Friends with your enemies

[ICTChris]

Labour MP Laura Pidcock has caused controversy by stating that she "will never be friends" with Conservative MPs. Pidcock said she thinks that Conservatives are the enemies of lots of women and classes. Several Tory MPs have been quoted denouncing her remarks and they certainly go against how many MPs approach life in the Commons - her leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was known for being friendly with Conservatives and Tony Benn was friends with many Conservatives, he spoke at the funeral of Enoch Powell. In his diaries Benn also described Margaret Thatcher crying at the memorial service of Eric Heffer, an MP of the Left.

 

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/uk_599d80bae4b0d97c40005d2e

 

There are also, famously, mixed couples in politics. Natalie McGarry, former SNP MP, is married to a Tory councillor and the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercoe, a Tory, is married to a Labour supporter.

 

Have any P&Bers ever stopped being friends win someone over their political views? Would any P&Bers refuse to be in a relationship with someone who disagreed with you politically?

 

I think everyone has lines - racism, extremism, hatred - that you can't cross but it strikes me as a bit closed minded not to be friends with someone you don't agree with. It must be fairly limiting as well, most people will disagree you about plenty of things.

[TheProgressiveLiberal]

I have zero lines other than PC. Won't be friends with people who are PC.

[TheProgressiveLiberal]

That's more because I'm bound to dislike them personally rather than anything to do with politics though.

[welshbairn]

4 minutes ago, TheProgressiveLiberal said:

That's more because I'm bound to dislike them personally rather than anything to do with politics though.

I'd have thought being P.C. in America was a survival tool. Being inconsiderate and impolite about a stranger's beliefs or identity is liable to get you shot. 

[Lofarl]

10 minutes ago, TheProgressiveLiberal said:

I have zero lines other than PC. Won't be friends with people who are PC.

http://i.imgur.com/7rw1Qwb.gifv

No room for you in the master race

 

[NotThePars]

You wouldn't be friends with people who refuse to get their round in and/ or steal money from the charity tin and that's the Tory party to a person.

[topcat(The most tip top)]

People who say "I'm not a Tory but I like Ruth Davidson" can apologise or piss off

[Fullerene]

Norway had a prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.

Not only would her husband not vote for her but politically he was one of her strongest critic.

Talk about a strong marriage.

[Rugster]

1 hour ago, TheProgressiveLiberal said:

That's more because I'm bound to dislike them personally rather than anything to do with politics though.

It's more because you're a trolling fanny to be honest. 

[welshbairn]

26 minutes ago, Fullerene said:

Norway had a prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.

Not only would her husband not vote for her but politically he was one of her strongest critic.

Talk about a strong marriage.

Feisty sex though. "How does the Honourable Herr Brundtland like this up his arse?"

[Fullerene]

Politicians often find it easy to be friends with those from other parties because they are not the competition.

You might get into politics because you believe in socialism or capitalism or Scottish independence or environmental matters or whatever.
However, once you get there, you probably have your own vision of a better world.
Who's going to stop you?
Somebody else in the same party - who has a different vision of the same thing.

What is that saying they have in parliament?
Your enemies are not sitting on the benches opposite.  They are actually sitting behind you.

[welshbairn]

30 minutes ago, Fullerene said:

Politicians often find it easy to be friends with those from other parties because they are not the competition.

You might get into politics because you believe in socialism or capitalism or Scottish independence or environmental matters or whatever.
However, once you get there, you probably have your own vision of a better world.
Who's going to stop you?
Somebody else in the same party - who has a different vision of the same thing.

What is that saying they have in parliament?
Your enemies are not sitting on the benches opposite.  They are actually sitting behind you.

The chance to escape from the group think and party line must be liberating too, if you trust each other not to grass.

[Antlion]

11 hours ago, ICTChris said:

 

Labour MP Laura Pidcock has caused controversy by stating that she "will never be friends" with Conservative MPs. Pidcock said she thinks that Conservatives are the enemies of lots of women and classes. Several Tory MPs have been quoted denouncing her remarks and they certainly go against how many MPs approach life in the Commons - her leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was known for being friendly with Conservatives and Tony Benn was friends with many Conservatives, he spoke at the funeral of Enoch Powell. In his diaries Benn also described Margaret Thatcher crying at the memorial service of Eric Heffer, an MP of the Left.

 

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/uk_599d80bae4b0d97c40005d2e

 

Can anyone explain why this isn't "divisive"? Or do Labour embrace division and eschew unity and togetherness when it suits them?

[Granny Danger]

I was an elected politician for 10 years and my attitude towards Tories never extended beyond civility; there were times even that was difficult.  I can't see how it is possible to develop respect or admiration for folk whose politics you find so abhorrent, and respect and admiration would surely be required for friendship.

There was a Lib Dem guy who was OK and who I'd happily chat with out with the normal political discussions.

[renton]

2 hours ago, Granny Danger said:

I was an elected politician for 10 years and my attitude towards Tories never extended beyond civility; there were times even that was difficult.  I can't see how it is possible to develop respect or admiration for folk whose politics you find so abhorrent, and respect and admiration would surely be required for friendship.

There was a Lib Dem guy who was OK and who I'd happily chat with out with the normal political discussions.

I suppose it's a bit different once your in the Westminster bubble thing though. Maybe they realize they have more in common with their opposite numbers than the people who sent them there in the first place.

[P.C]

I have zero lines other than PC. Won't be friends with people who are PC.

[emoji22]

[BerwickMad]

I went to a conference thing in Morpeth in December that Pidcock spoke at. I was impressed with her and what she had to say on campaigning etc. However, since being elected I find a lot of what she says concerning. From constantly going on to Russia Today, to her over-obsession with class and now this.

Personally, I enjoy meeting new people and can easily be friendly with and have friends with opposing views. Met loads of people at uni who I don't agree with politically who were friends.

[Granny Danger]

1 hour ago, renton said:

I suppose it's a bit different once your in the Westminster bubble thing though. Maybe they realize they have more in common with their opposite numbers than the people who sent them there in the first place.

Yeah, I realise that's a very different level from the one in which I operated.  That said the 'bubble' effect can impact at all levels, particularly if it's a full time commitment.

[anotherchance]

For me, it's probably more about people's social skills and knowing when to contain their views rather than the views themselves.

I'm more likely to get on with a Tory or a No voter who knew that we strongly disagree and we spoke about something else, rather than someone closer to me on the political spectrum who lectures people regardless of the social situation.

People who I largely agree with politically (left leaning) have completely fallen out with me because they're aggressively partisan and can't handle any sort of moderate challenge or questioning of their own views. It's a little bit sad.

[Suspect Device]

I've got friends who are fans of Rangers or Celtic. If I can get on with them, I can probably get on with my mates who have differing political views.