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Was Cameron right to resign?


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Old 07-12-2016, 13:12
andykn
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He should have stated his position before the vote.
He couldn't do that, that would make the vote a vote of confidence in him.
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Old 07-12-2016, 13:16
andykn
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He said before the referendum that he would not resign. A man should stand by his word.
He had no choice with either, he couldn't make the vote a vote of confidence in him but had to go having backed the wrong side so heavily.
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Old 07-12-2016, 13:31
KezM
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I was sad to seem him go, as I think he was a good prime minister, but at least he knew he couldn't carry on after being on the losing side so strongly and it would have sent the party into infighting, and at least he knows when to go unlike the useless leader of the Labour party.
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Old 08-12-2016, 04:04
Radlestort
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I suppose he didn't want people voting out just to get rid of him, so thought he had to lie.
He's very self-important if he thinks people would do that. And that would simply have indicated he take a back seat in the campaign, rather than fronting it.

"I don't want this to be a referendum on me, so I'm not going to be playing a significant role in the campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU."

Simple.

Impressive watching how people will try anything to justify this man's dishonesty and cowardice.
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Old 08-12-2016, 07:48
Icaraa
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Coward of the highest order, but add in calculating piece of work.
Or just incredibly naive and out of touch? I honestly don't know.


I'm sure privately he will regret agreeing to the referendum in the first place but politically I don't think he had a choice. If our EU Exit is a success then maybe history will praise him as the PM who gave the people their choice. If it's a failure then he will inevitably be blamed for giving people their choice.
I'm not a Tory supporter so maybe I'm wrong on this but I don't buy this whole "he had no choice" argument. I think they'd have got into power whether he said there would be a referendum or not. Everyone was laying into Labour about the economy even though it was a world financial crash. They got the blame and the Tories were always going to get in.
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Old 08-12-2016, 08:29
Brigon
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By holding the ref he united the Tories and guaranteed them a majority in Parliament, more than anyone since Thatcher managed.

He was fully aware of how many holes there are in the referendum act and had not intention of dealing the fall out that we are experiencing now so he said see ya later and good luck.

Hardly anything to blame him for.

In addition he ensured that the very people campaigning for madness and chaos are now in charge of delivering the undeliverable and is enjoying the show while eating popcorn.
Temporarily united the Tories. Once negotiations start they will be tearing themselves apart over the hard/soft Brexit issue.
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Old 08-12-2016, 08:41
blueisthecolour
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Personally I would have preferred if he stayed, he seemed on the more reasonable side of the Tories and I don't like the stuff i've heard from the May government so far.

IMO though he had to go - he was on the losing side of the most important political decision the country has taken in 40 years. It was only right that someone else pursued Brexit.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:25
andykn
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He's very self-important if he thinks people would do that. And that would simply have indicated he take a back seat in the campaign, rather than fronting it.

"I don't want this to be a referendum on me, so I'm not going to be playing a significant role in the campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU."

Simple.

Impressive watching how people will try anything to justify this man's dishonesty and cowardice.
If he wanted to stay on as PM in the event of an Exit vote you are quite right. But why would he want to be seen by history as the PM who fscked our economy for decades, just for having and losing the referendum will be bad enough.
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Old 08-12-2016, 10:30
jmclaugh
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From a personal perspective his resignation is understandable and as a confirmed Bremainer I doubt he would be the right choice to take forward the UK's exit from the EU. Understandably many will see his resignation as when the going got tough he decided to go.
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Old 08-12-2016, 11:49
Glyn W
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I think he was quite right to leave the blame for the fiasco that will be Brexit to those who wanted it.
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Old 08-12-2016, 22:30
Hieronymous
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This has proven to be a very interesting discussion.

With the benefit and wisdom of hindsight I think Cameron should have stayed in the background and, at least, appeared to be neutral. He didn't, though but didn't he say the previous November that the UK would do okay outside the EU? So why this '.....bomb under the economy"? And haven't certain predictions already been shown to be incorrect?

I could be wrong on this but wasn't Theresa May aso in favour of staying? Though consideraby less vociferous about it. Is she, therefore, the one to deal with the exit negotations, any more than Cameron was?
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Old 08-12-2016, 23:00
thenetworkbabe
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He said before the referendum that he would not resign. A man should stand by his word.
Obviously as all the left wing, and rightwing Tory voters, would have had an additional incentive to vote no - if he was going to be their victim too.

