tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post8785886502575906669..comments2024-02-28T22:03:19.609+00:00Comments on A Scottish Liberal: Chris Huhne resignsAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027368242570244912noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post-13143436820651701872012-02-07T18:32:05.484+00:002012-02-07T18:32:05.484+00:00Well, his career isn't as yet finished. If he...Well, his career isn't as yet finished. If he's innocent there will surely be a way back for him.<br /><br />We can not "assume" the accusations to be true. But I'm sure we'll find out in a few weeks. As I've said myself, if he's guilty then there is absolutely no place for him in government. As you rightly point out, the lies and dishonesty would undermine any political future he might have. I'd expect him to stand down as an MP at the next election too if that's the case.<br /><br />But I don't think he should resign now. It's only a matter of a few weeks until we'll have a verdict. Surely he could have continued until then? He's managed well with the pressure of suspicion to date - so why not for a little longer?<br /><br />Of course this is bigger than the penalty points but when it's all coiled down it's about how Chris responded to what was a trivial matter. True, if he's guilty and his career is ruined it will be because of his dishonesty and selfishness. But it will also be down to his stupidity in allowing such an ordinary matter to overtake him in this way.<br /><br />There's no question that the party needs to be doing more to distinguish itself from our Conservative partners - and Chris more than any other minister was able to articulate a distinctive voice. Now we've lost that voice we face an additional challenge in retaining our seperate identity (as far as the public are concerned).<br /><br />Let's hope he's innocent of the charges. I want to think the best of him. I want his obvious talent to be working in the heart of government to fight for liberal values. However, if he's lied then he'll deserve to be discredited, his political aspirations permanently ruined.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027368242570244912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post-81597634149454665602012-02-07T11:03:55.361+00:002012-02-07T11:03:55.361+00:00What finished his career was his apparant selfish ...What finished his career was his apparant selfish nature, blatant lying over something petty and generally acting more like a crook than someone who can be trusted in government. Assuming this was true, how can anyone trust someone like that? <br /><br />Don't think of it as a few points being the issue. That alone would have blown over in no time if not for the dishonesty issues or accusations floating up. It's the lying and selfish act that is the issue for most. Dishonesty and crimes related to it have always been considered very serious for anyone in power (even in the police or armed forces). Once someone starts down that path it's hard to know what you can trust. <br /><br />I'd agree that the mere suspicion or hint of something shouldn't destroy the man and neither should he be pushed out if cleared. If/once cleared it will blow over eventually. If he is guilty then there's no coming back from that politically. <br /><br />All we can hope for his sake is that there was a mistake and he did nothing wrong. It's amazing to think that something as small and petty like that could influence a party or its direction (by the replacement with another with different views and public performance). I'd hate to see this being used to push the Lib Dems even further into the shadow of the Tories in a time that the party needs to be distinguishing itself more than ever instead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com