Michael Heseltine

[the other bob wilson]

If you have about half an hour to spare, this interview is well worth a listen. There aren’t many around like him now who can remember living through the Second World War and you can tell his philosophy through life was formed in the immediate aftermath of the war. I found him very persuasive when he talked about what was needed to be done after the conflict and I always go back to how the generation that lived through the war were the second biggest supporters of Remain in the Referendum after the younger generation.

I’d never vote for the party he represented in Parliament, but I think he’s an impressive man in many ways.

[Jordi Culé]

If you have about half an hour to spare, this interview is well worth a listen. There aren’t many around like him now who can remember living through the Second World War and you can tell his philosophy through life was formed in the immediate aftermath of the war. I found him very persuasive when he talked about what was needed to be done after the conflict and I always go back to how the generation that lived through the war were the second biggest supporters of Remain in the Referendum after the younger generation.

I’d never vote for the party he represented in Parliament, but I think he’s an impressive man in many ways.

I’ve always found Heseltine an interesting politician. He was considered one of the ‘wets’ and is very well thought of in Liverpool for his support for the city.

Fell out with Thatcher on numerous occasions, who then threw him under the bus over Westland and his recent observations about Boris are Johnson are correct.

Throw in Ken Clarke, John Major along with Heseltine who comment on today’s Tory party and politics generally as either Lords or knights and compare with what the UK will have in the future with Rees Mogsy and Priti Patel.

[TWGL1]

I’ve always found Heseltine an interesting politician. He was considered one of the ‘wets’ and is very well thought of in Liverpool for his support for the city.

Fell out with Thatcher on numerous occasions, who then threw him under the bus over Westland and his recent observations about Boris are Johnson are correct.

Throw in Ken Clarke, John Major along with Heseltine who comment on today’s Tory party and politics generally as either Lords or knights and compare with what the UK will have in the future with Rees Mogsy and Priti Patel.

I fully agree with your final paragraph, and the same could be said for Labour. Imagine having someone like Tony Ben on the labour front bench and what a difference he would make today compared to the current administration.

[Jordi Culé]

I fully agree with your final paragraph, and the same could be said for Labour. Imagine having someone like Tony Ben on the labour front bench and what a difference he would make today compared to the current administration.

100% with you on that. I'll throw Michael Foot into that category too.

Not so sure about Kinnock?

As for Blair...

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

I fully agree with your final paragraph, and the same could be said for Labour. Imagine having someone like Tony Ben on the labour front bench and what a difference he would make today compared to the current administration.

Tony Benn was a dinosaur like Corbyn

Talked a good game though

[Jordi Culé]

Tony Benn was a socialist like Corbyn

Talked a good game though

Fixed that for you.

[JamesWales]

I think anyone who doesn't have a passing interest in the opinions of politicians who lived through decades of parliament can't really claim to be people who have an interest in politics.

It's really important to listen to these people and their experiences whether you agree with them or don't.

That said, John Major is a right arse in my opinion, I'm rather tired of him being wheeled out and don't find him of any intellectual interest as opposed to people like Hesaltine or Tony Benn - I'd recommend his diaries to everyone

[Dorcus]

Tony Benn was a dinosaur like Corbyn

Talked a good game though

I'd hardly call Benn and Corbyn dinosaurs: visionaries more like.

[Dorcus]

I think anyone who doesn't have a passing interest in the opinions of politicians who lived through decades of parliament can't really claim to be people who have an interest in politics.

It's really important to listen to these people and their experiences whether you agree with them or don't.

That said, John Major is a right arse in my opinion, I'm rather tired of him being wheeled out and don't find him of any intellectual interest as opposed to people like Hesaltine or Tony Benn - I'd recommend his diaries to everyone

But of course he's not as much of an arse as Rees-Mogg and Braverman I'm sure you'd agree 👍

[JamesWales]

I'd hardly call Benn and Corbyn dinosaurs: visionaries more like.

Visionaries!

Benn, whom I admire greatly, was behind the times in the end. Very little visionary about Corbyn. He usually praises countries that end up being economic and social basketcases

[Dorcus]

I’ve always found Heseltine an interesting politician. He was considered one of the ‘wets’ and is very well thought of in Liverpool for his support for the city.

Fell out with Thatcher on numerous occasions, who then threw him under the bus over Westland and his recent observations about Boris are Johnson are correct.

Throw in Ken Clarke, John Major along with Heseltine who comment on today’s Tory party and politics generally as either Lords or knights and compare with what the UK will have in the future with Rees Mogsy and Priti Patel.

Heseltine, Ken Clarke, Dominic Grieve, David Gauke et al. Some of the sensible clutch of Tories. Unfortunately the Brexit crusade allowed the Tory party to go full on loony.

