Monmouth Tory MP slams 'incompetent' coalition (From South Wales Argus)
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Monmouth Tory MP slams 'incompetent' coalition
8:40am Thursday 10th May 2012 in News
ATTACK: Monmouth MP David Davies
A GWENT MP launched a stinging attack on his own Conservative-led coalition over what he describes as "incompetence of the highest levels of government".
David Davies, who represents the Monmouth constituency, accused his own party of being out of touch with the electorate and said the Prime Minister David Cameron needs to listen more if the Tories were to recover losses suffered in the local elections.
In a letter to the Argus, the Tory backbencher apologised to those who felt they had been let them down - a factor which he says has seen some voters, including his own mother Kath, turn to the UK Independence Party instead.
He said loyal Conservative voters expected certain things from the party such as a balanced budget and a tough stance on immigration and crime.
But he believes issues including the government's failure to overcome human rights laws to deport extremist Islamic clerics like Abu Qatada, have been sidelined for talks over proposed changes to gay marriage laws and House of Lords reform.
Instead Mr Davies wants to see a reduced spend on foreign aid while taxes here are going up and cuts are being made to police forces.
He also wants a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights and believes a cabinet reshuffle is needed. He said: "The British Government needs to look after Britain first.
"David Cameron needs to change his tact very rapidly other wise he's not going to be in position for very long. "I am sure he realises his supporters are not happy with what's going on."
"If I sound like I'm being critical I am. I have been a been loyal for the last couple of years, although I have voted against the government on certain things like the EU referendum question, but there comes a point when it is becoming more difficult to remain so loyal."
His comments came on the day the Queen makes her speech to parliament outlining the government's plans for the coming parliamentary year.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: Is Cameron on thin ice? |
|
MONMOUTH MP David Davies is not known for hiding his light under a bushel. It should come as no surprise the Conservative backbencher has forthright views about the difficulties that have enveloped the coalition government in recent weeks. But it is significant Mr Davies feels compelled to write to this newspaper to apologise to his constituents for what he calls “incompetence at the highest levels of government”. Mr Davies says he has been loyal to David Cameron but “it is becoming more difficult to remain so loyal”. If other Tory backbenchers share Mr Davies’ views then the prime minister could be in real trouble. There is little doubt many Tory MPs are growing uneasy with the coalition, believing the Liberal Democrats are holding them back from being a ‘proper’ Conservative government. The only way of changing that situation, of course, is to go back to the country. And there are clearly some Tory MPs, like Mr Davies, who doubt whether Mr Cameron is the man to lead them into the next election. The Conservatives are renowned for ruthlessly dispatching leaders they believe to be election liabilities. Margaret Thatcher was axed after 11 years in Downing Street; Ian Duncan Smith got the boot before he had the chance to fight an election. Is Mr Cameron next on the list for the men in grey suits? |
Comments(29)
Howie'
says...
9:44am Thu 10 May 12
On the inside
says...
10:52am Thu 10 May 12
Vacant Possession
says...
12:20pm Thu 10 May 12
Howie' wrote:I think you'll find David is in favour of low taxes - like the recent raising of level at which the base rate comes in. My only grievance is any delay in it's implementation.
He must be worried about his seat if his own Mother is not voting Conservative. Sounds to me he's trying to cover his butt by pretending that what the Tory's are doing is nothing to do with him....Sorry David, Your all in it together, you have been a cheer leader for Cameron & Osbourne's assault on the poorer off in Society whilst giving even more to the richest when the poll ratings were in your favor.
This is how you benefit the poor, lift them out of taxation and I would go a lot further. I'd encourage investment in Wales and at the same time reduce the level of state employment in the region, give Wales it's self respect, own thriving economy not based on state aid. Perhaps your National assembly should take control of corporation tax levels, drop them through the floor and enjoy the flood of investment and employment from companies crying out for less tax persecution. Perhaps you could relax employment regulations to offer a more flexible workforce to satisfy a volatile & dynamic employment market.
Perhaps then we could get that across the UK too.
Perhaps we could lower secondary taxation, leave money in the pockets of everyone as we all know how to spend it more efficiently than government.
Dee-Gee
says...
12:48pm Thu 10 May 12
That's the sound of the Conservative party kicking themselves to death over Europe (again)...
therealguyfaux
says...
2:13pm Thu 10 May 12
Cymru Am Beth
says...
3:17pm Thu 10 May 12
During this time, they managed to ruin the economy, allow vast numbers of people into the country etc etc. But all is forgiven, it has been just a dream.
I have awoken and am reassured that Labour did not do any such thing and that Milliband and Balls had led us to the promised land.
Along came Cameron et al and in just 2 years, managed to ruin everything that the great Labour Party had achieved.
Oh and I forgot, it was all Margaret Thatcher's fault that we are in the position we are in now.
I am enlightened.
Dee-Gee
says...
