A leading member of my local party e-mails to say "Part of me dreads the downfall of the coalition government. I am enjoying it so much.'
He has read Total Politics' confessions of Eric Pickles. Clowns are defined as comical performers, stereotypically characterised by their grotesque appearances. That's Eric.
My great friend Gordon Prentice's Pendle seat was bought by Ashcroft's money. He was targeted because he persistently campaigned to reveal the truth of the malign antidemocratic influence of the Ashcroft gold. Pickles has confirmed thrice the truth that money bought votes
Iain Dale: What do you think Lord Ashcroft is going to say about you in his book, which he is apparently writing?
Eric Pickles: I've got enormous respect for the good Lord. Bless his heart. I don't think I'd be sat here without him. But the guy is caustic and jolly and, whatever he has to say, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. We would not be here without him. I know he's very controversial. But ultimately, we're here because of what he did.
Did the cock crow at the thrice spoken truth?
Recess task
It's recess. so it's time to get down to concentrated work.
The refreshing change from the daily grind of parliamentray routine at Westminster is writing books. While constituency work continue with a full service for constituents, there is time for writing. Last August it was my autobiography that was largely written in August. This year it will be a biography of my greatly missed friend the late David Taylor. Anyone with fond memories of David is invited to contribute. I have written to every MP:-
Dear Colleague,
With the cooperation of David's widow and family I am preparing a biography of our colleague who died suddenly last Christmas. It will be an appreciation of David's unique qualities that persuaded his fellow MPs to name him the backbencher of the year. I would be extremely grateful if you could let me have any recollections, telling anecdotes or just your appreciation of David's work especially on his individual merits and humour. It is partly intended to balance some of the grossly anti-MP press coverage that troubled David in the final months of his life. It will be a story of a good honourable MP.
Hagiographies are not always readable so stories about those events that did not go absolutely smoothly in David's work would be welcome. Some colleagues have already been in touch. Many thanks. All your contributions will be used and acknowledged.
The biography will be written in the spirit of the attached obituary that I wrote.
This is not a commercial enterprise in any way. If, by any miracle, there is a financial surplus it will be donated to one of the charities that David supported.
Thanks in anticipation.
David Taylor was a supremely resourceful backbencher, a polymath and a unique parliamentary craftsman.
In the three final days of David's parliamentary life before the Christmas recess he asked a remarkable ten oral questions and initiated a parliamentary debate. As always, his words were authoritive, penetrating and humourous.
He applied his nimble, well-furnished mind to deploy every weapon in the backbenchers’ armory. Ministers braced themselves for the inevitable David Taylor question. His formula for oral questions was a courteous introduction that flattered the answering minister, then a deadly adjectival triple fusillade, usually lubricated with humour and a final unanswerable coda.
'I exculpate the Minister, who is a very able man of great integrity, but what should be done about the lamentable failures of that ill-conceived, incoherent and incompetent organisation? Perhaps the guilty parties could be locked up for egregious negligence as a pilot group in one of the Minister’s fabled titan prisons—if there is one big enough.'
The House of Commons Library kindly measured for me the extent to which he mastered oral questions including the newly fangled topical ones. He tops all tables with a massive 84 topical questions and 121 other orals. Many were opportunistic, called because of his permanent presence in the Chamber. He scored highly in the value for money league table of MPs who work the hardest for the lowest unit cost.
His stylish audacious use of language was a delight. He extended the stale vocabulary of the Commons with adventurous English. Occasionally he overindulged his alliteration asking, “Is it forever the fate of football fans to be fleeced by flaky foreign financiers?'
His independent unique approach to parliamentary procedure has left its legacy. A ‘David Taylor vote’ is the only way of registering a positive abstention. When in doubt, David voted in both the No and the Aye lobbies. It’s hard to explain to constituents. But it’s good sense until Parliament comes up with a better idea.
He was never what Tony Wright called a ‘When?’ politician, seeking when he was going to get a job, or get promotion or a prized favour. David was a ‘Why?’ MP, asking why is that happening? Why can’t it be improved? Why are we repeating errors?
Ambition or ministerial office never captured his interest. He never sought self-aggrandisement or empty publicity. His satisfaction came from worthwhile reforms. He spoke with sensitivity and understanding on the care of the elderly and strains of family life. He inspired campaigns for improved residential care, for the smoking ban and humane treatment of laboratory animals. Yvette Cooper praised his contribution to improved cancer services.
He was first elected in 1997 as a fully-fledged expert in accountancy and computers. He flailed PFI as ‘prohibitive in cost, flawed in concept and intolerable in consequence.’ He excoriated the Rural Payments Agency for their ‘failure to properly specify, design and control a major public sector computer development’. He passionately denounced the parliamentary system that allows the ‘Executive to take liberties with democracy, generating an atavistic herd instinct that strangles independent thought and objectivity’. He devised a practical strategy for correcting the harm of the 10p tax debacle.
But he was loyal to the core values of the Labour Party. He described himself as a ‘typical working class’ and a ‘mushy peas rather than a guacamole socialist’ His never failing courtesy and lack of malice secured the affection of all colleagues. He served his constituency with maternal zeal. David’s iconic success and character makes him an admirable model for the new parliamentarians of 2010.
We will miss his friendship, modesty, his infectious laugh and his kindness. Parliament is bereaved.
Rest in peace, Comrade
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