I was very pleased to read that Lib Dem David Heath will be defying the party whip by voting for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. It's a very brave decision and he could face disciplinary action for his heroic stance.
However there is one little problem: David's constituency of Somerton and Frome has been targeted for a mock referendum by the "I want a Referendum" campaign. A campaign which I fully support. Obviously David's recent announcement to vote for a referendum has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works. David is asking why he has been targeted for a mock referendum given his stance. The Norfolk Blogger (Nich Starling) is asking if the campaign is just a Tory front seeing as it is still holding a mock referendum in David's constituency despite him being in favour of a national referendum.
Being a Conservative I found Nich's post a little disturbing. I do not want this campaign to be used as, or seen to be, a Tory front. So I called the people at "I want a referendum" for an explanation. It seems that they have been trying (and failing) to get an answer out of David for a while. They say that until the last couple of days his position has not been clear and they had still not heard from David. I asked if they would cancel the mock referendum in his constituency if he could guarantee his position. They said that it was too late as the ballot papers had already been sent out. But they did assure me that they would very publicly make it be known, both nationally and in David's constituency that he had supported and voted for the referendum.
This brings up some questions:
If David had made is position clear to the "I want a referendum" campaign from the beginning, would they have cancelled the mock referendum in his constituency? - I would like to think so (but being a Tory I would, wouldn't I).
The other question that needs to be asked is this: If David Heath has only very recently announced his decision to vote in favour of a referendum, then is this due to the success of the "I want a referendum" campaign targeting his constituency? - I will give David the benefit of the doubt and believe that he is acting on his conscience - not the fear of losing his seat.
7 comments:
I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt. David Heath is a pretty straight talking sort of guy.
Nich,
I think you are right about his character. He deserves support from all sides.
His position is very clear. Maybe the referendum campaign are thinking he might be beaten into submission by Clegg and change his position. After all Gisela Stuart and Graham Stringer did.
Tony,
They did hint at that when I spoke to them. They do feel that he could cave in to the pressure.
Came upon your site by accident when looking up information on why some apparently pro referendum MPs were being targeted. Iwantareferendum seem to marshalling an awful lot of Tory party members to deliver their leaflets in David's constituency - could it possibly be because it is a marginal seat they are hoping to win
Regarding you comment about when David took up his pro referendum vote can I point you to the following website dated September 2007 http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/foreign-policy/mps-launch-campaign-eu-referendum-$478056.htm
PS am only anonymous because can't work out all the other options are - not very computer minded
m sorry,but the IWAR campaign in the Frome/Somerton constituency is a cynical attack on David Heath by Annunziata Rees-Mogg. Its simply playing into the folks who dont know,or dont want to know Davids VERY PUBLIC opinion on this matter. The fact that Frome was covered in illegal fly posters with davids head superimposed on someone else body in an effort to show him in a light that simply wasnt true,shows the depths the Tories will sink to get votes. Agree with the party or not,but David HEath is honest and right for Frome.
WELL...Now you have it. David Heath has the courage and conviction. Hes lost his job over this. I wonder what the Rees-Moggs and the IWAR people are going to do now...superimpose his head Bin Ladens? I wouldnt put it past them. This is dirty politics against a rare honest politician..... i say, keep these london Tory interlopers OUT of the countryside
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