Shame

Recently fellow blogger extraordinaire Benny Austwick announced to the world that he has decided to leave the Conservative Party and shift his blog to an independent political stance.

This follows an incident involving the word “pikey”, twitter, a complaint to David Cameron and a phone call from the top ranks of the Tory Party. Suffice it to say his treatment by the party leadership has led him to see no other alternative than to leave the Conservatives, effectively for their own good. He hasn’t left because of major political disagreements (he still broadly supports the Conservatives) but because he no longer felt he could say what he pleased. Rather worrying for a party so dedicated to freedom and civil liberties. What has it come to when individuals such as Benny feels he has to resign his membership? Due to one person’s complaint the party has lost a bright, talented individual with one of the most popular blogs in Wales. Shame.

The episode has highlighted a serious difficulty with being involved in party politics. Members in party positions unfortunately always have to be on guard in case something seemingly harmless they say is twisted by the PC brigade. As a result people whose job it is to have opinions can’t feel they can say what they really think in case it is somehow used to damage the party and its electoral chances. The current state of affairs is damaging for democracy, it is wrong and British politics is worse for it. A few months ago my local councillor was informed he would be de-selected because of a quiz he took on Facebook. A bloody quiz!

The so-called mavericks of British politics are just people who are more independently minded and we need more of them! Boris Johnson, Daniel Hannan, Benny Austwick… these people are the future!