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Cameron right to go to Cumbria
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Post
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4 June 2010
There are a few grumbles online about David Cameron and Teresa May hotfooting it to Cumbria to meet victims and emergency services who dealt with the terrible tragedy there.
But I think the visit is both understandable and right. Yes, some police resources will have to be diverted to look after them, but not much. And yes, there is not that much that the Prime Minister can actually do. As he said yesterday, this may just be a dreadful one-off case of one indivdual snapping, from which no broader lessons can be learned. But it was still right to go.
Sometimes, as with visits to regions hit by floods, it is possible that a visiting Prime Minister will learn things which lead to resources being allocated differently, or a different tack being taken. Sometimes, as when TB met the victims of the Omagh bombing with Bill Clinton, such encounters merely serve to fulfil a broader political purpose, namely the expression of a determination not to be knocked off course by those seeking to disrupt a peace process.
And sometimes it is just the right thing to do for leaders to visit a community that has been shocked by tragedy.
I can remember when the Dunblane massacre took place, and both Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth and Labour shadow George Robertson pressed for then PM John Major and Tony Blair to visit the next day. Major was very wary, but the two Scots politicians persuaded him it was what the commuinity needed and wanted. And that is how it felt the next day.
They had nothing to offer but expressions of support. But those expressions of support meant something.
I would count the visit to the scene of the massacre, a primary school, as one of the most upsetting and moving experiences of my life. I know that Tony Blair felt the same, and I could see that John Major did too. There really were no words to sum it up, but both of them had to find them as they talked to doctors, nurses, paramedics, teachers, and of course parents who had lost children.
I don't doubt that David Cameron will be moved and upset by what he sees today. But the community, whatever the grumbles from some, will feel a little better than the Prime Minister took time out to pay his respects.
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Absolutely right – and NOT to visit would have been strongly criticised as well such is the frenetic frenzt the media can get into. So he took the wisest and most conapssionate decision and acted as a leader.
The only case against it would surely be the amount of police required to ensure security whilst Cameron’s in the region, and whether or not this will detract from the police investigation by using up resources and/or manpower. Otherwise, 100% back the visit.
Quite right. Some things are more important than politics and frankly if the PM hadn’t gone to commiserate and talk to people, I’d wonder what was wrong.
(Dear lord, I’m agreeing with two out of every three of your blog posts. This really is a new politics…)
I think that, as much as I disagree with the politics of a party or a person, that it can be easy to forget that politicians are human beings.
A good decision by the PM. Just like Dunblane, this will cause heartache in that community. There is no point scoring here. Just a determination to offer support.
I do not like how the media are feeding fury in the town by suggesting Cameron was going to visit ALL the sites of incident. Clearly, from yesterday, that wasn’t the case. And, the Prime Minister did not want his presence to feed into more media speculation and frenzy on the town.
He, and the local MP, now want the town to mourn in peace. A bit frustrated at Sky for contradicting official comments from the Govt. and trying to dictate Cameron’s visit.
Yes, I agree Cameron is right to go to Cumbria.
But to Dan, more worrying for me than agreeing with Alastair at times, is that I sometimes find myself agreeing with Cameron. Even more worrying than that, while watching Question Time last night, I found myself nodding once or twice in agreement with Kelvin McKenzie. Do I need help?
As someone who lives in Whitehaven, I don’t doubt it’s right for them to visit.
What makes me nervous is whether they’re going to attempt to make any political capital out of it. The local Labour MP, Jamie Reed has been an absolute superstar – especially given that in the last 6 months he’s had to deal with the floods, the bus crash and now this. In addition he got seriously ill during the election campaign and spent half of it in hospital. It would make me very mad indeed if they did or said anything to undermine his excellent work.
being raised in whitehaven and having strong family ties there i can honestly say that the majority of folk there would have rather had a visit from leader of labour party rather than someone most whitehaven folk cant stand.
His visit didnt have him interacting with the people at all, no doubt his staff cherry picked a few of the wounded who voted torie and weren’t likely to speak their mind (as most marras do say what they think) and ask him questions he wouldn’t want to answer.
I could rant on but my point is that whitehaven has and will always be a labour town and so torie pm’s should keep well out of it. Jamie’s doing just fine on his own and is far more sincear and understanding than any torie outsider could ever be.
So thanks cam but no thanks.
I too am angry with Sky. They seem to think that the PM is there to feed into their bulletins. If he had done so, then he would have been criticised for using the disaster as a photo opportunity.
It is right that the PM visits the area to let the people know that the country are sharing their grief. After all he is representing us in this situation.
I’m no Tory but I think DC got it right today. If he’d done any more it could’ve looked like an unseemly attempt to earn political capital. I noted Jamie’s particularly warm handshake at the WCH. This is a time for both men to be statesmen.
There are some very Labour parts of this constituency – Egremont inparticular – but I don’t think that should preclude a Tory PM for visiting. Just so long as they don’t throw there weight around. Which he didn’t.
In response to Sarah. With people having lost loved ones do you really think now is the time for such nasty comments? I’m sure the last thing on the mind of the people of this area is party politics. A situation like this should be above politics, common decency and compassion are the order of the day and I’m sure Mr Cameron genuinely feels for the people there. He would not be human otherwise.
I’d be interested to hear AC’s views on John Pilgers latest article. Master of Illusion Mr Campbell…How will you respond to John Pilger one of the most respected journalists worldwide…….
@ Sarah – It was absoluely right for the Prime Minister to visit Whitehaven and he would have been heavily criticised had he not done so. An event like this is completely beyond party rivalries.
He was right to go.
Like it or not DC is the PM, he has a responsibility to carry out duties like this. At the very least he’s there to represent those of us across the U.K. who would add their condolence in person if able.
Agree entirely with previous comments – this is not a matter for party politics
I’m not a Cameron, Conservative or coalition supporter but the point of the electoral system is that once elected the MPs represent all of us – not just those who voted for them. Similarly DC is now everyone’s prime minister and had a responsibility to respond on our behalf.
Don’t like his politics or his party but I see no reason to think this wasn’t a genuine attempt to do something to help.