Free Speech 26 November, 2007

Over the past week I have agonised greatly about the Oxford Unions decision to give a platform to two odorous creatures. 

I never for a second considered that they should be invited, I just wanted my conscience to feel I had come to that position out of ideological commitment and after some considered reflection, and not because I was cajoled by the weight of public opinion, or even that I innately knew it was wrong. 

Having joined the Conservative party in Hackney in 1999 it must have been through ideological fervour and nothing else, and contrary to public opinion so do most politicians of all persuasion (LD’s aside). So I was intrigued on Saturday night to learn that Conservative front bencher and MP for New Forest East Dr. Julian Lewis resigned his life membership of the Oxford union is disgust/protest. I surmised and hoped it was not petty point scoring or the leadership trying to catch headlines (us Tories leave that to LD’s). So I was greatly intrigued to hear him appear on Radio 4 this morning debating the issue with Dr. Evan Harris LD MP for Oxford west and Abingdon, one of the few eloquent and thoughtful LD’s It is often a pleasure hearing him on abortion equal rights, despite being diametrically opposed to his views. 

Dr. Lewis opened the debate and his words came out of his mouth dripping in gold and I absorbed them like an ice cream on a hot summer’s day, I do not recall such a considered and rational case being put so beautifully. Dr. Harris sounded like a fish out of water and betrayed his true Yellow colours attempting to muddy the water by politicking it why he quickly realised that his was wrong. Thankfully Dr. Lewis skilfully evaded and left me with a glow all morning. He both crystallised the argument for me and reminding me why in this murky over politicised world I was and am a Tory.