this past few days has shown me is that the 'Lib Dems' are no better than any other political party. They anonymously briefed against him' but did not openly use their own constitution to challenge him. Why am I not surprised. What this past few days has shown me is that the ‘Lib Dems’ are no better than any other political party. They anonymously briefed against him’ but did not openly use their own constitution to challenge him.

Why am I not surprised.

]]> By: leyton.org » Charles Kennedy departs http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1344 leyton.org » Charles Kennedy departs Sun, 08 Jan 2006 13:28:36 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1344 [...] I recently wrote about the Charles Kennedy situation, so the news that Charles Kennedy quit doesn’t come as a surprise. As Will Howells eloquently points out, he simply can’t lead when those he seeks to lead on daily basis (his MP’s) no longer support him in large numbers. [...] [...] I recently wrote about the Charles Kennedy situation, so the news that Charles Kennedy quit doesn’t come as a surprise. As Will Howells eloquently points out, he simply can’t lead when those he seeks to lead on daily basis (his MP’s) no longer support him in large numbers. [...]

]]> By: doctorvee » So Kennedy has gone http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1342 doctorvee » So Kennedy has gone Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:03:11 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1342 [...] But that all seemed to change with Charles Kennedy’s announcement of the leadership election, and the cofession that he had suffered from a drink problem (and the following Newsnight poll that suggested that half of his MPs had lost confidence in him). Overnight, Lib Dem bloggers seemed to change their mind completely. [...] [...] But that all seemed to change with Charles Kennedy’s announcement of the leadership election, and the cofession that he had suffered from a drink problem (and the following Newsnight poll that suggested that half of his MPs had lost confidence in him). Overnight, Lib Dem bloggers seemed to change their mind completely. [...]

]]> By: Chris Black http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1341 Chris Black Sat, 07 Jan 2006 16:52:18 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1341 David, you said: <i>"Also please no body think this is just about CK’s drinking which has been common knowledge since before he was elected." </i> At my office, we use "common knowledge" to mean <i> "things that everyone ought to know but doesn't." </i> David, you said:

“Also please no body think this is just about CK’s drinking which has been common knowledge since before he was elected.”

At my office, we use “common knowledge” to mean “things that everyone ought to know but doesn’t.”

]]> By: Stephen Glenn http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1334 Stephen Glenn Sat, 07 Jan 2006 03:39:54 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1334 Add to that list myself after an evening of reflection at a Lib Dem function. http://linlithgow-libdems.blogspot.com/2006/01/bowing-to-inevitable.html Add to that list myself after an evening of reflection at a Lib Dem function.

http://linlithgow-libdems.blogspot.com/2006/01/bowing-to-inevitable.html

]]> By: Niles’s Blog » Kennedy can’t go on http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1333 Niles’s Blog » Kennedy can’t go on Sat, 07 Jan 2006 02:25:37 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1333 [...] Richard Allan, Will Howells, the people at Apollo, Jonathan Calder are amongst the many. [...] [...] Richard Allan, Will Howells, the people at Apollo, Jonathan Calder are amongst the many. [...]

]]> By: Matthew Pearce http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1332 Matthew Pearce Sat, 07 Jan 2006 00:40:55 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1332 When John Major called a leadership election to silence the bastards in his own party in 1995, he never recovered even after winning the support of his MPs. When a leader needs to seek clarification of support from his troupes, the "bastards" scent blood and will not let it go. I fear Charles is now finished if no MP challenges him, as the backbiting will continue. And if one does and Charles wins... will his leadership limp on until 2009? It's enough to drive you to drink (ooo should I have said that?) When John Major called a leadership election to silence the bastards in his own party in 1995, he never recovered even after winning the support of his MPs. When a leader needs to seek clarification of support from his troupes, the “bastards” scent blood and will not let it go.

I fear Charles is now finished if no MP challenges him, as the backbiting will continue. And if one does and Charles wins… will his leadership limp on until 2009?

It’s enough to drive you to drink (ooo should I have said that?)

]]> By: Thinking Aloud: The Pulpmovies Weblog » We’ll be sorry to see him go http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1331 Thinking Aloud: The Pulpmovies Weblog » We’ll be sorry to see him go Fri, 06 Jan 2006 23:22:12 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1331 [...] I’ve not said much - or anything - about Charles Kennedy’s leadership for a number of reasons, but I think Will Howells sums things up excellently: [Charles] has done great things for us so I’ll be sad to see him go, but go he must. There will be a leadership election, but Charles should not be a candidate. [...] [...] I’ve not said much – or anything – about Charles Kennedy’s leadership for a number of reasons, but I think Will Howells sums things up excellently: [Charles] has done great things for us so I’ll be sad to see him go, but go he must. There will be a leadership election, but Charles should not be a candidate. [...]

]]> By: Chris Black http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1330 Chris Black Fri, 06 Jan 2006 20:33:24 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1330 Will, you have summed things up very well. Will, you have summed things up very well.

]]> By: david http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/comment-page-1/#comment-1328 david Fri, 06 Jan 2006 19:41:31 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/01/06/slings-and-arrows/#comment-1328 its difficult to argue with this analysis how ever "should he go?" and "should he have been put in a position where he has to go?" are different questions. The leader is elected by the party. The constitution sets out a perfectly clear mechanism for removing a leader. However the malcontents have not used this. Instead they have used the 24 hour news cycle as a weapon and anonymous briefing to create a media inferno which has now consumed charles. Its a sad, perhaps terminal day for the party as a democratic organisation when, not being able to pass a no confidence motion, this media weapon is used. Also please no body think this is just about CK's drinking which has been common knowledge since before he was elected. Some people in the party are no longer willing to put up with "fudge" over direction (which has served us well). If this coup d'tat now leads us the asecendcy of a psuedo blairite make over, just as the nation tires of the real thing then a lot of people will only have there selves to blame. finally I can't help but wonder if this fiasco is really a vote winner. after all these people relected the man only 7 months ago. It is a sad and I shed a small tear for a leader who did well and deserved better than this. as enoch powell observed "all political careers end in tears". its difficult to argue with this analysis how ever “should he go?” and “should he have been put in a position where he has to go?” are different questions. The leader is elected by the party. The constitution sets out a perfectly clear mechanism for removing a leader. However the malcontents have not used this. Instead they have used the 24 hour news cycle as a weapon and anonymous briefing to create a media inferno which has now consumed charles. Its a sad, perhaps terminal day for the party as a democratic organisation when, not being able to pass a no confidence motion, this media weapon is used.

Also please no body think this is just about CK’s drinking which has been common knowledge since before he was elected. Some people in the party are no longer willing to put up with “fudge” over direction (which has served us well). If this coup d’tat now leads us the asecendcy of a psuedo blairite make over, just as the nation tires of the real thing then a lot of people will only have there selves to blame.

finally I can’t help but wonder if this fiasco is really a vote winner. after all these people relected the man only 7 months ago. It is a sad and I shed a small tear for a leader who did well and deserved better than this. as enoch powell observed “all political careers end in tears”.

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