I note the death of an honourable parliamentarian who spent a quarter of a century on the front bench, though nothing in his life there became him like the leaving it. I offer, for a quarter-hour reflection and as a memorial, one of the most polished stilettos ever wielded in the House of Commons - Geoffrey Howe's resignation statement of 13th November 1990.
The Prime Minister and I have shared something like 700 meetings of Cabinet or shadow Cabinet during the past 18 years, and some 400 hours alongside each other, at more than 30 international summit meetings. For both of us, I suspect, it is a pretty daunting record. The House might well feel that something more than simple matters of style would be necessary to rupture such a well-tried relationship.
[...] The conflict of loyalty, of loyalty to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister—and, after all, in two decades together that instinct of loyalty is still very real—and of loyalty to what I perceive to be the true interests of the nation, has become all too great. I no longer believe it possible to resolve that conflict from within this Government. That is why I have resigned. In doing so, I have done what I believe to be right for my party and my country. The time has come for others to consider their own response to the tragic conflict of loyalties with which I have myself wrestled for perhaps too long.
As with Dennis Healey earlier this week, it's a voice from the past but one to which admiration is due.
"The time has come for others to consider their own response". Margaret Thatcher was out of Downing Street two weeks later.
Geoffrey Howe, RIP
Geoffrey Howe, RIP
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Geoffrey Howe, RIP
Mogadon grew a backbone at the end of his political career.
The conflict of loyalty, of loyalty to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister—and, after all, in two decades together that instinct of loyalty is still very real—and of loyalty to what I perceive to be the true interests of the nation, has become all too great. I no longer believe it possible to resolve that conflict from within this Government. That is why I have resigned. In doing so, I have done what I believe to be right for my party and my country. The time has come for others to consider their own response to the tragic conflict of loyalties with which I have myself wrestled for perhaps too long.
In part that is what is wrong with politics in britain loyalty to a leader rather than to principle and their constituents. the morally bankrupt leading the morally incapable grasping for power with their grubby little hands.
The conflict of loyalty, of loyalty to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister—and, after all, in two decades together that instinct of loyalty is still very real—and of loyalty to what I perceive to be the true interests of the nation, has become all too great. I no longer believe it possible to resolve that conflict from within this Government. That is why I have resigned. In doing so, I have done what I believe to be right for my party and my country. The time has come for others to consider their own response to the tragic conflict of loyalties with which I have myself wrestled for perhaps too long.
In part that is what is wrong with politics in britain loyalty to a leader rather than to principle and their constituents. the morally bankrupt leading the morally incapable grasping for power with their grubby little hands.