tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post4300100880125503223..comments2023-08-16T12:07:22.995+00:00Comments on The Daily (Maybe): Lib Dem leadership contestJim Jeppshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-48686017435558694772007-10-28T22:22:00.000+00:002007-10-28T22:22:00.000+00:00I suppose one difference is that we seemingly assu...I suppose one difference is that we seemingly assume that our next leader will one day have to take the taxi to the palace to be asked to form a government. And that therefore the "people" have a right to see and get to know the person that is likely to be and for whom (in large part) they will be voting in an election.<BR/><BR/>I do differ and would prefer a team approach, including parts of the leadership team that are not in parliament - eg leading councillors, MEPs and members of devolved assemblies. I'd have this team and then rotate the actual "chair" of that team by vote amongst that group each year - like the Swiss presidency I guess!<BR/><BR/>But I can't whip up any enthusiasm for such an idea!Jock Coatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15550558005508328017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-33227639370631510982007-10-28T21:31:00.000+00:002007-10-28T21:31:00.000+00:00You're right Jock - the Greens have a very differe...You're right Jock - the Greens have a very different view of how leadership should work in a political party.<BR/><BR/>I hesistate to comment in detail on how well it works as I'm responsible for the referendum ballot and have been studiously maintaining my neutrality on the question throughout. However, the transition is less about whether to have two or one figure head (the Greens used to have seven principal speakers apparently, shudder) but whether those that head up the media end of the party be "leaders" or simply representatives of the party, articulating it's principals.<BR/><BR/>If the referendum was successful in introducing the title of leader it's still very likely that the Greens would have two co-leaders - we find it works for us to allow some work life balance and not to put so much authority in a single figure (with all the problems that may incure if they are not media friendly, or have hidden flaws that later come to light)Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-16115195314063378572007-10-27T22:11:00.000+00:002007-10-27T22:11:00.000+00:00I can barely restrain my indifference.I can barely restrain my indifference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-36878378739816963072007-10-27T19:23:00.000+00:002007-10-27T19:23:00.000+00:00Since this is a Green Party member's blog and the ...Since this is a Green Party member's blog and the posts aimed at explaining a little about our candidates to the Greens it seem ironic that the first two comments come from Lib Dems. <BR/><BR/>But it is appropriate that it is a Green forum because when I posted last week about having some kind of "double headed" leadership as you sort of suggest in your last sentence, it didn't go down very well with Lib Dems - but it is something the Greens are quite used to.<BR/><BR/>But perhaps those in the Greens could tell us how well or not it works for them. I noted a debate in the Guardian I think a few months ago with various arguments presented by leading Green Party figures for and against a single leader, and note that in their latest internal elections have continued to have a two principal speaker arrangement (albeit one male, one female which probably makes it easier to sell if nothing else).<BR/><BR/>Personally I think "presentation" is largely what's wrong in modern politics and recall that we did our best so far under a guy that was "chat show Charley" rather than "podium politics".Jock Coatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15550558005508328017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-73340185723097384882007-10-27T15:40:00.000+00:002007-10-27T15:40:00.000+00:00I think that these two chaps themselves capture th...I think that these two chaps themselves capture the essence of the difference between the two men in their essays - Matt's is about the politics and presentation, leading to electoral success, whereas Jock actually pushes the good ideas.<BR/><BR/>Likewise, I think Clegg is a far better man to get us electoral success, whereas Huhne has a far sounder grasp of the policies and theory. Ideally, Huhne would make the policies and Clegg would sell them.sanbikinoraionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823745465626270567noreply@blogger.com