In Winterton’s Defence

Having read and listened to Sir Nicholas Winterton’s comments on Rail travel tickets for MPs I can see where the uproar has come from, but I am saddened to say the least that so many Tories are joining the crusade against him. CCHQ has released a statement condemning his comments saying they are “out of touch views from a soon to be retiring MP whose views do not represent that of the Conservative Party”. Well there’s a surprise, the same CCHQ that has been trying to oust the Wintertons ever since Cameron came to power has now distanced itself from his public comments. Couldn’t really see that one coming could we?

Now, there will no doubt be many of you reading this thinking is he actually going to defend Sir Nicholas? Yes. I am. If you listen to what he actually says he is making a very reasonable argument as to why MPs should be allowed to go  in first class. By talking about people who have a “totally different outlook on life”, he is talking about people just on their way to work and who are reading a book or people travelling to see friends, etc. He is not talking people down in the pompous and snobbish fashion that it is made out to be.

I am disgusted that the Tories have condemned his words. Sir Nicholas has represented the people of Macclesfield for many a decade and if they had a problem with him travelling by first class, then they would not have consistently voted for him. I personally prefer to travel first class because I find it quieter and you generally don’t get distracted by children or other noise. If I have work to be concentrating on I would rather be in first class where I know I can get on with it. Yes, there will be times when standard class suffices, but this is no guarantee. Does that make me a snob? IN CCHQ’s eyes, probably, yes it does. In the real world. No, it doesn’t. I don’t know about anyone else, but I would much rather my MP turned up to a debate having had the opportunity to study his papers fully rather than turning up to a debate not fully prepared because he couldn’t get a seat in standard class and there were children making noise and a variety of other general conversations taking place.

I’m happy for MPs to claim for first class tickets. Of course, if they claim for a first class ticket and then travel standard class (as happens with MEPs all the time) then that is wrong and is another matter. However, in this case  it does not seem unreasonable to provide members of parliament with first class travel. It is not saying they are above the general public for they are not. It is merely saying that they need a place where they can guarantee they can get on with the work they have to do.

If you read previous articles on this blog you will quite easily find that I have consistently rallied against excessive expenses where necessary, but I will defend MPs when what they are saying has merit and this is one of those situations. There will no doubt be many other MPs who have the same feelings as Sir Nicholas, but are not in a position to push their head above the parapet.

It’s a dark day for politics when it gets lowered to lambasting members of parliament for simply wanting a quiet place to do what is important work which can and often does have widespread implications not only for their constituents, but for the country as a whole.

Iain Dale reckons the interview on 5Live was car crash esq, ConHome has come out against his words and practically every other media outlet is rallying against him. Yes, he might have come across better had he worded his answers slightly differently, however the point still stands. Sir Nicholas has been a fantastic MP standing up for this country and protecting traditions when others have insisted modernisation is the way forward. He will be missed from the Commons. He’s right, it’s not ‘troughing’ as Guido suggests and I’m proud to defend his comments.

Incidentally, if you don’t believe me about Sir Nicholas being right on this issue, then you can listen to his interview for yourself. Listen to what he actually says and listen to the disgraceful way Stephen Nolan tries to get him to retract his comments.

UPDATE: I’ve had a browse around the twitter and blogging world and evidently there is suspiciously nothing on this subject from Tom Harris, not even anything on his Twitter feed. Interesting, given that he uses first class to travel between Glasgow and London.