October 10
2003
IDS is worse than ever
» Posted on October 10, 2003 04:13 PM » Category: UK politics

Peter Cuthbertson makes a 'hmmm' noise in the comments section below, citing my verdict on IDS' speech last year:


Listening to IDS' speech reminds me of the old Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch: "Fiat. Built by robots; driven by Italians".
It's rather a good speech, ruined by his quite astonishingly poor delivery. He has obviously been told that if you speak s-l-o-w-l-y and E-M-P-H-A-S-I-S-E every other word, it sounds caring and human. It doesn't. It makes you sound as if you don't understand English and are reading phonetically.
Truly awful.
He's speaking as I write, so I don't know how it will be received. But I am now clear in my mind; after this speech, which is about the worst possible conclusion to a rather good week for the Tories, IDS is a goner.

I wouldn't change a syllable of that verdict. Well, yes, I would. He was even worse this year. Last year was an OK speech. This was awful. Truly, awful. It did a job for the Tories in the hall. But watched by anoyone it TV it looked like a bank manager auditioning for the lead role in Terminator 4, with a script written by a ten year old trying to copy Richard Littlejohn.

I view Charles Kennedy with contenpt. But IDS' reference to his drinking was beneath contempt, and - I'm certain of this - will be viewed as that by most voters.

He looked truly inept. Like a man doing his best to do something different for the sake of doing something different.

IDS was a goner last year, but because his party is so congenitally useless now, they can't even plot properly. Only the Tories could batter a leader to within an inch of his political life and then put him on a life support machine.

What a rabble. What a once great party, reduced to farce.


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Comments

It was truly excruciating to watch. Actually painful. As was an interview he gave to Andrew Neill a day or two before. Exept that that was frightening and bizarre too. He tries so hard to be what he isn't, and worst of all he is deeply, shockingly unconvincing at it. The harder he tries the worse he gets. He tries to ooze compassion, but instead just oozes.

He's given up the 19th century patrician politician, Atlee-style decency - the "quiet man" thing - which might just have worked.

Previously I felt sympathy for him, as I do for any politician who gets such cruel press. But not anymore. His Kennedy kibe was just disgusting, and I can't understand how it wasn't the headline-subject on all reports. Also he sought to exploit Dr Kelly's death which was extraordinarily bad judgement given that there's an ongoing inquiry, but more importantly classless. And he called the government "corrupt" - what's that about?

My reaction to him has gone from cringing/personal sympathy to outright hostility. Lucky for him I don't vote in the UK!

James, Dublin.

Stated by: james on October 10, 2003 5:32 PM

That should have said a jibe at Kennedy, not a kibe. Thank god it wasn't a kibe.

Stated by: james on October 10, 2003 5:35 PM

Stephen,

Do you still actually consider yourself a member of the labour party or a socialist? I ask because the policies you promote seem to be the opposite of socialism, but then you seem to want to lay into the tories to ease your conscience.

Stated by: Mark on October 10, 2003 8:26 PM

But he's liberal on all the social issues. And a republican (shivers).


I still want reliable answers as to why Melanie Phillips is left wing (yet to receive any). She's like Stephen on economics and public services and like Norman Tebbit on social issues.

Stated by: Anthony C on October 10, 2003 8:40 PM

I don't see why you can't be a conservative and a social liberal. Even though some of the backwards MPs find it hard. Really it should fit in with the libertarianism and small government. i.e why should MPs care who you have sex with? (within reason for peadophiles etc).

I can't believe Melanie Phillips is left wing either. I'll have to read more of her blog. I don't think the left wing will have her though, not after supporting Israel.

Stated by: Mark on October 11, 2003 12:24 AM

I agree with Stephen. The Tories are completely useless. I can't wait for my next trip to the polls to vote for his "Magnificient Tony BLair". He has made such a wonderful job of running the Country that I cannot understand why he wants us to be governed by the EU. However,I trust his his judgement - does not everyone? Have I missed something. And as for that jibe about Charlie, I think is disgusting that the Lib Dems are not going to tax wine and spirits.
Can anyone explain to me why not? Go get 'em IDS.

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