Eton Rifled!
 

Its been revealed that David Cameron, leader of the opposition and strong favorite to be the next Tory Prime Minister, smoked the old "whacky baccy" while at Eton and Oxford. Does anyone think it will make any difference in the next General election?.. will it affect your vote?

I did hear his nickname at Oxford was "crack pipe Cameron" :)

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

I thought we knew this a year ago? :p

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Some of you knew this a year ago 'I' did not!

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Big deal, he smoked a few joints at school. Join the club. Wouldn't stop me from voting for him.

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So he was sort of normal. Hell if it makes him see the real world why not.

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I always thought there was something strange about his looks....if you put them thin glasses round his face he could be a dead ringer for Data in space 1999....:)

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wouldn,t vote for him if i was paid, but that aint done his credibility any harm for me.;)

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

i dont like the look of cameron he looks shifty , infact i would go as far to say he looks like a seedy little grubby pervert , sory but they guy creeps me out , anyone that can smile and look so shifty at the same time just creeps me out

cant quite put my finger on it but somthings not right about him , besides been a tory that is :rolleyes:

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

No that wouldn't stop me voting for him either...........but lots of other things would.

Thing that annoys me is that they've brought this up again (I'm sure we knew this ages ago as well) to wear almost as a badge of honour. Yes, I'm hip and trendy and understand where you kids are coming from. We can't get all the disolussioned adults to vote any more so let's see if any of the newbies will. Let's vote against the establishment sort of thing.

Very tacky tactics if you ask me.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Spoilt it for me, normal people don't usually make good politicians.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

well i wouldnt vote for him any way
but it shouldnt make any difference the fact he,s had a bit of the whacky baccy....so have many others in the public eye including royals but it dont make me like / dislike them any less...

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

so you know him too chav1?:D

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Was Data not in Star Trek?.. and he did'nt have glasses!

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

That's an interesting theory, Gayle. As far as I'm aware, this story has come up again because it's included in a new book called "Cameron The Rise of The New Conservative" by James Hanning and Francis Elliott. However, by saying "they've brought this up again" you're implying that the Tories have revived the story. Are you, therefore, saying that Tory spin doctors have colluded with the authors and/or publishers of this book in an attempt to give "Dave" some street cred? And if you are, what's your evidence for this?

Obviously, anything's possible in the murky world of politics and, if true, it would indeed be tacky tactics. However, for a supporter of this present government which has made tacky tactics a fine art form (the sexing up of the WMD report in order to justify our entry into a totally pointless war is perhaps the most shameful example), to accuse another party of indulging in tacky tactics is almost breathtaking in its sheer cheek.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

I am sure that we have all done things in our dim and distant past that we would not do with the benefit of hindsight......is it not part of the learning process?....and growing up.
The only thing that should influence the people who vote for him is.......will his party put into practice policies that will make life better for families and the general population?

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Once again I will draw your attention to the fact that I have never publicly stated any widespread support for the government - I have praised and disagreed with their policies in equal measure. What I have done and will continue to do so is support the Labour party in Hyndburn because I believe they stand the best chance of making Hyndburn a better place to live. I will continue to stress the two things are very different and the support of one does not mean a wholesale support of the other.

Also, why does my support or otherwise of one party mean that I can not make comments about another?

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

EXACTLY you have took the words right out of my mouth, i wont be voting for the weirdo either!!!:D

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If he is trying to emulate Blair. If he is then he is on a hiding to nothing as Blair is starting to look shiftier than Fagan.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Right, so you support the Labour party within the precincts of the Hyndburn borough boundary, but outside of that, you don't actually support them. What a curious point of view!

Secondly, you've got every right to make comments about any party you wish. I'm simply pointing out that by accusing the Tories of tacky tactics, you are being somewhat hypocritical, as your own party has indulged in tacky tactics many, many times. But, then again, you don't support the Labour party at national level, do you?...strange...very strange!

