Unspeakable Addresses the Unmentionable

Yeuch, sorry...Quentin Davis

I'd hoped never again to mention the name of that slug in human form, Quentin Davis. Unfortunately he has just delivered a truly nauseating speech to his new found brothers and sisters at the Labour party conference.

Referring to himself as a 'prodigal son', he launched into a typically vacuous attack on the supposed lack of substance of David Cameron. Perhaps the most ridiculous claim of all was that Cameron flip-flopped on issues of tolerance. Cameron has been pretty consistent on these issues as far as I can see, and while it is true that Mr Davis has held and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, continues to hold some very firm positions on matters of some aspects of tolerance, these positions have often been very contrary to those of his new-found family.

Davis should tread carefully. As the relatively subdued applause for his own effort and for what was actually a very good speech on Northern Ireland affairs by fellow turncoat, Shaun Woodward, the Labour party at large has a long and often vindictive collective memory. Simply showing an willingness to act the shaved performing monkey for the dour organ master won't buy Quentin all that much grass-root goodwill.

Dizzy also noticed my other candidate for most ridiculous contribution to the debate where Wendy Alexander, the Scottish Labour leader suggested that Conservative Party is driven by the "politics of envy". It's a charge which after Ming's contribution last week, is one where the Conservatives are the only major party with no case to answer.

Dizzy also makes a good point on Harriet Harmans's inability to count, but maths has never really been Harperson's strong point.

Overall though, Woodward's piece apart, it's been pretty dull fare. How I long for the days of Derek Hatton and his ilk.

Update 5:00pm: The Telegraph describes the reaction to Davis's speech as a standing ovation, and yes, technically they are right, but looking at some of the faces it seemed to be as heartfelt as much of the Conservative standing ovation for Blair's final Commons' performance.

I seem to be seeing party conference season events differently from most. I suspect that this is something to do with my increasingly cynical view of mainstream politics. Frankly the whole of it is becoming a pile of insubstantial, stage managed drivel. To an extent, it has always been the case, but the triumph of form ovr function is now almost complete and this is not a good thing.

For once, I actually felt some sympathy with the Beast of Bolsover as he listened to Quentin drivel on.