Politicians have to say whats poliically essential, even if its not true, if the alternative is thay lose on an unrelated, less important issue. Thats just political reality.
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Old 08-12-2016, 23:10
outof thepark
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This has proven to be a very interesting discussion.

With the benefit and wisdom of hindsight I think Cameron should have stayed in the background and, at least, appeared to be neutral. He didn't, though but didn't he say the previous November that the UK would do okay outside the EU? So why this '.....bomb under the economy"? And haven't certain predictions already been shown to be incorrect?

I could be wrong on this but wasn't Theresa May aso in favour of staying? Though consideraby less vociferous about it. Is she, therefore, the one to deal with the exit negotations, any more than Cameron was?
I think on a personel level May was or is in favour of leave, but I think she had or has issues with the potential fall-out, May backed the remain campaign but very much in the background
She still is not sure how to proceed, conflicted thats my impression.
As for Cameron resigning that probably was inevitable.
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Old 08-12-2016, 23:19
andykn
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This has proven to be a very interesting discussion.

With the benefit and wisdom of hindsight I think Cameron should have stayed in the background and, at least, appeared to be neutral. He didn't, though but didn't he say the previous November that the UK would do okay outside the EU? So why this '.....bomb under the economy"? And haven't certain predictions already been shown to be incorrect?
No.
..
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Old 08-12-2016, 23:31
thenetworkbabe
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This has proven to be a very interesting discussion.

With the benefit and wisdom of hindsight I think Cameron should have stayed in the background and, at least, appeared to be neutral. He didn't, though but didn't he say the previous November that the UK would do okay outside the EU? So why this '.....bomb under the economy"? And haven't certain predictions already been shown to be incorrect?

I could be wrong on this but wasn't Theresa May aso in favour of staying? Though consideraby less vociferous about it. Is she, therefore, the one to deal with the exit negotations, any more than Cameron was?
Cameron is a logical chap with a first class brain. He, and the polls, thought he had a winning watertight case, that only idiots and masochists, would ignore. He also had a rather stunning show planned to make the points clearly - involving everyone from Obama to the leaders of the CBI , and TUC, and Steven Hawking.

His rational analysis failed to pick up on the extent of irrational fear of immigrants in much of the electorate - because it doesn't exist in London or Witney, and voters logically ought to have been more concerned about their incomes. He missed Boris defecting - which gave Leave a figurehead , who didn't look like the rightwing wierdos leave otherwise would have been stuck with. Events also didn't go to plan. The refugee crisis came along at the wrong time, and Osborne was running late being able to increase spending , as the economy recovered. So what looks a decent idea, in 2013-15, don't look as good in 2016 - by when he's committed.

Cameron couldn't stay back in the referendum - because Stay had no other leader who could sell the show. Labour could have with a Blair, but it had a comotose Corbyn. Boris might have been campaign leader - but he picked the wrong side. The Liberals were toxic.

When the case doesn't sell well enough, there's only really the option of pointing out the consequences more starkly . Cameron can't attack Boris - as Boris is the fallback leader if no win, and the next leader if yes do. He can't convince voters immigrants are good for them, or blame his own government for spending shortages. its more fear or nothing.

The Osborne fear predictions are all coming true - just not to the same timetable - partly because of the pound falling.. We are already bribing Nissan, watching banks prepare to go, halving future growth rates, and the halving of growth rates is already turning up, as question marks over the pensions triple lock.

May was a quiet remainer - also positioned to take over if no won. Cameron reportedly thought only Boris or May could do the job as PM . Boris looks dubious, so its May. But she lacks Cameron's wit, and his memory, and his political skill, and his ability to appeal accross the house.
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Old 09-12-2016, 11:30
WellHiddenMark
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David Cameron's resignation only proved what a weak leader he was. It's not in the UK's national interest to have a weak leader, so therefore he did the right thing.
David Cameron has defended his decision to call a referendum on the EU - despite the fact it cost him his job.

Yet now he's twisting the narrative in his favour, exploiting victim culture, and claiming it "cost him his job". Er, no it didn't he RESIGNED.

