Tom Harris MP reviews

Total of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan = 285

General Election 2010 Part Two

Joined a dawn chorus on BBC Wales to welcome a day of unique political drama.

Four of us chirped and postured between 7.00 and 8.00 am. The new 'Adam Price',   Jonathan Edwards was belligerent. He  demanded a coalition that included Plaid's mighty total of 3 MPs. Adding them to Labour 258 plus assorted odds and ends would create a creaky tottering total that might survive for a week or two in the parliamentary battle field.

Mike German did not make it to the studio and was speaking from his phone, probably lying in bed. He was asked to give his valuable views as someone experienced in building a coalition in Wales. It worked once but, as I recall, it was the LibDems who found it impossible to deliver a coalition with Labour a second time  because of their interminable internecine bickering. Having a different policy for every parish will be a handicap if they become part of the Government.

Genial conqueror of Lembit Opik, Tory Glyn Davies was cautious. He did not want to say anything that would sabotage the delicate negotiations that were going on. Nobody laughed. It's instant post-election megalomania. The danger of the London's titanic  bargaining being destroyed by a careless talk on BBC Wales is a tad remote. 

Farmer Glyn is remembered for being stopped by the police for having a dodgy rear light on his truck. The circumstances provoked hoots of derision from the English tabloid press because  it confirmed their foulest prejudices about Wales. Prior to being stopped he fell into some sheep dung. He removed his trousers. He was caught driving in wellington boots, without trousers with a load in sheep in the back of his truck.

Of course, I was the epitome of discretion and good sense in the discussion. A Labour plus liquorice all-sorts coalition is impossible. A Con-Lib-Dem one  would be short-lived and unstable. A minority Tory government might last for a year or two until Cameron ch-oses his pretext for a new General Election.

A word to all Newport West Labour supporters. Don't throw away or re-cycle your party signs or unused leaflets. We will need them for re-use in the near future.

Paul Flynn’s The Unusual Suspect reviewed on ePolitiX.com

The Unusual Suspect by Paul Flynn
Reviewed by Tom Harris for ePolitiX.com

I probably disagree with Paul Flynn on more issues than I care to list. He and I do not occupy the same geographical position on the broad and colourful spectrum that is the modern Labour Party. He clearly does not share my admiration for Tony Blair or my enthusiasm for nuclear power.

He is, nevertheless, one of the best writers I know – not just ‘a good writer for an MP’, but a very good writer. Full stop. His love of wordcraft comes across powerfully, beautifully and movingly.

The Unusual Suspect, the Newport West MP’s memoirs, is the kind of book that could achieve the virtually impossible task of persuading the reader that politicians are more than speech-makers, legislators and soundbite-creators; that they are, in fact, rounded human beings with the same back story as those they represent.

Paul, as a highly regarded parliamentarian – now in his seventies and standing again for re-election in his Welsh seat – recalls his life’s main events with a beguiling clarity and honesty.

The dramatic and serendipitous events that formed the careers of better-known political figures are well documented: Tony Blair’s successful lobbying to be reinstated on the Sedgefield shortlist after his name had been removed, Gordon Brown becoming the youngest-ever rector of Edinburgh University, William Hague’s famous (infamous?) teenage appearance on the Tory conference rostrum.

Flynn reminds his readers that a less extraordinary hinterland need not be a barrier to a political career. His early failure in academic life, his financial struggles as he and his wife brought up a young family, his job in the Llanwern steelworks, his divorce and remarriage… There is much to which the ordinary reader from a non-political background can relate.

He also successfully communicates his life’s great loves: the Welsh language and his wife, Sam, the description of whose battle with breast cancer reveals the very human and vulnerable side to Flynn.

But it is his retelling of when he and his first wife discovered the dead body of their 16-year-old daughter Rachel in her bedroom, that best illustrates Flynn’s writing ability. Here it is calm, measured and factual, but with human despair and desolation intruding through every dot and comma.

Throughout most of The Unusual Suspect, however, Flynn’s charm and humour shine through. His description of the early days in the Commons of a group of newly elected Welsh MPs brought a smile of recognition to my lips, while his plentiful and detailed analyses of various Labour Party selection contests made me grimace – again, with recognition.

He is, as one might expect, ruthless in his denunciation of those with whom he has crossed swords over the years. His personal attacks on Labour parliamentary colleagues come across as just a bit too bitter, and almost spoil the generally generous tone of the rest of the book. He falls into the trap of extreme sanctimoniousness when he dismisses the motives of those who wish to serve as ministers rather than backbenchers:

“My guru Tony Wright helpfully defined MPs as the Whys and the Whens. The Whens are obsessed with when they will get a job, go on a trip, be recognised as leaders. The Whys seek out the truth and remedies for reform.”

Flynn himself, as he records, served on Labour’s front bench in the Welsh and social security briefs, so was, at least for a time, a ‘When’ himself. Given how accessible The Unusual Suspect is to the non-political reader, it’s a pity that Flynn has chosen to perpetuate the anti-politics media myth that only backbenchers can ever be true to their principles, and that seeking ministerial office is, of itself, a compromise too far.

