David Campbell Bannerman complained to the BBC about Nigel Farage's planned appearance on Question Time and had him pulled from the programme.
Tim Congdon chipped in and said it wasn't fair for Farage to appear on TV when the other leadership candidates didn't.
So where was Tim Congdon last Sunday? On the BBC Politics Show without any of the other candidates. His justification for appearing on the Politics Show when he said it was unfair for Farage to appear on Question Time? Because he announced that he was going to be on the show and none of the other candidates complained so they obviously didn't mind.
Why DCB decided not to complain about Tim Congdon appearing on the BBC is a mystery, especially considering that he made the announcement at the same leadership hustings that Farage did about Question Time.
One rule for Farage, one rule for everyone else it seems.
Friday, 22 October 2010
wonkotsane is an author at Bloggers4UKIP.
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Tim Congdon · 752 weeks ago
You don't know what you are talking about.
In a separate & subsequent comment is an e-mail correspondence on these matters. (My first reply was apparently too long.) I am not going to apologize to anyone.
Members of the UK Independence Party (who presumably include the 'wonkotsane' creature) must learn to stop fighting each other and to concentrate their efforts on getting our country out of the loathsome European Union.
Yours sincerely,
Tim Congdon
(Professor Tim Congdon CBE)
..............................................
Tim Congdon · 752 weeks ago
.................................................
Malcolm,
Many thx for confirming the phone conversation.
I suppose the NEC will need to spend a little time on this subject (i.e., media appearances during a leadership election), but I hope not too much. We all want maximum (good) media coverage for UKIP and - for myself - I am not opposed to competition between candidates during the leadership elections.
If I may say so, the competition we have seen in this leadership election has led to
i. a wider realization that e-mail technology is available & must be used for contacts between the party (at "the centre", whatever that is) and the membership, and
ii. the opening-up of regular teleconference meetings as a way of keeping in touch with members, which is just about possible with a party as small as ours.
Surely all to the good.
rgds,
Tim
Tim Congdon · 752 weeks ago
Subject: Re: from Tim Congdon
Tim,
I am happy to confirm that you expressed no problem with Nigel's appearance on QT, and found DCB's actions unjustified, although when at your suggestion I phoned Gerard he took a different line, albeit based less on the current election than the preceding one.
Since there is apparently a long-standing NEC ruling, to the effect that media appearances should not be disrupted by internal elections, I fail to see any problem with any candidate's media appearances and for this reason, as Nigel's campaign manager, I have never found the need to comment on yours. I presume that Ray was commenting more on DCB's ambiguous attitude rather than any action on your part.
If other candidates are not in media demand then that is a relevant point in itself. (2 pars now deleted, because the comment has to be brief.)
Best Regards
Malcolm
Tim Congdon · 752 weeks ago
Last 2 pars of e-mail from Malcolm Wood to Tim Congdon
I understand that DCB has offered himself widely to the media to comment on the spending cuts. This seems to indicate that he takes a different view to his own appearances rather than those of others. It remains to be seen whether the media is interested in his views but since you are exceptionally qualified in this field I would look forward to any exposure you may get for UKIP and if you get coverage to your own advantage good luck to you.
I will add, if I may, that I have taken some satisfaction in the generally 'straight bat' approach of your campaign and Nigel's which is so essential to future co-operation. I would be pleased if you shared that view.
Best Regards
Malcolm
Tim Congdon · 752 weeks ago
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Ray (i.e., Ray Finch),
I note your comment on the 'Forum'. Why - if Nigel was prevented from going on QT - was I allowed to go on 'Politics West'?
I agree with your point, at least in principle. It seems to me that - if any candidate is asked to go on a TV show during the leadership election - he/she should at least tell everyone else. But that is what I did. Some days ago I did send an e-mail - with everyone relevant copied in - saying that I was in discussions about five TV slots of various kinds. (Yes, five slots.)
Some of these related to my position as an economist - & ought to have gone ahead anyway. Paul Nuttall wasn't bothered about them. (Sky News didn't in fact use me today.) (3 final pars to be sent in separate comment)
rgds,
Tim
Tim Congdon · 752 weeks ago
(continuation of e-mail to Ray Finch)
I would have stood down from 'Politics West', but no one seemed bothered. So I just went ahead. (It is not a secret that various stories have been bandied about on how "Tim Congdon is bad on television" - so I assume the other candidates wanted me to make a fool of myself!)
Evidently, there is now some discontent because I am not bad on television!! Oh well.
On the QT kerfuffle, I said that - once it had been agreed - Nigel should have gone ahead in interests of party unity. This was my immediate reaction when Malcolm Wood phoned me, as he will (I think!!) confirm.
rgds,
Tim
wonkotsane 85p · 752 weeks ago
Your statement on Farage appearing on Question time:
Nigel Farage was invited by the BBC to participate in tonight’s Question Time episode. Mr. Farage accepted the invitation, even though the UK Independence Party had (and still has) a leadership election. Some people believe that participation on Question Time might have given him an advantage over the other candidates, including one of the authors of this statement
libertarian · 752 weeks ago
You talk a load of old bollocks. You banned comments on here some time ago because you didn't like getting torn a new arsehole. You're a sycophant. And what the hell is Finch doing supporting Farage ? Bloody hell what a load of lily livered cowards you all are
wonkotsane 85p · 752 weeks ago
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, presumably you were intending to make one and not just throw around insults?
A UKIP Councillor · 752 weeks ago
Tim, it is not the fact that you are good on TV that people are complaining, it's the fact that any appearance on TV goes against what you said in regard to Nigel going on QT. Yet again your team try to jump on board any chance you can get to spin the message that 'you are good on TV', when in actual fact, it's about you saying one thing and doing the other.
wonkotsane 85p · 751 weeks ago
Passer By · 752 weeks ago
There will be another leadership election and another chance in due course. Sore losers do not make for good leaders and the membership do not take kindly towards those who puty their personal egos first ahead of bringing down the EU.