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

I'm sorry but I don't find it strange at all. In fact, I think it shows a better awareness of my views on things than most people have and a better understanding of politics.

First of all I'm not saying that I disagree with everything the Labour party at national level is about but neither am I saying that I would blindly follow them. I always believe in the best person for the job. People who always vote one way because that's what they've always done are not necessarily weighing up the pros and cons of their decisions.

I support the local Labour party because I honestly believe that the local area would be better in their hands and I also support our local MP, Greg Pope because I know him to be a sincere politician (honestly) - I trust him to make decisions on my behalf that doesn't necessarily mean that I have to agree with every single one of them. I always vote for the person who I want to represent me, even in general elections, and not for the party or the party leader. So, if you want me to say this just for the record, then no I would not vote for Tony Blair if he were my MP.

Finally, I do not think I'm being hypocritical as I would be quite prepared to accuse the Labour party of tacky tactics if I saw them.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

you will be very busy then i dont think tony blair has kept one single prommise infact i tink he has done the exact opposite of every prommise he makes

cant wait until the idiot steps down and them maybe just maybe labour can start to run the country and not just this morons ego

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

In some ways it is easy below the border with govenment and politics than up here. The layout is still the same bar a few oddities so you have your Bourgh and County (unless its like Blackpool) and know were and what remits comeunder each. Sadly I have the local council which took all responsibility for the former regional councils and run them themselves. I also have the "House of Tubes" ie Holyrood which can complicate things more as just because the same party is in power on both sides of the border. I need to wiegh up what each party would do for Scotland if in power as well as a representative in the Commons who is there for the sake of Scotland and the none devolved powers issues.

Just because I might vote for one party in Hollyrood dosnt mean I follow the same at Westminster. I believe votes should be used to obtain whats best for your community and therefore do so. What issues ignite in a local area are not the same as national and therefore there can be differences that require a different vote. Sorry but following, as some do, a party because members of their family always did or do is like beeing a sheep and does not help matters in the long term.

It all comes down to what you believe and having the mental toughness to stand by these beliefs. That is reguardless of political campaigns or peer pressure.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Been to an opticians lately, Gayle? I reckon you need to if you're telling us that you've not noticed any tacky tactics by the Labour party over the last ten years.

Incidentally, I see you've not come up with any evidence to support your initial proposition that the current furore over Cameron's youthful daliance with the deadly weed is part of a campaign by the Tories to give him street cred. Instead, you've retreated into your usual I don't necessarily support the government at national level stance. A very convenient position to take once you're put on the spot!

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Everything that comes out Cameron's mouth at the moment is part of a campaign to get him elected in a few years time.

But if you insist, then yes, I do think it's to give him street cred. He's deliberately targetting green voters, women voters and younger people. Not a bad tactic as it will probably get him into No. 10.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Of course everything that comes out of Cameron's mouth is to get him elected. That's how politics works. Was Blair any different in the 1997 - and all subsequent - campaigns?

However the point is that this latest revelation didn't come out of his mouth and didn't come from anyone in his party, as far as I'm aware. It came from two independent journalists. That's why I'm puzzled over your view that this is some sort of spin by the Tories to increase his "hipness" quotent. Have you got any facts, or even rumours, to back this up?

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Fact - it's politics - I rest my case! :)

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Yes, it's politics, but it's certainly far from fact. In fact, I put it to you, members of the jury, that Mrs Knight's assertation that this is a Tory spin is a fanciful theory on her part with no facts whatsoever to back it up and should therefore be treated with a degree of caution, if not outright scepticism. I rest MY case!

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Hang on a minute, let me have another crack at the defence.

The journalists were independent - so you say - what evidence have you got of that? There is no such thing as an independent journalist because that would be a journalist without an opinion - and that's not going to happen.

Isn't it normally me that lives in a rose coloured world - can you not believe for one minute that some stories might be planted?