Nevertheless, most of the book is an unashamed celebration of politics. Like his previous book, Commons Knowledge (which I bought at Labour conference shortly after being selected as a candidate, but before I was elected), it’s packed with fantastic anecdotes illustrating the often weird life of an MP, whether at constituency or parliamentary level.

The Unusual Suspect is one of the best – and best written – political memoirs I’ve read. Any personal frailties which Flynn, either wittingly or unwittingly, exposes simply confirm the view that the electorate are best served by individuals as flawed and as complicated as themselves.

The Unusual Suspect by Paul Flynn
Biteback £19.99 256pp

Comments

[Kay Tie]

" I would have liked to see a Lib-Lab coalition"

The Liberal Democrats have never before had to hold a united front under public gaze: because no-one cared before about their policies. They could (and did) successfully say opposite things in different local campaigns.

Now, though, they have the chance for real power, and these contradictions will come to the fore. I doubt they can hold together a Lib-Con pact either: there are parts of the party that are for low tax, small-government, civil liberties, which would chime well with Cameron's half of the Tories.

There are other parts of the Lib Dem party that are high-tax, big-government and who care little for civil liberties. This half naturally fits with Labour.

I expect to see massive internal strains over whatever pact they eventually reach. And the same in whichever party joins with them: it's well-known that both Labour and Tory activists detest with a passion the Lib Dems for their underhand local campaigning tactics that never come under scrutiny. See, for example, Tom Harris's joke about business before pleasure:

http://www.tomharris.org.uk/2010/04/12/the-moral-dilemma/

[DG]

"If the numbers had been different there was a tiny possibility that Gordon could have held on for a short while if a straightforward simple coalition deal was available."

True that - I would have liked to see a Lib-Lab coalition, but not with these numbers.

[HuwOS]

"Poor Gordon. I think somebody persuasive must've told him that Labour would be able to pull off the progressive coalition and stay in power if he resigned."

If the numbers had been different there was a tiny possibility that Gordon could have held on for a short while if a straightforward simple coalition deal was available.
Even then his life expectancy as party leader would have been on the clock.
He was always going to be going after this election sooner rather than later.

I see the incapacity to understand the UK electoral system has extended itself to the top level of the tory party who now express the belief that PM's are elected.

As the Tories are now offering as a final offer a referendum on AV it seems they are more in agreement with Labour than with the LibDems.

LibDems should tell them to work it out amongst themselves and take up the role of proper opposition.

[Kay Tie]

"So, Gordon Brown is going to go."

No, he's not. He's going to hang around like a stubborn stain on the carpet.

"Any hint yet of a con/lab pact?"

Shudder.

Time to call another election.

[DG]

Poor Gordon. I think somebody persuasive must've told him that Labour would be able to pull off the progressive coalition and stay in power if he resigned. I'll stick my neck out and say I also think they lied.

[HuwOS]

So, Gordon Brown is going to go.
No real shock to anyone with that but as Richard says, there is no credible coalition of everyone but the tories that can make the numbers work.
I cannot see anyway in which the tories would not be involved in the government whether on their own or with a partner or two.

Any hint yet of a con/lab pact?

[DG]

Congratulations on your re-election Paul!

[Kay Tie]

"but you know what the narratives will be and none of them will not involve the LibDems."

The state of politics means that a deal will be hated by half the Tory Party and half the Liberal Democrat Party, even though many of the policies are identical (particularly on civil liberties).

I would very much welcome Nick Clegg as Home Secretary since I am suspicious of the Tory stance on civil liberties (for sure, Cameron seems genuine on it, but the old guard most certainly retain their authoritarianism).

[Richard T]

The arithmetic of a non Tory coalition entails either the SNP or the DUP making up the numbers, setting aside any reservations about the other components. In the former case, it's election year in Scotland and I think no more need be said; in the latter case, I'm not sure quite how other critical partners from Northern Ireland might view the DUP's participation - unfavourably I'd guess. So whatever preference there might be for a non Tory government, this one couldn't last.

Anyway my main point is to congratulate you on your re-election - your voice will be greatly needed in the next Parliament.

[HuwOS]

You say, well duh Kaytie, but you know what the narratives will be and none of them will not involve the LibDems.
While they have no less responsibility to help a government form, they also have no more responsibility than any other grouping.
But the two largest parties will be given a bye on doing their share and not just by the media but almost certainly by the electorate as well.

[Kay Tie]

"neither are serious about or even interested in providing governance for the country"

Well duh!

[HuwOS]

I fail to see why so many think it is all up to the LibDem's.

If a coalition is formed or if one is not, the LibDems cannot be blamed unless and until, Labour and the Tories as the two parties with the largest numbers of seats have attempted to reach a coalition agreement between themselves first.
If they don't even try, then it should be obvious that neither are serious about or even interested in providing governance for the country and when the next election comes around, should be borne in mind.