Can a politician ever put country before party? No

Sir John Major came on the BBC Today Programme this morning May 10th, to appeal for politicians to put the interests of the country before those of the party. This statement by Sir John Major, ex-Tory Prime Minister, translates as follows:

“Liberal-Democrats, agree to vote for David Cameron as Prime Minister without insisting on reform of the electoral system.”

No politician will ever put the interests of the country before that of the party. His/her raison d’être is to secure the re-election of his/her party at the next election.

To ask a politician to put the interests of the country before that of the party is like asking a fish to run around on land like a horse.

Messrs Cameron and Clegg are having meetings. We know more or less what they are saying to each other. Although most recent governments have only secured a minority of the votes cast, Mr Clegg has, rashly, turned first to the Conservatives since they received the most votes.

We know precisely what Mr Cameron is thinking. His plan is plain for us all to see. If he can persuade Clegg to support him in some quickly devised plan to cover up the deficit in enough to persuade the British people something is being done to reduce it, while promising Clegg he will consider electoral reform “as soon as possible”, then he has won. The “as soon as possible” will be a rhetorical – and meaningless – refrain. After all “as soon as possible” in geological time could mean within ten thousand years. After a month or two, the Lib-Dems will realise they have been tricked, and rise in fury against Clegg. Then the Liberal revival will be smashed for another generation, and Cameron will be hailed as the saviour of the Tory Party.

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