Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Simon Heffer Should Read His Own Newspaper

Tim Montgomerie has an article on ConservativeHome today having a go at the Telegraph.

It's amazing that this morning's Telegraph has no mention of the Built to Last referendum result or the drop in Tory membership. The Torygraph is in danger of losing its status as the party's house journal.

Well let me add grist to Tim's mill.

Simon Heffer has his usual dig at the Conservatives today in his ranting column, alleging that politicians have remained silent on the prospect of a veto on home affairs issues in the European Union. Read his piece HERE. He implies the only people to take this seriously are the Freedom Association. Wrong. He should read his own newspaper (see HERE). A page 2 article says...

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said he was "astonished" that such a move was even being considered, after Geoff Hoon, the Europe minister, refused to rule out moving to majority voting in decisions on EU police and judicial co-operation. In a furious letter to John Reid, the Home Secretary, Mr Davis said: "To surrender the veto would directly contradict the pledge given by the former foreign secretary that 'there is no plan, proposal or intention to slip elements of the constitution through the back door'."

It makes you wonder, doesn't it. If Simon Heffer can't even be bothered to read his own newspaper or know what's going in the news pages, why on earth should we?

22 comments:

Vlad the Impala said...

I have been going off the Telegraph steadily and this has escalated lately. Was really surprised that, for example, they did not (unless I missed it) pick up on the story Channel 4 broke on the failure to refit RAF Hercules planes with flame-retardent foam, which is a national disgrace given the impact on the safety and live of our troops and the Telegraph's own too eager support for Tone's foreign policy. They have a real penchant for picking off low hanging fruit in the form of government imcompetence but no incisiveness in analysis. I think they need to hire the guy that writes the Burning our Money blog and put some ballast back in their journalism.

Anonymous said...

The Conservative line will of course change.

Heffer is therefore right.

Never mind 'read his own paper', what about 'understand your own party' Iain?

Anonymous said...

No thats unfair . I have been infuriated by Simon Heffers one man attempt to lose the election . In fact in my 3 second audience with the Blonde Cavalier Bombshell the incomparable Boris johnson... thats what I moaned about. He said something like OHHH ruffle ruffle of hair ,,unynum Simons Constitutional position is basically that any Conservative Party Leader ,that isn`t Margaret Thatcher , is a venomous reptile of some variety...unmnyum ruffle ruffle .

BUT Simon Heffer is absolutely right to bring this astonishing news to everyones attention. He is also in broad terms right ot point out the lack of proper debate.
No , he drives me mad but on this he is right

Prodicus said...

Amen. And...

Anonymous said...

To be fair to Heffer(something I hate to do), he might have wrote that before DD issued the letter. This is a subject we've said very little about, and there is nothing on the Conservative website about it.

Anonymous said...

VLAD The impaler

Beg to differ. The Telegraphs news gathering has always been mediocre at best. Why would you read a paper for the news any more anyway? On the political comment side, though, it has been especially good recently. Janet Daleys superb analysis of the Liberal Party and in particular a brilliant piece on the Gerrymandering by the marvellous Boris ( PM material that man). Today Simon Heffers Editorial came exactly on cue. It was only last night at a meeting of the Bruge Group the lack of publicity given to the EU threat to habeus corpus and so on had old men stamping on their cigars.
Where it goes wrong for me is when political columnists attempt touchy feely-ness. It’s a bit like watching the Elephants in fantasia but basically young Vlad I think I am saying you are not right. I’ll go further despite your scary name . You’re wrong

Anonymous said...

it will take the next general election, but conservativehome will be come the "conservative paper" of record. It will become way more influencial.

Anonymous said...

I am growing sick and tired of Heffer's regular swipes at Cameron, which have been increasingly more personal of late. If he can't rejoice in the party's increasing electorability then he should push off and write for the Guardian.

He is clearly a man with a grossly inflated sense of his own importance. He likes to portray himself as the Bearer of the Old Conservative Flame but he is just another of those pompous, opinionated old windbags who used to give the Tories a bad name.

