So Saj Karim, elected as a Lib Dem MEP for ther North West of England has defected. Apparently he has been, in his own words, thinking about making the decision for two years.
That all seems rather odd given that his blog has a number of comments made in recent months that are critical of the Tories and he was, until a few days ago, actively touting his Lib Dem credentials when he was attempting to be re-selected on the Lib Dem Euro list for the North West of England.
Of course, he is now a Tory. How can anyone doubt the word of someone who had, according to other blogs, let it be widely known that he would defect if he was not selected at the top of the Euro list. When, he didn't come top, he goes to another party. Boo hoo.
I'm sorry, but the sort of politicians who craves power at any cost and seems more worried about his income ahead of principles is a politicians I would care very little for. If this is his attitude, the Tories are genuinely welcome to him. People will, no doubt, claim that this is just sour grapes. But given all the facts, I have had to come to the conclusion that he really is the sort of politicans that gives all politicians a bad name.
Some people defect when there is no benefit to them. Perhaps they are no longer elected, perhaps they are standing down from office, perhaps they don't seek power at all. However, when someone steps down in the circumstances that Saj Karrim finds himself in, you'd find it very difficult to believe it is anything other than financial self interest that is the motivating factor.
7 comments:
On Karim's facebook entry, even today it says he is a member of the group "Am I the only person who doesn't like David Cameron?" Either he has had a road to Damascus experience or he is not being frank about his reason for defecting!
Sour grapes, Nich. Justin
We need to remember this fact when we get defectors coming the other way.
I wouldn't be so carping about defectors if I were you.
In Hackney Liberal Democrats many of our members were once in Labour or the Greens, including our GLA candidate Meral Ece (previously Labour).
Over the years the Liberal Democrats have benefitted more from people coming in than people going out.
Defections always happens in politics, and although it hurts when someone leaves, life is good when someone arrives.
Spot on!
This type of person is just out for themselves - sad for them , sad for us, sad for the public.
As we become more successful we are attracting some of these fools. Unfortuntely no fool proof system exists to bar people like this.
You are right the Tories are welcome to him & I hope Local Parties think long & hard about traffic the other way & if their conversion is really genuine.
I'm sure Nich thought this way about defectors to the LibDems and won't have anything to do with them.
P.s. nasty line in his statament about the LibDems not being a serious political force. Miaow.
I have always been consistent in my views on defectors. I would always ask what is in it for them ? If the benefit (financial or for power) is greater for them than the party, then I would question their usefulness.
I have dealth with people who have switched to us in the past, but they ahve never been elected at the time of their switch or in one case, the person said they would not stand again after switching to us.
If Mr Karim is prepared not to stand again, I will trust his honesty and integrity.
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