Comments on: Has Linton forgotten how he voted?

By: Cyril Richert

Cyril Richert — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:08:07 +0000

I agree on that. You could have added:
4. The motion opposing Heathrow expansion was defeated
5. No vote for the government project was organised

By: James

James — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:41:07 +0000

In reply to Cyril Richert.

The facts are:
1. The government supports Heathrow expansion
2. There was a motion opposing Heathrow expansion
3. Martin Linton voted with the government.

By: Cyril Richert

Cyril Richert — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:38:41 +0000

James> One could say that I am just trying to present honestly the facts… but I understand that as a politician it might be easier to kick back criticisms by other means ;-).

By: James

James — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:42:48 +0000

In reply to Cyril Richert. Sorry, so, Martin Linton voted against a motion opposing the third runway, and in support of a government who wanted the third runway. I, and I know many of his constituents, fail to see how this isn't voting with the government in support of the runway. Sorry, I missed that comment. Although it perhaps explains why you have an interest in defending Martin Linton.

By: Cyril Richert

Cyril Richert — Sat, 02 May 2009 21:24:17 +0000

I reiterate.
The Conservative party put a motion AGAINST the third runway, before the Government put a vote asking to approve the Heathrow extension.
As I understand it, Martin Linton did not want to be associated with the Tories and therefore vote with them. Instead he was planning to vote against, on the Government vote to approve the extension that should have happened after.

Unfortunately it backfired. The Tory motion was defeated and the Government, maliciously, decided that it did not need to ask for a vote as it was implicit approval.

I appreciate people who have the courage of their opinion and can rebel against the authority when they don’t find it legitimate (in the movie “I comme Icare” from Henry Verneuil, they refer to the Milgram experiment: Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View – look in Wikipedia for more details). As he was against the third runway, he should have voted with the Conservatives – as some of his honourable friends did… and against the Government should he have the chance later.

It is a miss opportunity, and you might have presented that as a question of courage to defend its constituents. But saying “he voted with the Government in SUPPORT of the third runway” is just a short-cut, politically appealing but misleading. there is not need to “interpret” here, but just to report the facts.

PS: it does not matter too much, but some of my previous comments are still waiting for validation, for example here:
http://jamescousins.com/2009/04/how-politics-are-done-lesson-1-taking-credit/

By: James

James — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:36:39 +0000

In reply to Cyril Richert.

It’s not inaccurate at all. He voted against a Conservative motion to rethink expansion plans and with the government. I do not see how you can interpret that as anything but a vote in support of the government. You might just be able to argue that if he’d abstained, but he didn’t he voted for the government and against what he proports are his anti-expansion principles.

I’m not sure what you mean by you second point. I don’t put emails on here, if that’s what you mean.

By: Cyril Richert

Cyril Richert — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:55:03 +0000

He was wrong to not support the Tory motion, as 20 of his “courageous” colleagues did.
However it is inaccurate to say “he voted with the Government in support of the third runway”. Fact is he did not have a chance for that actually. No need to press for his miss by misleading the readers…

(er… are you going to publish this comment? Just wondering as you usually prefer to publish only comments supporting your message 😉 Anyway, you got mine 🙂