No Room In The Tory Party Now For Robust Debate?

[sandyRoe]

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/senior-tory-could-be-kicked-out-of-party-after-accusing-ministers-of-being-too-pro-israel_uk_660eaa29e4b078af1447a4ca

[jno]

there will be. They're going to have to stage a mighty realignment after the election; the centrists will battle the ultras and I have no idea who will win. Already many are standing down, and some defecting elsewhere; but they'll all be thinking (a) what do I most deeply believe? and (b)which of the party's fracturing sections is likely to come out on top?

Until then they'll all be cancelling one another like crazy.

[naomi24]

There doesn't appear to be room anywhere these days for robust debate.

[SpudMurphy]

Naomi,

I agree.  I used to think of Labour as a broad church, but not any more 

[Canary42]

Not just in the Tory Party, robust debate not allowed in Answerbank.

[Untitled]

he's quite right and it isn't just a problem with the conservatives... we now have UK politicians like david mencer (former chair of Labour Friends of Israel) who are now effectively spokespersons for the israeli government... how on earth can this be acceptable?

priti patel deserves special attention because she broke ministerial rules in order to conduct illicit meetings with the israeli government... it is still unclear what exactly was going on there.

[youngmafbog]

It's not debate though going on a Radio show and pointing fingers at collegues. Free speech is there but with free speech comes consequences as he is finding out.

Sounds like he is the one that doesnt like people doing what he doesnt like to me.

And anyway is a might or maybe so no debate isnt stifled.

[youngmafbog]

//the centrists will battle the ultras//

Its a Conservative Party liberals have no place in it.  As for the term Ultras are you trying to paint anyone slightly to the right as a far right football hooligan?

Still to the Commies on here I suppose even a liberal would be considered far right.

[jno]

centrists have long had a place in the party - what they used to call One-Nation Tories, I believe. And very pragmatic because election winners are typically ones who attract the middle-of-the-road vote.

As for the ultras, are you suggesting the non-centrists are all "slightly to the right"?

[Peter Pedant]

There doesn't appear to be room anywhere these days for robust debate.

no Naomi there doesnt. I wonder if it is due to moderation on AB? - as in the robust debaters dont bother to contribute if they know their posts will last 30s

let me add the usual AB sound effects: "scream scream scream, this is grossly anti-semitic and I am being harassed" - repeat as necessary

[fripfrip]

What's wrong with being pro-israel?