A positive thread on politicians.

**Rheghead** · 08-May-09, 10:28

Which politician (past or present) of each of the main parties gets your admiration and why? If none or you disagree then don't post please, I don't want this thread to be a gurning session about folk's choices.

Mine are.

Labour, Roy Hattersley, reason being he just commands my attention to what he says which always seems to be well intended.

Conservative, John Major, a really nice gentleman who was harangued by his own side more than Labour.

Liberal, Cyril Smith, larger than life and always said it how it was.

SNP, Rob Gibson, he always seems to be attentative to the environment.

**Connor.** · 08-May-09, 10:39

Chamberlain - Regardless of the outcome of his residency was a great figure and a great public speaker who did alot more for his country than most people would these days.

**Green_not_greed** · 08-May-09, 11:26

New Labour - pass

SNP - pass

Tories - Kenneth Clarke - always liked him - would have been an interesting PM. And of course Maggie, for taking on and destroying the power of the unions.

Lib dems - David Steele - a really nice politician (a rare animal indeed) who was never the same after Spitting Image portrayed him as a wee boy

Labour - I really admire both Tam Dayell and also Tony Benn, for standing up for and clinging on to what they believe in. Its a shame Benn was so left wing - he could have been a brilliant PM.

**Kodiak** · 08-May-09, 11:52

Present - John Thurso

Past - Alec Douglas-Home

**pinotnoir** · 08-May-09, 13:55

Labour- Tony Benn (he's not left wing, he's a democratic socialist- it's the New Labour Party that drifted right-wards).

Liberals-Gladstone

Tories- never in a million years

SNP- ditto

**joxville** · 08-May-09, 18:18

Conservative~Winston Churchill and the war cabinet.
Conservative~John Major
Conservative~William Hague
Conservative~Boris Johnson
Conservative~Daniel Hannan
Labour~John Smith
Labour~Margaret Beckett
Labour~Tony Banks
Labour~Dennis Skinner
Labour~Tony Benn
Labour~Tam Dalyell
Labour/SDP~Shirley Williams
Liberal/SDP~David Steele

**veekay** · 08-May-09, 18:19

Past- David Such ( monster Raving Loony Party)

Present - John Thurso

**Tighsonas4** · 08-May-09, 21:54

its not so much a case of whos best but its more disturbing that we are paying for second homes and everything else even down to there shopping[kit kats] included

tony

**TBH** · 08-May-09, 22:08

John Smith, who, but for his untimely death, would have been a fantastic PM.

**Fly** · 08-May-09, 22:56

Liberal Joe Grimond
Sir Archibald Sinclair
Lib/Dem John Thurso
Conservative Winston Churchill
William Hague
Labour, New Labour, SNP, - drop them all in the deepest pit in the ocean ( except for John Smith) and make sure all the present lot go in first!!!

**northener** · 08-May-09, 23:56

Today, I have mostly been liking this man, MEP Nigel Farage.

I'm not a big fan of UKIP, but after seeing his performance in Brussels on BBC Breakfast today, he gets my vote. Reminded me very much of Dennis Skinner.

They certainly don't like it up 'em in Brussels.

**crayola** · 09-May-09, 00:24

It's easy to be a political renegade and to command respect from fellow renegades. Likewise, it's easy to command respect from underdogs if you're an underdog. The real political heroes are those with high profiles who lead from the front.

Tam Dalyell is a grumpy renegade, Tony Benn is an affable renegade, I know them both and they are not my heroes.

Rob Gibson is an idiot.

It's easier to be a hero if you're dead. I met John Smith and Donald Dewar on occasion and I respected them both.

I would be happy to trust Annabel Goldie.

Much to my surprise I'm rather liking Iain Gray.

But Obama is special and he is my number one at the mo.

**Green_not_greed** · 09-May-09, 23:01

[quote=crayola;546019]Tam Dalyell is a grumpy renegade, Tony Benn is an affable renegade, I know them both and they are not my heroes.
[quote]

Crayola,

I've never met Benn but have met a good few politicians over the years.

Tam Dayell was my MP in my teenage years (West Lothian) and I remember meeting him in Westminster during a school trip to London and thought he was in touch with things and pretty astute. Mind you, I was only 13 at the time! 2 years later, I went on a 20 mile sponsored walk which ended at The Binns (Tams wee hoose in the country) and those who finished were shown around the house and grounds. For a good while after I thought all MPs lived like that! And especially labour ones.....

I was wrong at the time, but these days, I was probably quite close to the mark.

And John Thurso should have been on my list. As a constituent, I think he is an excellent MP.

I completely agree with you about Rob Gibson - IMO purely in it for himself. But then again this is supposed to be a positive thread. Probably why its so short!

**crayola** · 09-May-09, 23:08

Originally Posted by Green_not_greed

Crayola,

I've never met Benn but have met a good few politicians over the years.

Tam Dayell was my MP in my teenage years (West Lothian) and I remember meeting him in Westminster during a school trip to London and thought he was in touch with things and pretty astute. Mind you, I was only 13 at the time! 2 years later, I went on a 20 mile sponsored walk which ended at The Binns (Tams wee hoose in the country) and those who finished were shown around the house and grounds. For a good while after I thought all MPs lived like that! And especially labour ones.....

I was wrong at the time, but these days, I was probably quite close to the mark.

And John Thurso should have been on my list. As a constituent, I think he is an excellent MP.

I completely agree with you about Rob Gibson - IMO purely in it for himself.

I don't know what Rob Gibson is in it for but he is like a scratched record on issues where careful thought is required.

I haven't been to the Binns, maybe I should visit and hope he's not grumpy that day!

**Anne x** · 09-May-09, 23:21

Churchill
Margaret Thatcher
John Major
William Hague tca (IMOP )HAGUE

Labour silch

SNP silch

Cyril Smith
Joe Grimmond
David Steele
Kennedy tca

**TBH** · 09-May-09, 23:27

Originally Posted by Anne x

Churchill
Margaret Thatcher
John Major
William Hague tca (IMOP )HAGUE

Labour silch

SNP silch

Cyril Smith
Joe Grimmond
David Steele
Kennedy tca

Margaret Thatcher, the most hated woman In Scotland?

**Green_not_greed** · 09-May-09, 23:44

Originally Posted by crayola

I haven't been to the Binns, maybe I should visit and hope he's not grumpy that day!

He certainly wasn't grumpy when I've met him - probably half a dozen times including schooldays. But the last time I saw him was in the 1990s.

You really should try and get an invite for a cup of tea one day. Its a lovely house.

Check out

http://www.rampantscotland.com/visit/blvisitbinns.htm

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Binns

This is what most of the new lot think they should be aspiring to!

**Anne x** · 10-May-09, 00:36

Originally Posted by TBH

Margaret Thatcher, the most hated woman In Scotland?

Each to there own do I care not a jot its my op no one elses thank god we have a democracy as Rheghead said A positive thread on Politicians

**horseman** · 10-May-09, 11:41

Originally Posted by crayola

It's easy to be a political renegade and to command respect from fellow renegades. Likewise, it's easy to command respect from underdogs if you're an underdog. The real political heroes are those with high profiles who lead from the front.

Tam Dalyell is a grumpy renegade, Tony Benn is an affable renegade, I know them both and they are not my heroes.

Rob Gibson is an idiot.

It's easier to be a hero if you're dead. I met John Smith and Donald Dewar on occasion and I respected them both.

I would be happy to trust Annabel Goldie.

Much to my surprise I'm rather liking Iain Gray.

But Obama is special and he is my number one at the mo.

Obama absoluty has to be the No 1!!!No iffs or buts!