"Well I've already made it clear that it's a matter for individuals in exercising their own judgement, their own consciences to speak freely on matters of policy"
About this Quote
The line elevates personal conscience above rigid party discipline, asserting that democratic legitimacy depends on individuals voicing their own judgement even when it unsettles the collective. It is a politician’s way of defending dissent as a civic duty rather than a breach of loyalty. The stress on conscience evokes the Westminster tradition of free votes on issues of principle, but the phrase "matters of policy" is broader than the usual moral questions, suggesting a deliberate widening of the space where disagreement is acceptable.
There is also craft in the phrasing. "I’ve already made it clear" signals consistency and authority, while "a matter for individuals" deflects pressure to police colleagues. It creates a buffer against demands for disciplinary action: if someone speaks out, responsibility lies with their conscience, not with a party enforcer. At the same time, it frames debate as legitimate and even necessary, turning potential disunity into evidence of a healthy deliberative culture.
Ron Davies, a leading Labour figure in the campaign for Welsh devolution, often had to navigate tensions between message discipline and pluralism. Building support for institutional change required making room for divergent views across party and nation. By casting policy discussion as an arena for free speech guided by conscience, he could invite broad participation and reduce the stigma of dissent, a useful stance when shepherding reforms that cut across traditional loyalties.
The statement also touches a deeper constitutional norm. British cabinet government rests on collective responsibility, yet party politics thrives on debate. Too much central control breeds cynicism and groupthink; too much public disagreement weakens the mandate to govern. Davies locates a middle ground: protect the right to speak, accept the risk of discord, and trust that open reasoning will yield better policy. The underlying claim is that a party’s strength is not measured only by unanimity, but by its capacity to accommodate principled disagreement without losing purpose.
There is also craft in the phrasing. "I’ve already made it clear" signals consistency and authority, while "a matter for individuals" deflects pressure to police colleagues. It creates a buffer against demands for disciplinary action: if someone speaks out, responsibility lies with their conscience, not with a party enforcer. At the same time, it frames debate as legitimate and even necessary, turning potential disunity into evidence of a healthy deliberative culture.
Ron Davies, a leading Labour figure in the campaign for Welsh devolution, often had to navigate tensions between message discipline and pluralism. Building support for institutional change required making room for divergent views across party and nation. By casting policy discussion as an arena for free speech guided by conscience, he could invite broad participation and reduce the stigma of dissent, a useful stance when shepherding reforms that cut across traditional loyalties.
The statement also touches a deeper constitutional norm. British cabinet government rests on collective responsibility, yet party politics thrives on debate. Too much central control breeds cynicism and groupthink; too much public disagreement weakens the mandate to govern. Davies locates a middle ground: protect the right to speak, accept the risk of discord, and trust that open reasoning will yield better policy. The underlying claim is that a party’s strength is not measured only by unanimity, but by its capacity to accommodate principled disagreement without losing purpose.
Quote Details
| Topic | Freedom |
|---|
More Quotes by Ron
Add to List
