Hasn't Tom advised the Labour government as well? It seems that people (and I include Tom Watson in particular here) are happy for Tom S to work with a Labour government, but as soon as the Conservatives express an interest the grumbling begins...
Paul Alexander Hilton wrote: > 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] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > 2009/10/6 Matt Ford <[email protected] <mailto:[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] > <mailto:[email protected]> > Archive, settings, or unsubscribe: > > https://secure.mysociety.org/admin/lists/mailman/listinfo/developers-public > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Mailing list [email protected] > Archive, settings, or unsubscribe: > https://secure.mysociety.org/admin/lists/mailman/listinfo/developers-public -- Paul Waring http://www.pwaring.com _______________________________________________ Mailing list [email protected] Archive, settings, or unsubscribe: https://secure.mysociety.org/admin/lists/mailman/listinfo/developers-public
