andrew turner mp
Andrew
Turner
Island Life - April/May 2010
The Island bucks trends and does its own thing
Every Saturday morning, I get out around
twenty-three, became MP for Newtown.
leading the Conservatives into the 2010
the Island and knock on some doors,
Astonishingly, the condition set by his
election.
just to keep up to date with local issues.
patron was that young Palmerston must
Last Saturday found me in Shanklin,
never, even during election campaigns,
then. I can hold regular surgeries in my
chatting to residents about everything
visit Newtown.
Newport office and make my Saturday
from immigration to potholes. One lady
‘Pam’, as he was nicknamed, also
Thankfully, a lot has changed since
rounds. I am also relieved that, these
was kind enough to wish me luck in the
became Secretary of State for Foreign
days, the Lords seldom resort to firearms
upcoming election, noting that, although
Affairs and then Prime Minister. He was
to deal with maverick MPs. I am glad,
there was a definite mood for change
notorious for his unapologetic belief that
however, that the Island continues to
across the country, one could never be
the Government’s foreign policy should be
“do its own thing”. It’s one of the many
sure about the Island. “The Island,” she
to increase Britain’s influence in the world
good things about Island life. Sketch:
warned “always does its own thing.”
– an unfashionable view now, but one I
Lord Palmerstone addressing the House of
can’t help admiring.
Commons
She got me thinking about MPs that the
Island has thrown up in the past. There
Palmerston’s gunboat diplomacy,
certainly have been some characters.
however, got him into trouble with Queen
Contact Andrew Turner MP
In 1793, for example, George Canning
Victoria, who once said: "We had, God
24 The Mall, Carisbrooke,
persuaded Pitt the Younger to make
knows, terrible trouble with him about
Isle of Wight PO30 1BW
him MP for Newtown. Canning had an
Foreign Affairs. Still, as Prime Minister
Tel: 01983 530808
unpromising start as the son of a ruined
he managed affairs at home well, and
email: [email protected]
merchant and a stage actress, but he was
behaved to me well.
a likeable chap and became Secretary of
But,” she added “I never
State for Foreign Affairs.
liked him."
Canning’s popularity, however, was
A few years later saw
not universal. In 1809, he got into
the arrival to the Island
an argument with the Secretary for
of a certain William
War, Lord Castlereagh – a dangerous
Mount as Tory MP for
business. Castlereagh challenged him
Yarmouth and later
to a duel. Canning, who had never fired
Newport. He had a less
a pistol before, came off worse when
controversial career,
the crack-shot aristocrat shot him in the
but he might have been
leg. Showing typical Island grit, however,
interested to know
Canning survived and later became Prime
that his great, great,
Minister.
great grandson, David
Meanwhile, Lord Palmerston, aged just
12
Cameron, would be
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