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John Redwood for Next PM?

(58 Posts)
HollyDaze Fri 19-Sept-14 14:55:41

I don't know much about him but given that David Cameron seems reluctant to go too far down the English parliament route and John Redwood seems to want it, do you think that will put Redwood in the running to replace Cameron? Is there a risk that this will divide the Tory Party?

With more powers promised for Holyrood in the event of a "No" vote in Scotland, the PM is facing demands for a separate governing body for England.

Senior Tory MPs want an end to the anomaly that allows Scottish MPs to vote on England-only issues.

He [Cameron] suggested the government had a plan - as set out in last year's McKay commission report - on how MPs should deal with legislation that affects only part of the UK but it was not "remotely near" creating an English Parliament.

Instead, Commons committees considering England-only legislation would be staffed by MPs representing English constituencies.

"It's not something we've set out because today we're talking about the extra power the Scottish government will get," Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 5 live's Pienaar's Politics.

John Redwood told BBC Radio 5 live: "If you are going to give tax powers to Scotland and to Wales, England will want exactly the same tax powers and we will want our own Parliament.

"And the simplest and cheapest way of doing that is that people elected as Westminster MPs, for English constituencies, can do an extra job and meet as an English Parliament and choose our tax rates to complement those that the Scottish Parliament has chosen."

The McKay Commission [...] 'ruled out an English Parliament, saying Scottish MPs would also be allowed to vote on issues affecting England to avoid creating two different classes of MP and provoking "deadlock between the UK government and the majority of MPs in England".

Story in full: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29219162

Elegran Tue 23-Sept-14 08:21:23

I don't think he saved the Union, at the beginning it was a minority wish, until Salmond fanned the flames while Westminster stood fiddling. I think Cameron et al almost lost the Union with their shilly shallying about. Why didn't they say at the start that they loved the Scots and would be devastated if they left, and the country would be the worse for them going? That might have had more effect than the approach they did have, denial followed by denigration, followed by panic.

Lona Tue 23-Sept-14 08:42:02

I thought that the point of the civil service was to advise Ministers, and provide the expertise/knowledge that the Ministers clearly don't have.

HollyDaze Tue 23-Sept-14 10:58:29

HollyDaze, how do you know that "he never took notice of anyone who gave him advice?"

From listening to and reading, reports about him durhamjen:

Many of yesterday’s revelations about Mr Brown’s behaviour had been rumoured at Westminster for several years, but they were formally published for the first time in a book by Mr Rawnsley, serialised in a Sunday newspaper.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown/7287706/Gordon-Brown-criticised-by-anti-bullying-chief.html

Mr Brown’s capacity for anger is well known

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7286123/Gordon-Brown-psychological-flaws-is-starting-to-look-like-an-understatment.html

"He suffers from a massive paranoia and an inability to accept blame, yet he runs a blame culture that allows him to blame others. He does not seek to win an argument, he just seeks to bully. If you have not worked closely with him before, it is truly shocking."

Comments from a senior former adviser to Gordon Brown: blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100026921/what-darkness-lies-behind-gordon-browns-aggressive-personality/

I could post a lot more.

HollyDaze Tue 23-Sept-14 11:00:03

What qualifications does Osborne have?

My response to that lies in the last sentence of the quote you copied.

POGS Tue 23-Sept-14 15:44:11

John Redwood is 'marmite' but he is in the Frank Field, Norman Tebbitt camp of MP's who say what they think and mean what they say whether it plays to the party line or not, I like that type of MP.

He is a mature debator and not given to childish rhetoric or shouts abuse at those who are of a different opinion, unlike some who think being heard is more important than having something worth listening to to make their point.

It has to be recognised that he is not a people person but that should not define his worth but it would not be a successful chacteristic for a Prime Minister.

The fact he was caught on camera trying to join in singing and looked a little silly has about as much worth as implying Miliband is a useless idiot because he was caught on camera gurning whilst eating a bacon sandwich.

HollyDaze Tue 23-Sept-14 17:20:12

It's nice to hear an alternative view of him. It would be comforting to know that not all politicians just play the party line and think of the country first. What a change that would make!

rosequartz Tue 23-Sept-14 18:02:27

The fact he was caught on camera trying to join in singing and looked a little silly has about as much worth as implying Miliband is a useless idiot because he was caught on camera gurning whilst eating a bacon sandwich.
POGS sorry, I can't really agree with that. If a politician was appointed as Welsh Secretary and knew (or his advisers should have known and informed him) that he would be attending events in Wales where the National Anthem was to be sung then he should really have learnt the Anthem.
I do think he is a clever man but people will always remember that incident unfortunately. A bit different to Miliband chomping on a bacon sandwich (which I had forgotten).
Frank Field, Norman Tebbitt, Tony Benn - all conviction politicians imo. Agree with them or not.