4:19pm Thu 10 May 12
Things you can blame on Labour include, but are not limited to: immigration; Iraq; the bureaucratic nature of public services; the Working Time Directive; the beginnings of the NHS privatisation; university tuition fees; tax credits; minimum wage; PFI, and bringing Cherie Bloody Blair into the public's consciousness.
The GFC was a banking crisis, caused by bankers. World governments had eff-all to do with it.
Cameron and Osbourne's crime is in taking a bad situation and making it worse than it needed to be, playing politics when they should be playing economics. Unfortunately, they're much better at the former than the latter.
Even more unfortunately, they're not very good at the former, either.
Writeangle
says...
6:34pm Thu 10 May 12
StuartOR
says...
7:02pm Thu 10 May 12
adrian simmonds
says...
10:07pm Thu 10 May 12
If David Davies is late "coming to the party" let's at least recognize his willingness to rubbish his own leader - not that taht is so difficult.
Howie'
says...
11:39am Fri 11 May 12
Vacant Possession wrote:Corporate Tax rates in the UK at 25% are amongst the lowest in the developed world, OK Ireland are 12.5% & look whats happened there America are the highest at 39.2% & it's Economy is improving whilst the UK under the Tory's & 3 years of austerity, tax cuts for the richest in society, 3 year pay freeze for Public Sector workers, cuts in benefits for the poorest in society & we are back in RECESSION, even though we have some of the most relaxed employment protection laws in Europe (I read from your comments that you want 3rd world employment laws, work for peanuts & be hired & fired at the whim of the Employer). I do agree with you though that David is in favour of low Taxes....he voted with the Government for the reduction of 5p in the pound for anyone earning over £150,000...Saving the richest 1000 people who have £414.260 billion pounds millions whilst at the same time voting for a budget that left very few people better off by more than a few penny's.
Howie' wrote:I think you'll find David is in favour of low taxes - like the recent raising of level at which the base rate comes in. My only grievance is any delay in it's implementation.
He must be worried about his seat if his own Mother is not voting Conservative. Sounds to me he's trying to cover his butt by pretending that what the Tory's are doing is nothing to do with him....Sorry David, Your all in it together, you have been a cheer leader for Cameron & Osbourne's assault on the poorer off in Society whilst giving even more to the richest when the poll ratings were in your favor.
This is how you benefit the poor, lift them out of taxation and I would go a lot further. I'd encourage investment in Wales and at the same time reduce the level of state employment in the region, give Wales it's self respect, own thriving economy not based on state aid. Perhaps your National assembly should take control of corporation tax levels, drop them through the floor and enjoy the flood of investment and employment from companies crying out for less tax persecution. Perhaps you could relax employment regulations to offer a more flexible workforce to satisfy a volatile & dynamic employment market.
Perhaps then we could get that across the UK too.
Perhaps we could lower secondary taxation, leave money in the pockets of everyone as we all know how to spend it more efficiently than government.
Dee-Gee
says...
12:28pm Fri 11 May 12
Well, I'd like the chocolate cake to be both fat-free and delicious too; but it doesn't work that way, does it?
Howie'
says...
2:58pm Fri 11 May 12
Cymru Am Beth wrote:Well 'Enlightened One' I don't think that it is ALL Thatchers fault but lets not forget that she was the architect of an austerity program that in Thatcher's first term saw nearly one in four of all manufacturing jobs disappear whilst she & her Government put their faith in the service sector, she followed that up by privatizing some of the biggest employers in the country (subsequently sold off to foreign investors) & then opened the doors to make it easy for manufacturers to pack up in the UK & move abroad to Country's like China (I think 'Tuf' shoes were the first to go) she then geared her economic policy's towards a housing boom & the City and we all know what a brilliant move that was.
Well, the last Labour Government were in power for 13 years.
During this time, they managed to ruin the economy, allow vast numbers of people into the country etc etc. But all is forgiven, it has been just a dream.
I have awoken and am reassured that Labour did not do any such thing and that Milliband and Balls had led us to the promised land.
Along came Cameron et al and in just 2 years, managed to ruin everything that the great Labour Party had achieved.
Oh and I forgot, it was all Margaret Thatcher's fault that we are in the position we are in now.
I am enlightened.
Result: We now have very little manufacturing industry & have our fingers crossed that the Service Sector can lead us out of recession, sadly there is little sign of that. Why Politicians think that our service sector can take on & beat the world I have no idea, we can't even win Wimbledon or the World Cup.
Cymru Am Beth
says...
5:11pm Fri 11 May 12
It was the bankers fault and the worldwide situation that caused this mess, nothing to do with the management of the BOE and the wonderful job done by Brown when shancellor.
They did a great job in the 13 years they were in power.
Anyway,I don't think any of the Lib Lab Con are worth voting for. However, I don't think that you can blame the mess we are in solely on the 2 years that the coalition have been in power.
