As one of the most minor of MySociety's volunteers - and I think I have maybe twice been useful - I'm shocked by Tom's decision I have contributed to conversations on this list when I think MySociety is unfairly opposed to Political Parties and whips. I have also tried to explain why publicwhip looks like an anti-Labour tool from our perspective. But likewise I have defended MySociety to Labour politicians and activists
Tom would be an asset to any Government and any sensible Government should work with him. But nailing his colours to the mast this way does undermine him and inevitably MySociety too. I can stand up and be a Labour Parliamentary Candidate and still maintain my integrity because I'm as ready to say where I think Labour's wrong as where they are right. The only way Tom's going to maintain his integrity is if he too qualifies is allegiance. I have my name branded with "Labour" and people have a right to ask me where I stand on ID cards, the Iraq war, transparency in parliament and a whole range of difficult questions. Tom is a much more influential figure than me and is now branded equally with a party banner. It would be fair now to ask him where he stands on inheritance tax cuts, the Lisbon Treaty, promises to revoke the social chapter and lots of other issues associated with his chosen banner. Tom has chosen to move into politics and I hope he will do so in a manner that maintains his integrity rather than undermines it. Alex Hilton "Disappointed of Dalston" On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 1:23 PM, Francis Davey <[email protected]> wrote: > 2009/10/6 Matt Ford <[email protected]>: > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8290181.stm > > > > Already alluded to on list but not discussed. > > > > My personal thoughts are that it's a good step for what is likely to be > > the next government to have Tom on board. > > > > Hopefully non-tory mysociety supporters will accept that working with a > > government you don't like can bring about changes for the good of > everyone. > > > > Indeed, I'm not a Tory and won't be voting for them in the next > election, but if I carry out a thought experiment in which I compare > the Tories advised by Tom and the Tories not advised by him its quite > clear which is the better option. > > And its not as if he's not *already* talking to anyone who will listen > about IT in government and information. > > I suspect that Tory ministers (if they do get in government) will > think My Society is pro-Labour just as I have heard Labour ministers > thinking that My Society was Tory inspired and for the same reasons. > > -- > Francis Davey > > _______________________________________________ > Mailing list [email protected] > Archive, settings, or unsubscribe: > https://secure.mysociety.org/admin/lists/mailman/listinfo/developers-public >
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