Leadership Quote by Ron Davies

A politician’s favorite trick is to sound like he’s stepping back while quietly stepping in. Ron Davies’ line performs exactly that: it wraps a firm political message in the soft padding of democratic principle. On the surface, he’s invoking propriety - Llew Smith is elected, therefore autonomous. But the phrasing is engineered to do two things at once: disclaim authority and signal disapproval.

“Not a matter for me to say” is less humility than insulation. It’s a pre-emptive defense against accusations of bullying, interference, or factional discipline. Davies isn’t merely respecting Parliament; he’s protecting himself from the headline that writes itself whenever a senior figure appears to muzzle a colleague. The sentence carries the implicit: I’m not threatening him, and if you think I am, you’re misunderstanding how democracy works.

Then comes the pivot: “he’s an elected Member of Parliament.” That clause is a constitutional fact deployed as a political weapon. It frames Smith’s conduct as something voters - not party managers or ministers - must answer for, subtly isolating him from internal solidarity. The subtext is: he may do as he likes, but he does so alone, and under public scrutiny. In Westminster culture, where party discipline is oxygen, reminding everyone of an MP’s individual mandate can read like praise while functioning as a warning.

Davies’ intent is reputational control: to appear statesmanlike, avoid direct confrontation, and still mark boundaries. It’s the kind of line that keeps the speaker “above the fray” while ensuring the fray knows exactly where he stands.