Craig Murray, the former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan who was sacked by the British government for his outspoken commitment to human rights, has re-joined the Lib Dems.
Craig was a party member until 2005, when he chose to stand as an independent against Jack Straw. He stood again as an independent in last year’s Norwich North by-election. Writing of his decision on his blog, Craig says:
Politics is about the governance of society, and that entails people working together and collaborating their views. It is by definition a social pursuit, so to attempt to pursue it entirely alone to avoid compromising any of your opinions is not politics but futility. Why should I ever expect anybody to agree with me on absolutely every point? Probably nobody genuinely agrees with absolutely every word of the programme of any political party.
Though by no means uncritical of Nick Clegg and the party’s programme – Craig believe in Scottish independence and withdrawal from Afghanistan – he concludes:
I am very attracted by the Lib Dem proposal of a £10,000 tax allowance, to be paid for by a tax on houses worth over £2 million and by raising the rate of Capital Gains Tax to equal the rate of income tax paid by the individual benefiting.
That is a far more radical and egalitarian proposal than anything New Labour have on offer, and would enormously benefit the less well off, make work more attractive against benefits and stimulate the domestic economy through consumer demand.
So I shall not be standing in the general election, but will be actively campaigning for the Lib Dems.
Welcome (back) to the Lib Dems, Craig.
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10 Comments
I’m glad that Colin realises that we are a party where disagreement is largely welcomed. As a party of principle, we can have debates about the correct way to implement those principles without fundementally disagreeing on the principles we’re implementing – the opportunistic media operations that are the other two parties don’t have that luxury.
Unfortunately, the compliant media sees healthy, public debate and likes to present it as fragmentation or disloyalty. Hopefully the public will see a democratic process which isn’t constrained by an over-powerful leadership…
Err, Colin? Who is this Colin of whom you speak….?
This is excellent news.
Whoops, must have been confusing returned-party-member Craig with soon-to-be-ex-MP Colin Breed!
Dave – an altogether different breed…!!
The man appears to be an egotist, a crank and a compulsive self publicist. Why, exactly, is he welcome?
Excellent news. Craig may be pushy with his views (why not?) but he is a sound Liberal.
Tony Greaves
The fringe meeting he spoke at at Lib Dem conference a couple of years ago was one of the best. Glad to see him back.
“The man appears to be an egotist, a crank and a compulsive self publicist. Why, exactly, is he welcome?”
Jeez, if you’re going to start hounding the egotists, cranks and self publicists out of the party, there won’t be anyone left.
You just cant help comparing the Craig Murray in the North Norwich elections who played the dirty tricks ploy on Chloe Smith that she was not born in the constituency. Were you born in Blackburn Craig Murray, according to your blog, you were not, so under your rules, you are not the right person for the job. No double standards now, Mr Honest Man politicians do not bend the rules for themselves anymore.