Forum Topic

Dominic Grieve On The Verge ...

...of deselection.  After being Beaconsfield's incumbent MP since 1997, Dominic Grieve suffered a no confidence vote by his local party at the Assosiation's AGM yesterday.  The vote was passed 182 to 131 and his fate as their MP is now in the balance.  The executive council will now decide if Grieve will have to take part in a new candidate selection for the safe Tory seat.I heard him speaking to Andrew Castle on LBC this morning and despite his defiant words I thought he sounded clearly shocked by the result.Has the political cull now started? Will Soubry be next? I hope so.

Sue Hammond ● 2783d35 Comments

Dominic Grieve was voting as his constituents wanted. Beaconsfield voted Remain in the referendum as did Maidenhead so perhaps Theresa May should be deselected?

Lucille Grant ● 2783d

A decent, intelligent and principled politician.  If the Conservative party is no longer a home for the likes of Grieve, then it really has moved to the extreme right. With Labour now playing to the extreme left this really could be the death of both of them

Craig Fordham ● 2783d

But they clearly don't want him now Lucille. All MPs, including TM, are only in position for as long as they remain in favour by the people who elect them to their extremely privileged positions.  Soubry is trying to save her own skin on LBC just now. Times they are a-changing.  Ooh that could be a song ...🎼

Sue Hammond ● 2783d

I am astounded!  First they politicians say they must respect the vote of the people.  Now the conservative party is trying to get rid of Grieve????Then reading on, the article states:"The opposition in the constituency to Mr Grieve is reported to have been organised by the former Ukip candidate who stood against him in the 2017 general election, Jon Conway."A skunk somewhere?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2783d

No Ivonne, just democracy in action.

Sue Hammond ● 2783d

Sue, this is confusing.  He was voted as MP by the constituency by 65.3% of the votes at the 2017 election - that is what a call a resounding result.His constituents are not against him, suddenly a Ukip adversary at the 2017 election places a vote of no confidence?Is that what democracy is all about? Grieve may be a pro-Brexit rebel but this vote of no confidence has a whiff, of the nasty kind.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2783d

From the Independent:However Tory chairman Brandon Lewis expressed his support for Mr Grieve and said that the vote, which passed by 182 to 131 - had no formal standing under party rules."Part of the strength of our party is that we are a broad church," he told the Today programme."Dominic is somebody who has contributed to parliament, is a clear strong Conservative and he is an asset to the party."

Ivonne Holliday ● 2783d

I think this is just another example of how out of touch some Conservative associations are becoming. They are obviously vehemently pro Brexit yet the constituency as a whole voted Remain. The more all this grinds on the more the need for a sensible party of the centre grows. FPTP militates against third parties. Maybe that will have to change too even if it results in the likes of Farage getting into parliament. It used to be just the LibDems demanding electoral reform but as we see more smaller parties emerging and the possible break up of the previously monolithic big two, almost anything becomes possible.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2783d

@IvonneAre you suggesting this was a conspiracy hatched by Jon Conway to get rid of Grieve? There was a big turnout at the AGM of over 300 party members, so did he get 181 of them to vote against Grieve?  Or are the Beaconsfield constituents just getting tired of Grieve and simply want a change of MP? Would you be even thinking of something dodgy going on if someone other than a former UKIP member was the person who opposed Grieve?

Sue Hammond ● 2783d

Perhaps we should have another referendum on PR ... 🙀

Sue Hammond ● 2783d

It would be interesting to know how long many of those who voted aganst Dominic Grieve have been members of the Conservative party. I think Nick Boles who has similar problems with his local association has spoken of a recent influx of former UKIP members.UKIP hasn't had much success in parliamentary elections; even their star Farage has never secured a Westminster seat. And the party has experienced a few leadership changes in past months. So it would make sense for Brexit fanatics to join an existing party and try to change it. If the Conservative party had its wits about it, it would have foreseen this, and introduced a mandatory membership period before you could vote.I too cherish the vain hope that a party of moderate, sensible people might emerge, but in addition to overcoming the hurdle of the electoral system, it would require moderate, sensible people to put in the leg-work and support the candidates.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2783d

I am not suggesting anything Sue.  I am saying it is political dishonesty.Your numbers mean absolutely nothing to me as I assume the constituency is a lot bigger than 300 members of the conservative party. Not the UKIP.Could not get the result for Beaconsfield, but South Buckinghamshire voted Leave by 50.7% and Remain by 49.3%.  Not a resounding result here by any stretch of the imagination.  Particularly as Grieve was elected by 65.3%.So yes, political dishonesty of the highest order.I am delighted that the Conservative Chairman that the result of this charade "had no formal standing in party rules."

Ivonne Holliday ● 2783d

You are right Elizabeth exactly the same as the momentum take over of labour and did selection of excellent MPs by them. Thought you had to be a tory member for 12 months b4 voting rights but that may just be for the leadership election.

Andy Pike ● 2783d

I agree with Elizabeth too.  Well, it appears that this ex-UKIP person did join the Beaconsfield conservative association over a year ago...  at their request...Troubling times indeed.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2783d

UKIP died when Farage walked away from the Party; he felt his work was done after the referendum result and he wanted his life back. He formally resigned, and rightly so, when Tommy Robinson was taken on board.  UKIP is now beyond redemption in my opinion.The voting system is massively skewed in favour of the two main parties and will remain so unless it is radically changed. Farage, when UKIP leader, garnered 3.9 million votes in the 2015 GE which resulted in just one seat. The Tories got 11.3 votes and 329 seats.  Says it all.I think that presently you have to be a Conservative Party member for 3 months before you can vote in a leadership contest.