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Of course I can believe it. I wouldn't put anything past the Tory or Labour parties.

However, you began by talking about this almost as if it was an established fact that the Tories had used it as an image-building exercise:

when, in fact, it's simply a theory from yourself - and a theory, I might add, that has not been raised in any other quarter from the senior ranks of the Labour party right through to the left-leaning papers like the Observer, Independent and Mirror.

As for living in a rose-coloured world, you certainly seem to be, as far as the Labour party is concerned. Why else would you wax indignant about tacky tactics by the Tories, when similarly tacky tactics have become the stock-in-trade of your party over the last ten years?

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Give it time and this will work out to Cameron's benefit. If the spin hasn't been there already (as you seem to believe) it will be soon!

This thread isn't about Labour's tacky tactics. Start a thread on any specific ones and I'll give you my opinions. As I've said, no discrimination.

Plus, I hardly waxed indignent, I made one comment which as usual you jumped on to try and twist and prove that I am not as devoted a Labourite as you would want me to be - note: it's as devoted as you seem to want, not what I have ever said for myself.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Well, if it is a Tory-inspired spin, then nobody seems to have told our Dave. I would have thought that to make the spin work in the way you imply, he'd should be taking an "OK, guys, I smoked a bit of draw, get over it." type stance, rather than appearing faintly embarrassed and evasive about the whole thing. I'll be watching this story with interest and if it does turn out to be Tory spin, I'll be the first to admit that you were right all along!

As for your opinions on Labour's tacky tactics, I seem to recall that I've raised a number of issues in the past and practically begged you to give us the benefit of your opinions, only to be met with a "I prefer to concentrate on local issues" type approach. Still, I'm sure the opportunity will arise again and when it does, I'll look forward to hearing your views.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

I dont think the fact that he's smoked a bit of wacky baccy should be held against him, wasn't it 25 years ago, surely its the person he is now that should be judged, not keen on him anyway but this revalation would not have affected my vote.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

hang on a second when tony blair was running for leadership and trying to win teh young vote didnt it come out that he had smoked dope at college and then he went on radio one trying to be young and hip stating that he was once in a band

cameron is just a copy of blair , if teh tories ever wantto get into power they are going to have to come up with somthing better than a clone of blair

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

The funny thing is I could understand him saying "no comment" if he did use cannabis... but he was asked a couple of years ago if he had taken cocaine and again he said "no comment"...no comment?...leaves the door open ...just say "NO" like the fat kid did in grange hill.

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

I think "no comment" means yes:D

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And rightly so. By the way, how are my gange plants coming along, in your conservatory? :rolleyes:

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Not doing too bad, first crop will be ready shortly!:D

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

having thought about this I'm not so sure the "I did it what the hell" attitude is the way to go... we may have done the same as Mr Cameron in our wilder days.. but would you now say to your son/daughter.. try it.. we all did and its just schoolboy stuff?.. young people do read papers and take in more than we realize.. if the next Prime Minister makes the excuse "I was 15 and a bit silly" what sort of message would we be putting out to the 15yr olds you lot like to lable as good for nothing chavs?... the man is a fake.. a sweet talking puppet who would not last 6 months as a tory prime minister... the REAL tories will have this muppet thrown out when it suits them!

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Maybe he tried a bit of everything and aint man enough to sdmit it in case it ruins his chances of being the 20th PM out of Eton.

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Ah, but will they? Power is the most addictive drug of all and if "Matey Dave" gets 'em into power, maybe they'll be prepared to tolerate him. After all, the present incumbent of No 10 is also a "fake" and a "sweet talking puppet" but the real Labourites haven't been in any hurry to throw him out!

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Where's the evidence that Mr. Cameron is even a conservative? Most Tories these days seem pretty squishy to me.

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ahh but tony sacked most of teh peopel that dared to disagree with him

dont forget that :)

Re: Eton Rifled!
 

Apart from one that is his nemisis dispite the pallie wallie act.