tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693950082152211516.post1016421334711545359..comments2023-10-26T00:08:26.205+01:00Comments on The Boiling Frog: Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of VictoryTheBoilingFroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00791961503315586243noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693950082152211516.post-44612622836735585782015-03-30T21:42:37.967+01:002015-03-30T21:42:37.967+01:00 Anonymous, above, listed his criteria for selecti... Anonymous, above, listed his criteria for selection of the NO/OUT figurehead. As I read this I thought of John Redwood, silly me. What an inspired idea, Mr or Ms Anonymous, Kate Hoey would be perfect. Now I must away to William Hill to check odds on her doing a kellycook before any vote.andy5759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693950082152211516.post-19366252652382994452015-03-14T12:53:09.799+00:002015-03-14T12:53:09.799+00:00One really does wonder if we're ever going to ...One really does wonder if we're ever going to make it out.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693950082152211516.post-58935470626849463282015-03-14T09:12:45.125+00:002015-03-14T09:12:45.125+00:00No Douglas Russel BrandNo Douglas Russel BrandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6693950082152211516.post-17370823932095259752015-03-12T16:18:21.544+00:002015-03-12T16:18:21.544+00:00It's interesting the drift your piece here gra...It's interesting the drift your piece here gravitates to the actual eventual leadership figure an 'Out' campaign might coalesce around (and I agree that Elliott is by no means a remotely adequate choice). I've been thinking of this lately and setting a putative leadership post would now be of value to emplace a vehicle for the Campaign proper. It's possible that the Campaign in its stages as we see now would immeasurably benefit from being able to gather around such a leadership figure so perhaps we might give proper and comprehensive thought at this point to specifically who might lead the campaign.<br /><br />There is no obvious 'Jesus Candidate'. Someone who is perfect in history, deed and thought. There's no point looking for one, but by the same token, such imperfections in any candidate must not be seen is instantaneous disqualifiers. Most of the Websites to which you, TBF, contribute most wholly recognise the Political nature of the EU project and in parallel terms its lack of political accountability. So I'm going to suggest that we might agree a leadership candidate must be a UK Parliamentary figure who can recognise the importance of Parliamentary accountability. (Such a candidate would be able to make a great deal of a non-accountable figure in the debate as it proceeded).<br /><br />Such a figure ought to have had at least a reasonable representation in Parliament and would need to be likely to be an MP subsequent to the next General Election and for the following five years.<br /><br />So. Here goes. I'm going to suggest Kate Hoey.<br /><br />No automatic, knee-jerk objections please. I don't doubt she's not perfect, but any suggestions would need to identify a superior candidate.<br /><br />Representing a London constituency. She can't be accused of ignorance on the importance of the Capital. She has a previous successful discipline to which she was famously committed. 'Who is Kate Hoey?' many of the UK Population might reasonably ask. Rather fewer of the electorate will have the remotest idea who Mr. Elliott is.<br /><br />No friend of Blair nor the Blairite pro-EU\Single Currency era, and thereby unstained by the most egregious faults of the Blair\Brown axis. Nobody on planet earth will be able to get away with attempting to portray her as a xenophobe or racist, and naturally her personal origins from Northern Ireland precludes any accusations against her as her having no concept of the wider consideration of the needs of the whole United Kingdom.<br /><br />However, as a woman, she talks (in the Westminster Bubbleworld PC fashionable theory) to the female vote in a way that neither Roland Rudd nor Elliott himself will ever be able to. This is important since the EU debate has largely been one adopted by male figures. Most of the contributors to these websites are by males, and are run by males. I'd say on observation fewer than 20% of contributions are from the fairer sex. A female representation in female terms is almost a revolutionary concept in that - she will bring to the debate a presence that has not been a feature thus far. Another advantage being that normally Conservative-leaning women who despise the relentless sanctimonious arrogance of the feministas - your Toynbees, Greers and Harmans - will be far more inclined to give pause for thought from somebody of a very different public persona and nature.<br /><br />In a stalemate of the mechanics of the situation we find ourselves in right now, if Hoey might at least give proper attention to aspects of the Flexcit project she might be willing to consider deeper engagement. We need cross-party support but putting a strong-willed woman with a little public steel and drive in the leadership role could well be an invaluable step. <br /><br />As I say, it would be fairly easy, if not bone-idle to raise immediate objections. If there are objections, then by all means we can find someone in Parliament ('In Parliament') who is a better choice.<br /><br />Even if I do say so myself, I think she sets a high bar for qualification.<br /><br />Douglas Carter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com