Sue Hammond ● 2783d

Whatever views one has on many political issues including Brexit, most of us can recognise a politician who is honest, patriotic and intelligent.Dominic Grieve is one of those.Too many on both sides of the House are self-serving, dishonest hacks and even embarrassingly thick - totally unable to convey a cogent argument of their own.Grieve has now been displaced in a campaign orchestrated by a former Ukip opponent. According to the Guardian -"the former attorney general, who lost the confidence vote by 182 to 131, has hit back against the defeat by rounding on his former Ukip foe for the coup. Jon Conway, who received just 1,609 votes compared with Grieve’s 36,559 when he stood against him in 2017, denied the accusation (of entryism). The former regional organiser for Vote Leave said he was the only ex-Ukip activist who had joined the association". Of course every MP is dependent on the support of his local Party organisation and can expect to be deselected (or not reselected) if he loses it.Just a pity that an intelligent man, in such short supply in the HoC is displaced by an ex-member of a Party that now has ex-BNP Tommy Robinson advising it on race relations.

John Hawkes ● 2783d

John, you're absolutely right.  Grieve comes over as decent and intelligent. Many current MPs are, as you say, embarrassingly thick, so much so I am beginning to doubt the value and purpose of higher education. Most of them seem to have degrees from reespectable universities, yet it seems to have done them no good at all.Johnson attended the country's most prestigious school, yet uses expressions which, if I heard in the street, I would cross the road to avoid. I had to Google one word he used to find out what it meant! And another fellow who apparently aspires to be prime minister doesns't seem to know where Dover is. What have we come to?

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2783d

I agree with you Elizabeth.  But one thing I learnt long ago at work was that people who have "the piece of paper" are not necessarily better qualified against those armed with lots of common sense - and experience.I have worked most of my life in highly international environments and it never ceased to surprise me how many so-called highly qualified people had very little common knowledge, let alone common sense.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2783d

Sounds like you are arguing for electoral reform Sue?

Matt Palmer ● 2783d

Sounds very underhand Sue, just like something UKIP or the far right would come up with.. they were pushing UKIP voters to sign up to be in the conservative party just so they can get this votes won. Sad that you support this kind of rubbish.

Graham Earl ● 2782d

The Sunday Times today has a report on the Beaconsfield meeting, and it's clear from it that a lot of the unpleasantness came from the usual type of UKIP entryists.  They booed Grieve's support for a second referendum, heckled him loudly and called him "liar," "traitor" and "disgusting;" one particular charmer responded to Grieve's opposition to Brexit by yelling "How f****** dare you?" Clearly not exactly au fait with sophisticated political argument, then.

Richard Carter ● 2782d

Thank you Richard for this.It seems to me, sadly, that we are returning rather dangerously to the 1930s - albeit with a 21st century influence.I wonder if we will be mentioned in historical terms, as the early 21st century with people some people who never grew up.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2782d

I forgot to add that another at the meeting compared Grieve to the appeaser Lord Halifax. What is it that draws these people endlessly back to the Second World War - or even earlier since the appeasement issue goes back over 80 years ago! Very unlikely that these people have any memory or even knowledge of that time.

Richard Carter ● 2782d

Totally agree, Richard.  The obsession with World War II is ridiculous.  Dangerous times for the Conservative Party if Beaconsfield is anything to go by.

Craig Fordham ● 2781d

As with Germany after WWI with its 'stab in the back' myth, a similar one will be created here by extreme Brexiteers claiming that, after (a non-hard) Brexit "the people were not defeated, but betrayed by 'elite politicians'".And the politician that played on this myth and rose to power in Germany, with dire consequences for the world, had a unique and iconic hairstyle that he worked on vigorously !!

John Hawkes ● 2781d

"And the politician that played on this myth and rose to power in Germany, with dire consequences for the world, had a unique and iconic hairstyle that he worked on vigorously !!"Please can someone tell me whether the new Nazis are the Labour Party or the Brexiteers or the ERG? Is it Jeremy or is it Nigel (or JRM, or Boris)?

David Ainsworth ● 2781d

I often look at photos of JRM and think if he had a moustache he would resemble that particular German politician.

Lucille Grant ● 2781d

I think the Labour Party would be the Social Democrats, obliterated by the man with the haircut between the wars.They and their leader will probably go the same way - only peacefully I hope at the ballot box.Now you point it out, the leaders of the other two groups you mention do seem to spend a lot of time on their hair !

John Hawkes ● 2781d

Well, this image is circulating on Twitter, though I can't vouch for its accuracy:

Richard Carter ● 2781d

Naaah, that's Blakey from "On the Buses". Put on his London Transport peaked hat and it would be obvious. And perhaps give him a little tickle to make him less morose.

David Ainsworth ● 2781d

That's the picture I saw Richard! Amazing resemblance.

Lucille Grant ● 2781d

Hadn't thought of that David, but there is a strong resemblance to Blakey now you mention it!

Lucille Grant ● 2781d

Complete the following:Little things ...

Sue Hammond ● 2781d

"Complete the following:Little things …"are better than no things?I'd say, anyway.

David Ainsworth ● 2781d

Mr Carter. Your,comment 'one particular charmer responded how f...... dare you. You stated 'clearly not exactly au fait with sophisticated political argument.'Does this apply to you when you called Jeremy Hunt, Jeremy *unt ?

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2781d