[Dorcus]

Visionaries!

Benn, whom I admire greatly, was behind the times in the end. Very little visionary about Corbyn. He usually praises countries that end up being economic and social basketcases

Short sightedness on your part. He had a vision to fix the economic problems. Yes a true visionary in my opinion. Only rabid Tory leaners like yourself would dislike him.

[JamesWales]

Heseltine, Ken Clarke, Dominic Grieve, David Gauke et al. Some of the sensible clutch of Tories. Unfortunately the Brexit crusade allowed the Tory party to go full on loony.

All absolute posh boys who wanted to override what people voted for. Bizarre that you find them the sensible ones

[JamesWales]

Short sightedness on your part. He had a vision to fix the economic problems. Yes a true visionary in my opinion. Only rabid Tory leaners like yourself would dislike him.

I'm sure he had a vision. I doubt it would have worked, and that's the issue

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Fixed that for you.

He talked about a political and economic style that the people of Britain will never vote for .......they may be stupid for not considering it ......but that's the way it is

Benn , Corbyn , Skinner were great speakers but that's all

The best we can hope for is a left of centrist or middle road government

In 2023 that's going to be a centrist or centrist liberal one

I would vote for a left wing party if it had a chance of government but its never going to happen

Benn , Nellist , Corbyn , Skinner ......no more than a good speech at a conference

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

I'd hardly call Benn and Corbyn dinosaurs: visionaries more like.

Double vision

[jon1959]

Heseltine was a fascinating politician - although one I despised for most of the 1980s when he was focussed on stunts to get him front page splashed on the Mail and Sun.

Post Liverpool he became someone worth listening to even if, from my point of view, there was rarely agreement.

As a conscience of the post war broad church school of EuroToryism he has found his voice and barb. Intelligent and entertaining.

But the one thing that defines him more than anything else for me is that he took Alka Seltzer when he had his heart attack. That almost made me like him!

[Dorcus]

All absolute posh boys who wanted to override what people voted for. Bizarre that you find them the sensible ones

Not bizarre, enlightened.

[Dorcus]

Double vision

Eagle eyed

[Dorcus]

I'm sure he had a vision. I doubt it would have worked, and that's the issue

Totally 100% disagree but I'm sure you expected that.

[Dorcus]

He talked about a political and economic style that the people of Britain will never vote for .......they may be stupid for not considering it ......but that's the way it is

Benn , Corbyn , Skinner were great speakers but that's all

The best we can hope for is a left of centrist or middle road government

In 2023 that's going to be a centrist or centrist liberal one

I would vote for a left wing party if it had a chance of government but its never going to happen

Benn , Nellist , Corbyn , Skinner ......no more than a good speech at a conference

That's defeatist Sludge. I agree with you in the short term but only in the sense of using a sprat to catch a mackerel.

[Jordi Culé]

I'm sure he had a vision. I doubt it would have worked, and that's the issue

Has Cameron's, May's, Johnson's, Truss's and Sunak's vision worked out?

[Jordi Culé]

He talked about a political and economic style that the people of Britain will never vote for .......they may be stupid for not considering it ......but that's the way it is

Benn , Corbyn , Skinner were great speakers but that's all

The best we can hope for is a left of centrist or middle road government

In 2023 that's going to be a centrist or centrist liberal one

I would vote for a left wing party if it had a chance of government but its never going to happen

Benn , Nellist , Corbyn , Skinner ......no more than a good speech at a conference

You were ranting on here last week about the need to renationalise all utilities. Both cornerstone policies in any manifesto put forward by Benn or Corbyn.

You also decry anything by Benn and Corbyn dismissing it as leftist nonsense whilst championing a more centrist left leaning attitude such as Starmer.

As as far as I know Starmer has only suggested renationalising the rail network.

Make up your mind as you sometimes come across as someone who flips on their principles?

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

You were ranting on here last week about the need to renationalise all utilities. Both cornerstone policies in any manifesto put forward by Benn or Corbyn.

You also decry anything by Benn and Corbyn dismissing it as leftist nonsense whilst championing a more centrist left leaning attitude such as Starmer.

As as far as I know Starmer has only suggested renationalising the rail network.

Make up your mind as you sometimes come across as someone who flips on their principles?

Far from it

I think state stewardship or at least careful monitoring of utilities , health , transport and social care is the right way

That's a tad different from the play into the hands of the Tories style of the far left

That's gone

And hopefully starmer will be gone soon too , he is more flippy than flippy the flippy dolphin

[Maurice Swan]

Duplicitous man - an I AM a fan of Thatcher...