In his usual, often sardonic, style, Ed Davey has profiled by Mark Coles. In this 15-minute broadcast, we hear things we knew and things we probably didn’t. The profile begins with his birth on Christmas Day. Being orphaned. Neighbours leaving food on the doorstep. His school but good exam performance. Setting up a debating society. Being a prog rocker. Falling asleep at parties. In a gap year working in the local pork pie factory before interrailing and on to Oxford for PPE. Despite bad green jumpers, MI6 tried to recruit him. Rescuing woman from path of ongoing train.
And then into politics. Winning. Losing. Winning. His battle against George Osborne to support renewables. Telling Lib Dems to wake up and smell the coffee and tackle important things like climate change and social care. Demolishing that blue wall after the Chesham and Amersham victory.
Davey is described as in a buoyant mood after Chesham and Amersham. He listens to people and humanity for him outweighs the desire for a Flashman personality.
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4 Comments
He was not very inspiring on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, although it probably wasn’t his fault. The interview was trans, trans and more trans, referring in particular to a PPC, whose T shirt logo allegedly brought her a 10 year ban from the party. Shooting yourself (hopefully that reflexive pronoun is allowed) in the foot really doesn’t do it justice! Is this really the image the party wants the public to remember?
One of the biggest problems with modern political parties is that they are very keen to censor, ban or expel those who challenge political orthodoxies or offend particular lobby groups. It is not only illiberal, but also often counter productive, as this interview so aptly demonstrated.
Political interviewers will tend to focus on what they consider to be a weak point, whether of the individual politician, or of the party’s policy. Significantly, both R4 and Andrew Marr have arrowed in upon Ed Davey’s stance on trans rights. His answers have not been too convincing. Given the limited coverage allocated to the Lib Dems, it is the controversial, or negative issue, which often becomes the sole message getting through to the public. The emphasis on Tim Farron’s views on gay sex made it difficult for him to get across a broader message in GE 2017, and I’m a little concerned that trans rights could become a similar Achilles Heel for Ed Davey.
An interesting profile, I thought – perhaps a bit homespun. I’d say that Alan Beith should have had more of a mention, as should Ed’s early professionalism as a political operator.
Thanks for hightlighting the programme.