Thursday, November 08, 2007
Cardiff hustings - a personal impression
When one has already announced in favour of a particular candidate there is a danger that one's attendance at a hustings event can become an affirmative process. It is important therefore that anybody reading this piece puts it into the context that I have declared my support for Nick Clegg in the Liberal Democrat Federal Leadership contest.
Having said this, I can record that last night's leadership hustings in Cardiff was a very positive event both for myself and for the hundreds of members who attended it. Both candidates performed well and, I believe that everybody came away from the event convinced that the party will be in good hands if either of them won it.
The style of the two men was very different. Chris Huhne came across as very focussed, almost obsessively so. His determination to win this contest was apparent to everybody. He was clear and specific in his presentation and in answering the questions and demonstrated a good knowledge of policy, a clear understanding of what he wants to do if elected and a willingness to take on difficult subjects.
Chris was not afraid to court controversy in putting forward policy ideas, nor did he draw back from going negative against his opponent when it suited him, dropping hints that he believes that Nick Clegg is on the right of the party and even at one point, suggesting that if his rival were to win the process then we may become a clone of the Cameron-led Conserative Party.
I have to confess that this tactic did put me off, not least because Chris' charges about Nick are inaccurate and unnecessary. I was also confirmed in my uneasiness at some of his policy initiatives, which struck me at times as unformed and misconceived. Nevertheless, nobody was in any doubt that if Chris Huhne won the contest then the party will be in good hands.
In my view Nick Clegg was in a different class. He was passionate and empathetic. He was equally as clear in his answers as Chris, but he grounded them in anecdotes about the experience of his constituents and others. He talked the language of the man in the street rather than the political technocrat and he stayed positive throughout.
Nick's determination to win this contest also came through but one got the impression that it was less personal than Chris, more focussed on the future of liberalism than on his own ambition. He had fewer applause lines and when they came the audience was less emphatic in its approval, but that was down to Nick's thoughtful and deliberative style rather than to his message.
Like Charles Kennedy, Nick is charismatic and personable. Unlike Charles, he came across as interested in policy and in the mechanics of campaigning. He mooted the idea of getting all of our MPs out of Westminster and onto doorsteps more often and he proposed an academy for candidates so as to better engage with women and ethnic minorities and to provide more support for those who wish to stand for Parliament.
Above all Nick projected himself as a man with vision both for the party and the Country. He was clear about the direction he wants to take us in. He was strong in his belief in social justice and about empowering individuals and communities to take charge of their own lives and he was passionate about the need to take apart an over-centralised state.
I believe that in both candidates the Liberal Democrats have a potential leader who can help us to restore our 2005 poll ratings and more, however Nick has that crucial x-factor that enables him to empathise with people and bring them with him. I was more convinced than ever after last night's hustings that he is the leader we need, who can bring new people into the party and attract better levels of support.
Having said this, I can record that last night's leadership hustings in Cardiff was a very positive event both for myself and for the hundreds of members who attended it. Both candidates performed well and, I believe that everybody came away from the event convinced that the party will be in good hands if either of them won it.
The style of the two men was very different. Chris Huhne came across as very focussed, almost obsessively so. His determination to win this contest was apparent to everybody. He was clear and specific in his presentation and in answering the questions and demonstrated a good knowledge of policy, a clear understanding of what he wants to do if elected and a willingness to take on difficult subjects.
Chris was not afraid to court controversy in putting forward policy ideas, nor did he draw back from going negative against his opponent when it suited him, dropping hints that he believes that Nick Clegg is on the right of the party and even at one point, suggesting that if his rival were to win the process then we may become a clone of the Cameron-led Conserative Party.
I have to confess that this tactic did put me off, not least because Chris' charges about Nick are inaccurate and unnecessary. I was also confirmed in my uneasiness at some of his policy initiatives, which struck me at times as unformed and misconceived. Nevertheless, nobody was in any doubt that if Chris Huhne won the contest then the party will be in good hands.
In my view Nick Clegg was in a different class. He was passionate and empathetic. He was equally as clear in his answers as Chris, but he grounded them in anecdotes about the experience of his constituents and others. He talked the language of the man in the street rather than the political technocrat and he stayed positive throughout.
Nick's determination to win this contest also came through but one got the impression that it was less personal than Chris, more focussed on the future of liberalism than on his own ambition. He had fewer applause lines and when they came the audience was less emphatic in its approval, but that was down to Nick's thoughtful and deliberative style rather than to his message.
Like Charles Kennedy, Nick is charismatic and personable. Unlike Charles, he came across as interested in policy and in the mechanics of campaigning. He mooted the idea of getting all of our MPs out of Westminster and onto doorsteps more often and he proposed an academy for candidates so as to better engage with women and ethnic minorities and to provide more support for those who wish to stand for Parliament.
Above all Nick projected himself as a man with vision both for the party and the Country. He was clear about the direction he wants to take us in. He was strong in his belief in social justice and about empowering individuals and communities to take charge of their own lives and he was passionate about the need to take apart an over-centralised state.
I believe that in both candidates the Liberal Democrats have a potential leader who can help us to restore our 2005 poll ratings and more, however Nick has that crucial x-factor that enables him to empathise with people and bring them with him. I was more convinced than ever after last night's hustings that he is the leader we need, who can bring new people into the party and attract better levels of support.
Comments:
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I think whoever wins will be a great asset to the party.
I went to the hustings completely unsure of who to support, because they are both very good.
I -left- completely unsure of who to support, because they are both very good.
Having listened to some of Clegg's interviews he seems just slightly less clear than Huhne. And clarity is important in speaking to people.
You are right when you say that Clegg has slightly more passion (or at least seems to have).
