CONSERVATIVE councillor Paul Greenall's calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty for people who kill with guns is , to use his own party leader's reaction, "a bit radical" to say the least.
The sentiments are hardly radical, as they are held by many people in this country, but it is radical in that a politician is prepared to stick his head above the parapet on such a controversial issue.
There's nothing worse than someone getting elected and then not hearing a peep out of them for four years. At least the people of Derby Ward knows what Cllr Greenall believes in, for better of worse.
Privately, many politicians - and no doubt some local councillors - would agree with him but they wouldn't dare admit it publically, least of all to the likes of me.
Leaving all that to one side, his comment will undoubtably be seized on by the opposition who are keen to caricature the Tories as the 'nasty party' stuffed full of hang 'em and flog 'em types.
'Call Me Dave' has gone out of his way to move the Conservatives away from the right towards the centre ground of British politics. Maybe local Tory Associations are out of touch with the party HQ. However, I rather suspect it's the other way round when it comes to the national agenda.
Labour can afford to get themselves in such a position as they are in government. The wilderness of opposition is a much lonelier place...
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Fox Force Five wrote...
You only need to look at your own forums to see that there are people out there who agree with Cllr Greenall. No politician ever did himself any harm by blaming others for his country going to the dogs. Apart from Enoch Powell I suppose.
Posted by: Fox Force Five | October 1, 2007 12:09 PM