Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
When attack isn’t the best defence
This week beleaguered MP Rosie Duffield was hit by a broadside from Tory member and former Langton Grammar School pupil Daniel Hamilton – and she gave a masterclass in mishandling a hostile news story.
Mr Hamilton’s open letter to Ms Duffield, pointing out that her sons benefit from grammar schools (while she wants to abolish them), was hardly a revelation. Ms Duffield’s comments about the grammar system during the hustings were unremarkable. Nobody thought for a moment her position would be any different.
Where a more savvy and experienced political operator would have been able to brush off the story, our new MP instead lashed out at Mr Hamilton saying: “As far as we are concerned this is just an attempt by the Conservatives to raise the profile of Daniel Hamilton. He doesn’t live here, as far we know he lives between London and Stockport”.
Readers’ interests were suddenly piqued. Clearly Ms Duffield is threatened by this man. Who is Daniel Hamilton? Why does it matter where he lives?
In making the story personal she exposed her political underbelly and the media, sensing weakness, bared their fangs and bit. What should have been just a local story was now covered by the Times, The Telegraph and the BBC.
Ms Duffield has form for attacking the questioner rather than dealing with question. During the last media relations maelstrom, she alienated a number of her constituents by dismissing allegations of students voting twice as “sour grapes” from political opponents. On Facebook and Twitter, she is quick to label dissenters as “trolls”, seemingly regardless of the manner in which they express themselves.
In Ms Duffield’s defence, she isn’t having an easy ride. Election promises to save the Kent and Canterbury hospital are proving complicated to act on as she attempts to work with an almost entirely blue local establishment. Her previous credentials as a “passionate remainer” are in tatters after her support for Jeremy Corbyn’s hard line on Brexit and leaving the single market. With cannons to the left of her and cannons to the right of her, where she rides next may not be a place she’s entirely happy with.
Rosie Duffield is not alone in her condemnation of grammar schools. There is a real conversation to be had about education in Kent. Sadly, name-calling and personal attacks are getting in the way of constructive debate.
It is perhaps ironic that this week’s argument is about schools, and the current level of political discourse belongs in the playground.
Alex Lister is a Canterburybased political activist who provides digital PR services to organisations including the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.