Still undecided. :(
I went to the hustings completely unsure of who to support, because they are both very good.
I -left- completely unsure of who to support, because they are both very good.
Having listened to some of Clegg's interviews he seems just slightly less clear than Huhne. And clarity is important in speaking to people.
You are right when you say that Clegg has slightly more passion (or at least seems to have).
Still undecided. :(
# posted by 
: 4:08 PM
: 4:08 PM
As an outsider I have to say I have been impressed with both lib dem candidates. I have never met Chrish Huhne but clearly he has an interesting "back story" and came over very well on newsnight the other day talking about the economy.
I met Nick Clegg a few times in my "past life" he is a very clever calculating politician with a shrewdly worked out career path. No slogging round the streets for years for Nick very much a "high flyer" in his oiwn as well as other peoples estimation.
He does have the ability to relate and listen to other people though...even if giving the impression he is simply working out how much use you will be to him.
I dont think either will restore the lib dem fortunes in the coming GE but the oe after? Might well do.
I met Nick Clegg a few times in my "past life" he is a very clever calculating politician with a shrewdly worked out career path. No slogging round the streets for years for Nick very much a "high flyer" in his oiwn as well as other peoples estimation.
He does have the ability to relate and listen to other people though...even if giving the impression he is simply working out how much use you will be to him.
I dont think either will restore the lib dem fortunes in the coming GE but the oe after? Might well do.
I tend to agree Peter, it was a very positive event. Curiously, Chris' dig at 'David Cameron's stunt double' was the one bit that I felt uncomfortable with. Not sure why he did it, he speaks well and authoritatively and surely doen't need to belittle his opponent?
Anyway, Nick Clegg for me, for what it's worth, but I shan't shed tears if Chris Huhne sneaks it.
Anyway, Nick Clegg for me, for what it's worth, but I shan't shed tears if Chris Huhne sneaks it.
# posted by : 7:19 PM
: 7:19 PM
Well Peter at last you and Mike German agree on something - supporting the right of centre candidate. This is all about realistic outcomes. So the most important question you must answer is when we face a hung Parliament who is more likely to put the Tories back in power? Answer - Clegg. How will that go down in Wales and where will it leave the Lib Dems here?
# posted by : 8:22 PM
: 8:22 PM
What complete nonsense. Clegg is not right of centre. You shouldnt swallow Tory and media propaganda so completely.
Patriot needs to understand that there really are right of centre candidates aplenty, Cameron, Brown, Wyn Jones even. The UK doesn't need a third conservative party, heaven knows, we've had 29 years of right of centre governments now, and that on top of a disastrously failed left of centre one.
Time to change the script, I think!
Time to change the script, I think!
# posted by : 9:45 AM
: 9:45 AM
am interested 'Patriot'- you have a right wing sounding tag, but seem wedded to a historical idea of Labour, socialist, even. I don't think you can have socialist patriots though, they're meant to be internationalists.
So are you automatically of the right then? Most nationalists tends to be after all.
I think we should be told.
Annoying though, isn't it, when people try to labe you according to their terms and not their own.
So are you automatically of the right then? Most nationalists tends to be after all.
I think we should be told.
Annoying though, isn't it, when people try to labe you according to their terms and not their own.
# posted by : 9:50 AM
: 9:50 AM
Let's balance this - Nick Clegg implied that Chris Huhne gave comfort to racists.
On the night, in Cardiff, Huhne made only two suggestions that Clegg favoured a Conservative agenda - his assertion that he would not be a Cameron-clone (after a similarly disobliging reference to Gordon Brown) and his opposition to voucher schemes.
Since Clegg said that he favoured such schemes in relation to disadvantaged pupils and old people in need of care, I would say that this is a difference between them. You might argue that this is economic Liberalism, rather than Thatcherism, but to some people they are the same thing.
The snide attacks come from outside the hustings, and from the candidates' campaign teams rather than the men themselves, in my estimation.
- Frank Little
On the night, in Cardiff, Huhne made only two suggestions that Clegg favoured a Conservative agenda - his assertion that he would not be a Cameron-clone (after a similarly disobliging reference to Gordon Brown) and his opposition to voucher schemes.
Since Clegg said that he favoured such schemes in relation to disadvantaged pupils and old people in need of care, I would say that this is a difference between them. You might argue that this is economic Liberalism, rather than Thatcherism, but to some people they are the same thing.
The snide attacks come from outside the hustings, and from the candidates' campaign teams rather than the men themselves, in my estimation.
- Frank Little
# posted by : 3:38 PM
: 3:38 PM
Sorry Frank I did not interpret Nick Clegg's comments on immigration in that way. As I understand it he was criticising Chris Huhne for being too cautious and nothing more. You are right about the various campaign teams throwing mud though and I deplore this as well. However, it should be noted that Chris Huhne himself told me after the hustings that Clegg is in favour of a school voucher scheme, which is untrue and I have had this confirmed by Nick himself. In fact the dutch scheme that Nick is advocating is not a voucher scheme or anything like it. It is a means of targetting money at socially deprived kids to give them a better start and has actually been replicated in part in Wales already. It is the sort of scheme that any party which is interested in promoting social justice should be looking at. Chris Huhne told me that he has no problems with the dutch scheme for that reason.
Well glad people are so interested in me. Guess I am a socialist with faith that Wales' distinctive cultural values provide the overwhelming consensus needed to deliver a truly socially just and fair society. My partiotism is the belief that with increasing powers Wales can become an exemplar to provide hope to the other parts of the UK and indeed the world, that there is another way other than the crude neo liberal hegemony of New Labour, Liberals and the Tories.
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