Vicars of St Albion
During my first Parliament (1992-1997) which were indeed unhappy times for any Conservative MP, the former Cabinet Minister Ken Baker, once said to me, “It isn’t always like this - it will get better.” It did not.
Yet although we realised we would lose, the dramatic extent of Labour’s victory was never expected. Contrary to what the public may have thought, Conservative MPs were not running around like headless chickens. There was more gallows humour than panic. Today it is as if many current Labour MPs have seen a ghost - as if they cannot believe what is happening to them.
Tony Blair had that remarkable ability to wriggle out of difficulties and at the dispatch box was always quick witted and often funny. Whenever, he had problems, Gordon Brown disappeared - he has been likened to Macavity the cat. Obviously, we concluded, that it is because he wanted to weaken Tony Blair, but also – we concluded – because he had some cleverly worked out different view or policy. We were wrong. It is now apparent that he has very limited views indeed, nothing fresh to say. Into this vacuum, everything negative is pouring each day. I wonder how many Labour MPs would now subscribe to the expression in Suffolk; “the last vicar was the best vicar.” Would Labour be in such a crisis if Tony Blair were still in charge? I think not.
And things, dear brothers and sisters, can (and will) only get worse…