I will be voting UKIP at the next election
Howie'
says...
6:14pm Fri 11 May 12
Cymru Am Beth wrote:Well UKIP can certainly do with your vote, they only managed 3.1% of the vote in the 2010 Election & not one MP.
Of course the Labour Party are not responsible for anything negative that has happened to the Country.
It was the bankers fault and the worldwide situation that caused this mess, nothing to do with the management of the BOE and the wonderful job done by Brown when shancellor.
They did a great job in the 13 years they were in power.
Anyway,I don't think any of the Lib Lab Con are worth voting for. However, I don't think that you can blame the mess we are in solely on the 2 years that the coalition have been in power.
I will be voting UKIP at the next election
CM1
says...
1:10am Sat 12 May 12
CM1
says...
1:19am Sat 12 May 12
BassalegCountyFan
says...
9:58pm Sun 13 May 12
Its because the public don't want less police on the streets, an increasingly privatized NHS, libraries closing, surestart centres shut, and austerity without growth. The USA has shown that you can rebuild your economy without cutting everything, but by encouraging growth. The tories don't seem to get this, and the only response they've got to criticisms is by spouting some rubbish about the 'mess' they were left. In fact, borrowing has gone up massively since the tories came into power, the streets are less safe and there's been a huge increase in numbers on the dole queues. I think that's what constitutes a 'mess'! The people of Gwent sent out a message against these ideologically-driven cuts on May 3rd and I personally hope it happens again at the next general election so we can draw a line under this terrible condem government.
Dai Rear
says...
4:50pm Mon 14 May 12
Dee-Gee
says...
9:03pm Mon 14 May 12
CM1
says...
12:17am Tue 15 May 12
chris227
says...
5:42am Tue 15 May 12
Cymru Am Beth
says...
9:59am Tue 15 May 12
The West Germans had a pay freeze for 10 years in order to pay for integration with the East.
To hear them speak, it is evident that the Germans are far more disciplined in their approach to the economic crisis.
They accept that there has to be cuts and that austerity is the way forward not spending money that they haven't got.
Their economy has actually grown whilst others in Europe have declined.
The welfare system is also no where near as generous as ours.
We have come to expect 'something for nothing' as a way of life in this Country.
The Germans believe in hard work and managing their money sensibly.
This will never happen here as the way of life in Britain is too embedded in the psyche to expect it to change.
I am afraid that 'we are going to hell in a handcart'.
Labour had long enough in power to change things for the better.
They failed miserably.
The current incumbents of Westminster also seem clueless as to how to solve the situation.
However, (unlike some of the contributors to this post) I do not see how voting Labour in again will be the answer to our woes.
Dee-Gee
says...
1:27pm Tue 15 May 12
http://krugman.blogs
.nytimes.com/2012/02
/25/european-crisis-
realities/
Howie'
says...
3:55pm Tue 15 May 12
Cymru Am Beth wrote:Yes those poor Germans are really suffering:
It was interesting to hear the views from people in Berlin on the news this morning.
The West Germans had a pay freeze for 10 years in order to pay for integration with the East.
To hear them speak, it is evident that the Germans are far more disciplined in their approach to the economic crisis.
They accept that there has to be cuts and that austerity is the way forward not spending money that they haven't got.
Their economy has actually grown whilst others in Europe have declined.
The welfare system is also no where near as generous as ours.
We have come to expect 'something for nothing' as a way of life in this Country.
The Germans believe in hard work and managing their money sensibly.
This will never happen here as the way of life in Britain is too embedded in the psyche to expect it to change.
I am afraid that 'we are going to hell in a handcart'.
Labour had long enough in power to change things for the better.
They failed miserably.
The current incumbents of Westminster also seem clueless as to how to solve the situation.
However, (unlike some of the contributors to this post) I do not see how voting Labour in again will be the answer to our woes.
Average Salary and Economy
Average annual income in Germany is around 55,500 EUR (74,000 USD), according to 2011/2012 salary survey.
Germany has the largest national economy in EU, and the fourth largest by nominal GDP in the world in year 2011.
The main industries in country are machinery, engineering, especially in automobiles, metals, and chemicals. Germany is the biggest producer of solar and wind technology on the world.
http://www.averagesa
larysurvey.com/artic
le/average-salary-in
-germany/20221123.as
px
ghyc60
says...
12:25pm Wed 16 May 12
Cymru Am Beth
says...
5:16pm Wed 16 May 12
Res ipsa loquitur.
Howie'
says...
7:48pm Wed 16 May 12
Res ipsa loquitur
From Wikipedia:In the common law of negligence, the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur (Latin for "the thing speaks for itself") states that the elements of duty of care and breach can be sometimes inferred from the very nature of an accident or other outcome, even without direct evidence of how any defendant behaved.
I'm afraid you have lost me that one me old china.
rightsideup says...
9:36am Thu 10 May 12