A despicable act of political terrorism which we now have to clean up, and leaving us with a dried-up, bitter authoritarian as our Prime Minister "Imposed".

What a scum bag.
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Old 09-12-2016, 11:39
jmclaugh
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Yet now he's twisting the narrative in his favour, exploiting victim culture, and claiming it "cost him his job". Er, no it didn't he RESIGNED.
I saw that comment and thought the same, it seems that reality these days is increasingly less likely to be reflected in what people say. Still he has a book to write and sell.
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Old 09-12-2016, 12:35
Boo Radley75
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A traitor to the country. He believed leaving the EU would be a massive disaster for the UK yet was prepared to risk that to win the last general election. Has to go down as the worst ever Prime Minister for many a year!
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Old 09-12-2016, 12:42
Resonance
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A traitor to the country. He believed leaving the EU would be a massive disaster for the UK yet was prepared to risk that to win the last general election. Has to go down as the worst ever Prime Minister for many a year!
Not really.........

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a6726606.html

Britain is no longer “the sick man of Europe” it was in 1970s and could continue to thrive outside of the EU, David Cameron will say this week, as he prepares to set out his demands for reform ahead of the In-Out referendum.

In some of his most strident language yet, Mr Cameron will tell voters that the vote will be “the final decision” for the country.

However, he will say that Britain could be successful in or out of Europe, and that voters must make a judgement based on the reforms he hopes to secure.
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Old 09-12-2016, 12:42
smudges dad
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Cameron is a logical chap with a first class brain. He, and the polls, thought he had a winning watertight case, that only idiots and masochists, would ignore. He also had a rather stunning show planned to make the points clearly - involving everyone from Obama to the leaders of the CBI , and TUC, and Steven Hawking.

His rational analysis [snipped]

But she lacks Cameron's wit, and his memory, and his political skill, and his ability to appeal accross the house.
Whilst I disagree with your analysis, I commend you for sticking with your principles rather than attacking him like so many former Cameron worshippers.
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Old 09-12-2016, 12:46
Boo Radley75
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Not really.........

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a6726606.html

Britain is no longer “the sick man of Europe” it was in 1970s and could continue to thrive outside of the EU, David Cameron will say this week, as he prepares to set out his demands for reform ahead of the In-Out referendum.

In some of his most strident language yet, Mr Cameron will tell voters that the vote will be “the final decision” for the country.

However, he will say that Britain could be successful in or out of Europe, and that voters must make a judgement based on the reforms he hopes to secure.
One statement of his dosen't disprove all the other times and campaigning he did telling us much worse off we'd be out of the EU.
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Old 09-12-2016, 12:55
Resonance
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One statement of his dosen't disprove all the other times and campaigning he did telling us much worse off we'd be out of the EU.
Wonder what changed his mind?
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Old 09-12-2016, 12:58
Boo Radley75
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Wonder what changed his mind?
Hard to know. I always found him deeply unprincipled and was more interested in saying things to stay in power than because of any deeply held convictions.
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Old 09-12-2016, 12:59
andykn
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David Cameron has defended his decision to call a referendum on the EU - despite the fact it cost him his job.

Yet now he's twisting the narrative in his favour, exploiting victim culture, and claiming it "cost him his job". Er, no it didn't he RESIGNED.

A despicable act of political terrorism which we now have to clean up, and leaving us with a dried-up, bitter authoritarian as our Prime Minister "Imposed".

What a scum bag.
He did have to resign. Losing the vote did cost him his job.
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Old 09-12-2016, 13:04
andykn
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Not really.........

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a6726606.html

Britain is no longer “the sick man of Europe” it was in 1970s and could continue to thrive outside of the EU, David Cameron will say this week, as he prepares to set out his demands for reform ahead of the In-Out referendum.

In some of his most strident language yet, Mr Cameron will tell voters that the vote will be “the final decision” for the country.

However, he will say that Britain could be successful in or out of Europe, and that voters must make a judgement based on the reforms he hopes to secure.
A week's a long time in Politics, that was a long time ago:

"His comments will be interpreted as a warning to European leaders that he could still back a No vote if he fails to secure major concessions. "

He had to say that, but just like with Boris after the vote, the reality of Brexit soon became apparent.
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