tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post4809348116142045924..comments2023-10-27T07:50:27.411+01:00Comments on Next Left: Chuka's Burkean stanceTom Hampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917325958130851128noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-50711884389874580792010-07-28T09:37:03.451+01:002010-07-28T09:37:03.451+01:00Hi Sunder
I'm very happy to accept that I may...Hi Sunder<br /><br />I'm very happy to accept that I may have been misinformed about promises made by the Lambeth MPs about their intention to cast their MP vote on the basis of their CLPs supporting nomination. <br /><br />And I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Burke speech of 1774 - great oratory espousing principles which have endured. Superfluous to the point I made though (regardless of its accuracy) and a little disingenuous as I doubt there are any CLPs or members who would attempt to mandate their MPs in any vote - House of Commons or party elections. <br /><br />Burke's speech does, however, raise issues of modernity. He argues that access to information, knowledge and argument on any issue is of import in being able to form a considered opinion. <br /><br />'But government and legislation are matters of reason and judgment, and not of inclination; and what sort of reason is that, in which the determination precedes the discussion; in which one set of men deliberate, and another decide; and where those who form the conclusion are perhaps three hundred miles distant from those who hear the arguments?'<br /><br />Thankfully, it is no longer the preserve of the Burke's of this world to have access to the knowledge, information and argument needed to form considered opinion. Access to education, libraries, a revolution in communication mediums and tools, including the media, open government and freedom of information have been great levellers.<br /><br />Burke provides other arguments about the need for representatives to have the freedom to exercise personal judgement and suggests they are somehow more able to see the bigger picture but I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on whether there is any knoweldge, information or argument about the Labour leadership contest or candidates that is the preserve of MPs only?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com