Watch out, Quentin |

Tuesday 15th December 2009 | 14:20

Watch out, Quentin

Quentin Davies would be well advised to sound more contrite in his media appearances, say insiders

80% of Westminster insiders believe Defence Minister Quentin Davies should choose his words more carefully, after his unapologetic interview on the Today programme this morning.

Davies hit the headlines last week, when it emerged he had submitted an invoice of £20,000 for work to his roof, including repairs to the bell-tower.

He told Justin Webb, “It's such a silly thing ... because it's all a joke. Everybody knows I haven't done anything remotely wrong.”

Asked if he had considered stepping down in light of the revelations, Davies said, “You must be absolutely joking...there’s absolutely nothing that I’ve remotely done wrong.”

PoliticsHome's Phi100 survey found that majorities from across party lines agree that Davies should attempt to sound more contrite.

Davies was elected as a Conservative MP, before defecting to Labour the day before Gordon Brown became Prime Minister. He has announced he will not contest his current seat, Grantham and Stamford, but has not announced his intention to stand down as an MP and is believed to be on the lookout for a safe Labour seat.

'A bad misjudgement'

The Phi100 panel is comprised of MPs, peers, strategists, think tank leaders, journalists and academics, providing a unique insight into collective sentiment at the highest level of British politics.

A non-aligned journalist said, “He’s always been a very arrogant man.”

A Conservative MP said, “It was a bad misjudgement.”

Leave a comment...

John

16:56 |
15 Dec 2009
Recommended
7

This just shows how partisan the respondents are. If Quentin Davies had still been a Tory MP, not a single one of the left leaning respondents would have defended his claim for a bell tower.

I also wonder whether a few more right leaners would have been more sympathetic. I guess the fact that he defected has exhausted their sympathy.

Boudicca

21:59 |
15 Dec 2009
Recommended
6

SOUND contrite. As opposed to actually understanding and accepting that trying to claim to have his bell tower repaired at tax-payer expense was morally wrong.

It's a bit late for Quentin to sound anything - other than the arrogant, avaricious hypocrite he obviously is.

Major Plonquer

05:26 |
16 Dec 2009
Recommended
10

Please don't give this monkey any ideas. He's likely to hire someone and pay them to be contrite for him. Then he'll claim it on expenses.

Its people like Davies who give morons a bad name.

Major Plonquer

05:30 |
16 Dec 2009
Recommended
7

Wait. Isn't his name Quasimodo Davies? The belltower is required for his job I believe.

David Dee

00:49 |
23 Dec 2009
Recommended
1

I don't suppose that anyone on here saw Pickles toecurling, car-crash explanation regarding his 37 mile journey to work and his need to have accommodation nearer to the Commons to save him from the ordeal faced by thousands of the electorate every day.

Now that is what i would call arrogant !!

McRaker

19:19 |
05 Jan 2010
0

A Turncoat is a Turncoat is a . . . . . (and he has to keep a sharp eye over his shoulder)

Patsy

17:46 |
22 Jan 2010
0

We should not be at all surprised by Quentin Davies' brazen unconcern about his twenty grand bell tower expenses claim. All these arrogant MPs will be cleared out by natural wastage. Enough rope and they do it themselves.

Si

15:58 |
24 Jan 2010
Recommended
1

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