I was deeply embarrassed watching Chris Huhne being exposed Jon Sopel on The Politics Show. As a Liberal Democrat it was embarrassing to see a leadership candidate deny he had said something, have a complete lack of knowledge about what his campaign team were issuing on his behalf and then, to top it all, then make the allegations again.
Jon Sopel produced a briefing document with used the title "Calamity Clegg" at the top. this document had been produced by "Team Huhne" and had been sent to the BBC.
This sort of rubbish is an absolute gift for our political opposition and sadly shows that some people in Huhne's team really are not fit for senior positions. If they can produce this rubbish, seemingly without Chris' knowledge then it says a lot for those who surround Chris and Chris himself.
I would hope to see some sort of apology and people leaving "Team Huhne" camp over this because if not it says that Huhne endorses this personal negative campaigning or that he did know about it but lies on TV. Either way, someone has to go if Chris is to show the electorate and party membership that this is out of order.
You can watch it again HERE. Perhaps the Huhne team could be made to watch it 50 times as a punishment. When Huhne supporters make reference to their telephone canvassing campaign, I really does worry me what they might be saying about Nick Clegg on the phones !
7 comments:
As a volunteer telephone canvasser for Chris Huhne's campaign I can assure you that we describe the choice as being between "two excellent candidates".
Which it is!
Robin, as a telepohone canvasser for Nick's campaign I have said similar things.
I am deeply disappointed by today's events. I'd have let the memo go, to be honest, as the tired ramblings of an exhausted staffer, but Chris' attitude, first claiming he knew nothing about it and then rattling off its contents has not been good for the Party or edifying for him.
Huhne should be ashamed. Either he knew about it and lied - which makes him a venal liar. Or he didn't know - which makes him incompetent. And no one that we should have leading our party.
Not surprising though. Read what people who have known him for years write about him. Nick Cohen of the Observer worked with him. What he has to say about Huhne matches this behaviour. As does Huhne's behaviour towards his wife's first husband (the father of his two stepdaughters)
If Huhne becomes leader - then with huge regret I will leave the party I have belonged to for so many years...
Chris Almighty, Serious people are surely in parties for their policies, not their personalities - which is why I have remained loyal to the Liberals/Liberal Democrats through the leaderships of two alcoholics, a confessed adulterer, an alleged attempted murderer and a former Olympian who had somewhat run out of steam. I can't get TOO excited about a little thing like a briefing document title after 60 years' party experience, you know.
Never seen anything like it. For 10 boring minutes, it was a complete (and false) libdem love-in. And then......
Even when he's elected Calamity Clegg is going to hard to shake off.
Norfolk blogger - you can't be that embarrased by the incident to want to publicise it in this way on your blog, or are you into self-abuse?
I like to think I am a commentator and not just a biased blogger. Sometimes you have to report the good and the bad within your own party.
I think it means this blog has more credibility than some who act as like they are official party spokesmen, and I am not just on about Lib Dem bloggers when I say that.
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