Sunday 1 September 2013

My week ahead, 2 - 7 September 2013

Monday 2 September, 6pm- Labour campaigning in South East Ipswich

Friday 6 September, 4pm – World War I centenary events , Steering committee - Grafton House

Saturday 7 September, 10am - Labour campaigning, North West Ipswich

What a week in national politics, Cameron and the government losing a vote on intervention in Syria, large Tory rebellion, Number 10 accusing Ed Miliband of succour to Assad (but not the Tory rebels who he invites to a BBQ at Chequers the day after!) and the ending of our ‘special relationship’ with the USA.

As an ex-soldier I have some strong opinions on Syria and the stance taken by Cameron over the situation. I intend to do a separate post on the issue later.

But there is no doubt in my mind a number of the Tory rebels and certain Labour MP’s voted against Cameron because of public opinion was against attacking Syria – you might say that is what they should do – but what I believe is that many did support intervention in Syria but were more concerned about votes and losing their seats in 2015.

The press, politicians, political commentators have not stopped , blogging, tweeting and writing about the events of last Thursday but out campaigning in south west Ipswich yesterday with a large group of Labour colleagues, not one resident mentioned Syria – wonder if the Tories found the same situation when out in Stoke Park yesterday? What I did hear about were the Tory attacks on the benefit system and the much discussed ‘bedroom tax’. It seems from the papers today that Ed and Labour will announce their policy on ‘bedroom tax’ this week with rumours that being that Labour will scrap it- if that is the action to be taken – well done Ed. Because many mentioned this loathed tax yesterday but no one mentioned Assad.

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