Next time I see him sitting near me at a Canary Wharf restaurant I will throw my bread roll at him.

Anonymous said...

Best alround in Heffer were to leave the telegraph and join his soulmates on ConHome.

Anonymous said...

With Christina Speight as his John the Baptist?

Anonymous said...

Why should Heffer join the Guardian? The Guardian is the most pro-Cameron paper of the lot! It really supports Apology Dave, the Liberal conservative (with big L small c).

Anonymous said...

Joy unbounded !! Actual Conservatives who support the party and with whom I can agree. Lord Haw Haw , thats how frustrated I get with him although I quite like Conservative Home , (Is it so bad what have they done ?)...

I wrote to the Telegraph to have a moan ages ago as follows .Please feel free not to bother with as I only wanted to agree with Giles and Haw Haw and have already been a wind bag

.
`I am beginning to hop about like Rumplstiltskin when I read Simon Heffer`s latest silly attempts to undermine the boy David `s excellent leadership. Today his accusations include ` Pursuing votes from everyone `. Calamity! Slightly more seriously , he is good on soothing modern noises and weak on Policy.
. Perhaps nice Mr. Cameron feels he has to address that important electoral Group Simon and his friends will know as, `Everyone else in the Country `, without making firm policy commitments. Labour sold their Socialist Souls for power, so I think he might be brave little soldier and put up with some caring mood music .
As this daily pantomimic indignation must come from mixing with a very narrow band of acquaintance, I can prescribe a remedy . Adam Ricketts has shown he can write a sensible article why not let the aptly named Heffer take over his vital underwear modelling duties until after the next General Election . He would return a far humbler man with a broad experience of life .`

But he`s right on Europe I `m afraid

Anonymous said...

In defence of the lamentable Heffer, how can the poor chap find time to read the papers when he's on-planet so infrequently?

Anonymous said...

Like it or not Heffer speaks for a significant section of the Conservative party. And 'middle England' for that matter.

I think he's spot on about Cameron, which will no doubt be proved at a later date.

OK, Heffer can seem pompous and reactionary but I think his analysis on most subjects is spot on. He's from the Auberon Waugh school of journalism and you need to look beyond the schoolboy teasing.

The Hitch said...

Simon Heffer is a pig in a ginger wig, however, he is to the right and that is a good thing, shame he is such a pompous twat who annoys everybody he comes into contact with. I bet his wife spends most monday mornings apoplogisng to people he offended over the weekend, whilst drying his huge Y fronts on the Aga

The Druid said...

Don't shoot the messenger. This story is more important than that. Or can't we see that? Why does the party want to gaze at its navel rather than defend the constitution? We'll never get back to power if we leave such important issues to the fringe. We won't deserve to.

Vlad the Impala said...

Newsmania -- I grant you they have some superb columnists, particularly Boris, and agree with your assessment of him (although he is too bright and iconoclastic to survive the glittering heights without the pygmies attacking his ankles). Its the Telegraph's overall approach to news that's troubling; what's omitted (eg, the Herculese story) does not balance what's selected.
By the way I don't read paper news, its online for me and then only briefly to check for matching biases (grauniad, indie, telewag and times) before going to Alternative Sources.
Also not scary; otherwise would have "er" instead of "a" on my name....

Anonymous said...

Vlad The `Impala`
I get it ( belatedly ) , very good
Will watch out for your well informed views to pass of as own
Cheerio

Little Black Sambo said...

My word, Prodicus (1.09 pm)m that is a wonderful article.
And I like the clock.

Tapestry said...

If David Davis is opening up on this, it can hardly be happening without Cameron's approval.

We are not in power so can do little to stop Labour unless Labour MP's are sufficiently exercised to form a rebellion. What chance a cross party alliance of MP's to preserve the powers of Westminster? That would wake Heffer up.

TaxCutter said...

Why should the Telegraph take any notice of Built to (come) Last? No-one else does.

Anonymous said...

See Heffer in action here:

http://www.westbournemouthukip.com/hefferbromleypartone.htm

What is there not to like?