Why I’m not bitter over Cameron snub (From Southend Standard)
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Why I’m not bitter over Cameron snub
7:00pm Friday 28th September 2012 in Southend By Steve Hackwell
MP James Duddridge lost out in the Government reshuffle
"SURPRISED and disappointed” – that’s how MP James Duddridge described his emotions when he found out he had lost his Government job.
The Tory politician, who has represented Rochford and Southend East since 2005, was serving his fifth year as a party whip when he was called into a Parliamentary office during David Cameron’s recent reshuffle.
There he was dealt the bad news he would be removed from his post and, rather than taking up a role as a minister of state, that he was destined for the back benches instead.
“It was a surprise to be relieved of my functions – or sacked in anyone else’s terminology!,” Mr Duddridge said, with an ironic smile.
“But it wasn’t entirely unexpected. I knew there were going to be big changes in the whips’ office and, of course, you have suspicions when the chief whip holds a leaving party a few days before!
“I was told the decision wasn’t anything to do with how I’d performed. It was a case of the new chief whip wanting his own team.”
It was a sudden setback for a man whose career had been on a permanent upward trajectory.
Born in Bristol, Mr Duddridge became a researcher for Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin after completing his degree, before starting work for Barclays in 1993. His banking career took him to Africa – firstly Swaziland, and then the Ivory Coast – before he returned to contest the 2001 general election as a Tory candidate in Rother Valley, Yorkshire.
His loss to Labour’s Kevin Barron, by a huge majority of 14,882, heralded the start of another stint in Africa’s banking network, this time in Botswana.
He finally succeeeded in becoming an MP four years later, when he replaced Teddy Taylor as the Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East.
In 2008, he was made an opposition whip, a role that metamorphosed into a Government whip when the coalition took power in May 2010.
It was a role he deeply enjoyed, but one which took him out of his constituents’ sight lines.
“I always felt as though I wasn’t as visible, from a constituency point of view,” he said.
“As a whip, I couldn’t speak up in the House of Commons, so while I might have had a bit of influence behind closed doors, what I was doing wasn’t as obvious as it might have been.”
Will that change now?
“Absolutely,” he said. “One of the best things about being on the back benches is the time it gives me to spend talking to my constituents and fighting for them.
“I want to use that time to almost take a step back and reconnect with some of the things I was involved in before I became an MP. I know how that may sound, but I think it’s important that, as an MP, you are in touch with the world.”
Mr Duddridge freely admits he would have liked a role as a minister of state, but he is philosophical about the reasons why he missed out. He said: “I wouldn’t want to be a minister simply for the title.
“I’d want to be a minister in a department where I could really put my skills to good use, such as using my experience in banking.
“I think the reasons I lost my role as a whip are simple. Firstly, there was a new chief whip, and secondly there were better people for the other jobs which were available.”
Isn’t he bitter about that?
“Not at all,” he said. “I think too many politicians spout what I’d call verbal diarrhoea when they lose out on these things.
“I’m not like that. I still believe in what this Government is doing and my loyalty is still strong.”
Comments(26)
lucy10
says...
7:29pm Fri 28 Sep 12
marshman
says...
7:32pm Fri 28 Sep 12
E -Type wrote:Don't be daft!
And of course "spend more time with my family"
Look at the fat lump of lard. Would YOU want to spend your time with him. My guess is he was rumbled for being the completely useless twazock that he is and got kicked back down with the rest of us Plebs.
How long before we have a chance to do the same to the ConDem coalition?
Brunning999
says...
7:35pm Fri 28 Sep 12
jolllyboy
says...
7:38pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Alec Cikes
says...
8:37pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Does a back-bencher really mean losing out (salary wise) or getting on with a more integral lifestyle? I gather it's the latter.
Good luck to the guy with the re-shuffle.
fletch12107
says...
9:11pm Fri 28 Sep 12
another council tax payer
says...
8:23am Sat 29 Sep 12
aduksquack
says...
9:30am Sat 29 Sep 12
beyond the valley of the asbos
says...
10:04am Sat 29 Sep 12
v.randy
says...
10:34am Sat 29 Sep 12
SUFC1906
says...
11:52am Sat 29 Sep 12
SpaffSpiff84
says...
1:11pm Sat 29 Sep 12
marshman
says...
1:51pm Sat 29 Sep 12
thesouthendone
says...
2:51pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Switziland isn't in Africa! Its where Toblerones come from, next to norway!
