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Among many others, one thing that annoys me is the habit these days of politicians and government ministers shipping out in advance the text of the speeches they are going to give next day. If the public has the text of a speech a day in advance, there seems little point in any of these people actually bothering to deliver their speeches.
One such case was yesterday when the text of Gordon Brown’s speech to the King’s Fund about cancer care was published. And this morning, David Cameron’s PR people have publicised a speech he intends to give on those trying to avoid prosecution by claiming parliamentary privilege along with his intention to introduce a new law to cover the point.
This last seems to me to be unnecessary politicking for the sake of it and that is another of my pet hates.
Gordon Brown has made it quite clear that no-one is above the law, and his deputy has stated unequivocally that she is ‘completely satisfied’ that parliamentary privilege does not apply to cases such as theft or fraud. That ought to satisfy the most strident of voices but not it seems in David Cameron’s case.
I regret (almost) having to say that yet again I agree with Nick Clegg who, it is reported, will say: ‘Listening to the two of them anyone would think they were powerless backbenchers rather than the leaders of the two parties in Parliament which have proved to be the real roadblocks to reform. ... If they genuinely want political change, it is in their power to deliver it. So I challenge them to cut out the speeches and the rhetoric and get on with the job.’
He’s right again. On the other hand, this little speech was publicised in advance of him actually delivering it!
.
Among many others, one thing that annoys me is the habit these days of politicians and government ministers shipping out in advance the text of the speeches they are going to give next day. If the public has the text of a speech a day in advance, there seems little point in any of these people actually bothering to deliver their speeches.
One such case was yesterday when the text of Gordon Brown’s speech to the King’s Fund about cancer care was published. And this morning, David Cameron’s PR people have publicised a speech he intends to give on those trying to avoid prosecution by claiming parliamentary privilege along with his intention to introduce a new law to cover the point.
This last seems to me to be unnecessary politicking for the sake of it and that is another of my pet hates.
Gordon Brown has made it quite clear that no-one is above the law, and his deputy has stated unequivocally that she is ‘completely satisfied’ that parliamentary privilege does not apply to cases such as theft or fraud. That ought to satisfy the most strident of voices but not it seems in David Cameron’s case.
I regret (almost) having to say that yet again I agree with Nick Clegg who, it is reported, will say: ‘Listening to the two of them anyone would think they were powerless backbenchers rather than the leaders of the two parties in Parliament which have proved to be the real roadblocks to reform. ... If they genuinely want political change, it is in their power to deliver it. So I challenge them to cut out the speeches and the rhetoric and get on with the job.’
He’s right again. On the other hand, this little speech was publicised in advance of him actually delivering it!
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