Why is Cameron continuing to support his ex-international development secretary Andrew Mitchell?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ole-model-Rwanda.html

/// The Prime Minister said the Government was right to restore £16 million of aid to Rwanda - hailing the regime led by President Paul Kagame as a ‘role model for development’. ///

"Let me make this clear" is he correct to give our money away to a controversial African dictator, when it has angered the Foreign Office and caused dismay among other Western donors and human rights activists?

[pdq1]

While he has got the support of the Tory MPs he is probably safe. They had a meeting yesterday and thought that getting rid of him would be an own goal they supported him. Cameron just follows along like a lame duck.

[Canary42]

Of course he's not right, but we're only plebs so what would we know ?

[youngmafbog]

You a Copper then Canary ?

Cameron is weak. No one in their right mind would think this is right.

[LazyGun]

I think Cameron is fearful of appearing weak.He confuses stubbornness with strength. He spent far too long supporting Andy Coulson, for instance.

Andrew Mitchell has become a lame duck, it seems to me - He even had to stay away from his own party conference, right on his doorstep, in order to avoid overshadowing the conference with fallout from his ridiculous elitist, entitled comments.From a practical point of view, I find it difficult to understand how the Chief Whip can do his job- which is to elicit obedience to the party line through fear or inducement - if he fails to command the respect of his own party, and thats what seems to have happened.

And his financial support of the Rwandan regime - dedicated as it is to fighting a guerilla war against the DRC - based upon a personal relationship with the president and against the advice of his own civil servants - seems based upon arrogance more than anything else. All in all, I think Cameron will come to regret leaving him in post.

[youngmafbog]

Cameron will have plenty of time to reflect on it; from the back benches of opposition.

[modeller]

#Cameron will have plenty of time to reflect on it; from the back benches of opposition. #
I don't think so because as long as Labour is in thrall to the unions they will never be a proper alternative government.
W

[modeller]

Unfortunately we don't have a centre party. The Liberals are useless they are just a wishy washy, do goody , sitting on the fence, left of Labour party.
As for Cameron and the likes of Ken Clarke they would be betteroff joining up with the LibDems properly rather than in coalition .

[LazyGun]

Interesting this - I see Cameron as being pretty right wing, actually ;)

[modeller]

Lazy gun . #Interesting this - I see Cameron as being pretty right wing, actually #
Being as most people think DC is soft on crime, soft on Europe, soft on overseas aid, soft on immigration, soft on extradition etc. Since when has that been right wing.

[LazyGun]

I would not agree that "most" people see him in the terms you describe modeller. Most political commentators from the Conservative wing describe him as right wing.

[starone]

The main point is where does the money come from and as basically it is from our taxes, it is our money and we should have a say in where it goes, especially if it is going to be swallowed up by yet another African dictator.

[modeller]

I suppose it depends on what we mean by right wing at any particular time and in comparision with whom.
However the media which represents the majority of the public generally describe Cameron as weak. Here on AB we get most comments on his weakness rather than his strength. Even when he does appear a bit strong there is usually a reservation like ,about time too, at last, not before time etc. There is also the fact that his actions in government fall far short of his tough talk in opposition.

[LazyGun]

@Modeller - I would agree that there is a perception that Cameron is weak, and one can argue about the cause of that - but weak and strong does not equate to being left or right wing ;)