Never get mistakes like this in The sun.
thesouthendone
says...
2:52pm Sat 29 Sep 12
jolllyboy wrote:Airport is well good mate, dunno wot ur chatting about
Serves him right for supporting the airport. maybe now he can spend some time living under the flightpath - but of course he wouldnt would he.
pipeman
says...
4:54pm Sat 29 Sep 12
jolllyboy wrote:Glad he did, used the airport several times since it started, enjoyed using it.
Serves him right for supporting the airport. maybe now he can spend some time living under the flightpath - but of course he wouldnt would he.
firedog
says...
4:55pm Sat 29 Sep 12
parliament.
E -Type
says...
5:19pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Brunning999
says...
7:29pm Sat 29 Sep 12
SUFC1906 wrote:Another reason to make sure we do not have a Political party selected Police Commissioner because 99% of politicians have no bottle and toe the party line, which means the Tories or Red having control of Policing DANGEROUS!
So he says "I still believe what this Govt is doing & my loyalty is strong". Just about sums up his out of touch priorities. Why? His glorious leader stood up at the UN & announced another Great British giveaway to the rest of the world of £12BN whilst punishing the elderly, disabled, sick & unemployed in this country. The foreign aid does'nt mean more British jobs but more manufacturing shipped abroad. His leader's slavish devotion to the EU & refusal to hold a referendum before 2015 shows a lack of honesty to the Uk public. He may believe in this coalition & its poor record but how many voters in Rochford & Southend are going to want him back after 2015? His loyalty to his party may be strong but what about the country as a whole?
jayman
says...
10:19pm Sat 29 Sep 12
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oh, he's a Tory!.. never mind
Karin Smith
says...
11:16pm Sat 29 Sep 12
thesouthendone wrote:What on earth has Swaziland got to do with Switzerland?
Haha Echo got it wrong agen!!!
Switziland isn't in Africa! Its where Toblerones come from, next to norway!
Never get mistakes like this in The sun.
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Swaziland
Muppet!
thesouthendone
says...
11:45pm Sat 29 Sep 12
Karin Smith wrote:Seriously?!?!?! You believe wikipedia? And i'm the muppet? Ha! If u say so...
thesouthendone wrote:What on earth has Swaziland got to do with Switzerland?
Haha Echo got it wrong agen!!!
Switziland isn't in Africa! Its where Toblerones come from, next to norway!
Never get mistakes like this in The sun.
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Swaziland
Muppet!
soul man
says...
7:34am Sun 30 Sep 12
Horton
says...
7:14pm Sun 30 Sep 12
Don't make me laugh! This man has done nothing meaningful for his constituents either behind closed doors or in any other arena. His efforts to date and been for one purpose and one purpose only: self advancement.
His high and mighty attitude and lack of interest in his constituency and local issues (other than those that affect him directly) have led to his current unpopularity with anyone who has had the misfortune of making his acquaintance. Even if his heart is in the right place (and I believe firmly that it is not), he is utterly ineffectual and sadly underwent a charisma bypass at a young age. I would love to be proved wrong but in this case, I really can't see that happening; the man is as much use as a chocolate teapot.
I echo the sentiments of "lucy10" - BRING BACK TEDDY!
Do the decent thing Duddridge and for the sake of your constituents and the Conservative Party, stand aside and let someone with a backbone, principles and a sense of local responsibility stand in your place.
In the meantime, keep on comfort eating...
PS. Obviously, like Duddridge, I am not bitter...
Mr. Pedantic
says...
11:08pm Sun 30 Sep 12
thesouthendone wrote:Whether someone believes Wikipedia or not, neither Switzerland nor Swaziland are next to Norway.
Karin Smith wrote:Seriously?!?!?! You believe wikipedia? And i'm the muppet? Ha! If u say so...thesouthendone wrote: Haha Echo got it wrong agen!!! Switziland isn't in Africa! Its where Toblerones come from, next to norway! Never get mistakes like this in The sun.What on earth has Swaziland got to do with Switzerland? http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Swaziland Muppet!
Go have a look at any atlas or world map thesouthendone and see for yourself.
Whilst you're visiting a library (for the first time in your life? - or were you one of the scooter riders in Corringham?) you might look in a dictionary for the correct spelling of agen, Switziland, Its, norway, The sun and wikipedia. There are some clues above.
Is your real name Kermit?
E -Type says...
7:22pm Fri 28 Sep 12