For a couple of years now there has been a deep seated perception amongst many local people that their local newspaper is less than neutral. Soon after the 2010 General Election the new South Dorset MP Richard Drax was ‘invited’ to write a weekly column. Following the 2001 election and up until his electoral defeat his predecessor Jim Knight was not. They have thus pinned their political sympathies well and truly to their mast. When a colleague of mine contacted the newspaper to offer a balance he was informed that this was not in their plans. So now that we have an increasingly popular and cutting edge alternative to this corporate bias dross that sells on births, deaths and car crashes I have decided to offer that alternative voice to the ‘Harrow boy on his estate’.
Friday 10th May’s offering will be my starting point:
Richard Drax column: UK would thrive out of the EU
I have often considered Richard Drax an old style Tory. One that despises modernisation unless it is via his agenda. A man that tells us that politicians should be ‘truthful’ and yet appears to find so much of it as inconvenient. In his weekly column for the Echo of 10th May he begins by stressing the phrase ‘political battlefield’ (straight out of the Daily Mail speak) and of course misses an opportunity to create a united vision for this country and even internationally. Conflict ridden by class and it seems by nature. This conflict is not just aimed at the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats though. It is also aimed at the upper echelons of his own party. He describes ‘senior members’ as ‘arrogant’ and praises the no nonsense approach of Nigel Farage. For someone who it has for a while been suspected craves a position in the House of Lords this appears a dangerous tactic. Now I know that his landowning status will probably save him from commoner obscurity in old fashioned Tory style but nonetheless his sentiments will have not gone unnoticed.
His eulogising about Mr Farage must not be ignored. Although it would be beneath him to leave an established party to join a protest movement, especially one that is attracting significant interest from the British National Party (BNP), I would never accuse Mr Drax of being a unifier. The Conservative Party has been riddled by in fighting not only since 1975 but going back to the Hitler/fascist appeasers in the late 1930’s and further back to the debate over the emancipation of slaves. Where Mr Drax would sit on these questions is better asked of him. His divisive approach is though further exemplified when he ‘disagrees’ with those who criticise UKIP for ‘making policies on the hoof’. How does he know this? How does he know so well how their policy agenda was formulated? Was he there? Again we must seek those answers from the horse himself. But the even more fascinating part comes next. Mr Drax states quite clearly that ‘the UK would thrive free from a socialist (sic) style mentality which curbs sovereignty and freedom (sic)’ BUT (and a very big BUT it is too) he prefaces this with a denial that the ‘UK would lose millions of jobs because regulations already state that the EU members would have to trade with us and frankly they would want to, as the Germans have made very clear’. In fact he describes those who oppose this as talking ‘poppycock’. Now where to begin?
The derision of his version of socialism as being one that curbs sovereignty and freedom and then the claim that ‘regulations’ would prevent this. What regulations? The ones curbing our ‘freedoms’ perhaps? This is then followed by an assumption that a few voices not only speak for the interests of Germany but the whole of Europe. Who are you trying to kid? You may be proved right but this argument should convince no one! Come on Mr Drax you might get fat on this cake but this ultimately contradictory and flawed argument suggests that you consider the Echo readers stupid. A typical autocratic oratory from someone who quite obviously perceives democracy as yet another inconvenience. Do us the courtesy as our Member of Parliament to deliver some balance not spurious and inconsistent narrative. Make Harrow proud not squirm.
Then Mr Drax strays into the dangerous territory occupied by the BNP and English Defence League (EDL) narrative and one they have made their own: ‘The aspiration to take our country back is entirely honourable, and possible, with the right political will.’ Back from what Mr Drax? Spell it out! Be honest! Do not leave the gaps unfilled. Tell us exactly what you mean. If you mean from Europe then why are you so supportive of a privatisation agenda that sells our utilities to large corporations based in other countries? (Not to mention your ‘defense’ of the publically funded Coastguard helicopter and how that sits with your pro market sympathies – but that is for another time). If you mean multiculturalism how do you intend to purify this country of other ethnic groups? You may have noticed that UKIP are not advocating an absolute stop to immigration – they want lots of wealthy ones to be able to set up and work here. They appear rather silent on the effect it will have on an already terminal lack of social mobility however.
No doubt you voted against your own government and your Queen’s speech (somewhat ironically) this week in pressurising the Coalition to have a legal framework for a referendum on European membership. Now I am quite prepared to take part in an informed discussion on this but one thing that must be clear is that dogma will do the people of Dorset; the UK; the continent or the planet no favours. You must reappraise what ‘freedom’ means to us and not try to ram down our throats that it means living on a huge estate with lots of inherited wealth being passed forever on. If the people vote to leave the EU they must do it from an informed position not because they believe your flawed propaganda through our supposedly neutral local newspaper. Have a word with your employers and remind them of their duty and what democracy stands for. It may mean a quick trip to the United States but I think you can afford it.
Flora the Implorer
