29 June 2008

The Conservatives And Hypocrisy

The Independent On Sunday has a few interesting stories on the Tories today.

- The new Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve, owns shares in Anglo American, Standard Chartered, Rio Tinto and Shell. All of these firms are trading in Zimbabwe. Each investment is worth more than £60 000, so Grieve's total shareholdings are more than £240 000. This is in contrast to David Cameron calling on all companies and individuals with "any dealings" in Zimbabwe to examine their consciences and ensure that they are not keeping Mr Mugabe in power.

- The fellow who set up the website for the "David Davis For Freedom" campaign is vice-president of Fleishman-Hillard, a global public relations firm representing security companies that have introduced ID cards in the United States and Spain.

Andre Gide said that: "The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity."

- Cameron needs to drop Grieve from the Shadow Cabinet for his policy on Zimbabwe to have any credibility.

- People need to ask some hard questions about David Davis. How can Davis be in favour of an expansion of the prison system, be in favour of capital punishment, and be an MP who voted in favour of 28 day detention, and also be a white knight for civil liberties?

Update: Guido Fawkes points out that the Independent's parent company - Independent News & Media PLC - operates in Zimbabwe. Baroness Jay and Ken Clarke are non-execs on the board of INM plc.

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