State propaganda and corporate media are wasting no time in promoting their candidate for leader of the pretend opposition: Chuka Umunna. He ticks absolutely all the right boxes. Private school educated, grandson of a High Court judge (which did not hold back his career to become a multi-millionaire lawyer) and entirely London based. Umunna has only ever moved out of the M25 on an aeroplane.
And connoisseur of gallery vernissages.
Umunna – Born Sneering
What is more he really is very right wing. His admiration for Michael Heseltine, which drew attention during this election, dates back years. He openly declares his heroes are Heseltine, Mandelson and Blair. Blair reciprocates by making known Umunna is his preferred successor. Blair has been doing this for years too.
Small wonder that the London “elite” promoting Umunna has slipped into overdrive quicker than Jeremy Clarkson. He has a long piece in the Guardian today, and was given a major guest slot on the Andrew Marr show to promote his leadership bid. His message in the Guardian is “We need an approach in which no one is too rich or too poor to be part of our party”. Which is an interesting example of the rhetorical device of false equivalence, as rich people are not excluded from Westminster politics, they monopolise it. As Umunna is himself stinking rich, he somehow evaded this exclusion. He argues that “we allowed the impression to arise that we were not on the side of those who are doing well.”
Nobody could accuse Umunna of creating that impression. Umunna is so much on the side of those who are doing well, that he joined a special social network for them called A Small World, an invitation-only club for millionaires that studiously excludes the working classes. This website offers
“Access more than 100 events around the world each month: intimate cocktails, gallery vernissages, gourmet suppers, and extraordinary weekends.”
As well as upgrades, for example from an executive suite at the Las Vegas Mandarin to the Presidential suite. Though I am sure Chuka is more into the gallery vernissages. Well, Chuka Umunna posted on A Small World to ask his fellow millionaires what venues he could go to in London which did not let in any “trash”. Just in case anyone had not understood him, he specified that what he wanted was a “trash-free weekend”.
A spokeswoman for Umunna stated that this was a joke.
I don’t know what replies he got. Evidently nobody told him to avoid parliament because of the paedophiles. Maybe they said he should stick to those gallery vernissages. Not many trash there.
Anyway, it is obvious to all our betters in the metropolitan elite that Chukka is the man for the job, so who am I to argue? I don’t even know what a gallery vernissage is. And doubtless he will rescue the party fortunes in Scotland, where core voters who deserted Labour in the schemes of Scottish cities undoubtedly feel that gallery vernissages hold the key to a brighter future.
If indeed the Guardian newspaper is to be believed,the London protesters are planning another assault,this time on the Bank of England.
Good luck to them.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/10/anti-austerity-group-plans-major-protest-outside-bank-of-england
Republicofscotland
10/05/2015 3:35pm
http://www.yorkmix.com/news/opinion/advert-hoarding-which-doubles-as-a-homeless-shelter-created-by-york-campaigner/
I find it very difficult to believe that this is not satire. If it is satire, I take my hat off: it’s extraordinarily convincingly written. If it is not, it’s absolutely outrageous.
Kind regards,
John
BTW I get a Bootkit.0010 virus warning every time I visit the Telegraph. Happened again when I clicked that link to there above. Be careful everyone.
JSD.
Hopefully it’s a spoof but,I have a feeling it’s legitimate.
On a brighter note this guy,well check for yourself.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2838157/How-bed-advertising-Designer-creates-houses-homeless-using-billboards-pay-advertising-fees.html#ixzz3ZXgZ1k9I
‘Gallery vernissages’ WTF, but as someone below stairs I would not be expected to know. However one of my betters, a famous Lord [so the story goes], Mandelson was buying supper at a chippie in his former Hartlepool constituency. He asked for haddock, chips and “some of that guacamole” – mistaking the mushy peas for avocado dip.
It’s a perfect Mandelson story, involving his metropolitan tastes and ignorance of working-class life.
Priceless, you’ve even got your own little Obama. Let’s extend a hearty welcome to our 51st state!
O/T lengthy e-mail exchange Sam Harris, Noam Chomsky
Just become aware of this absorbing exchange via Harris’s website.
http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the-limits-of-discourse
Kind regards,
John
The other day in the vernissage (even my spell checker does not contain this word, undoubtedly a trash spell checker belonging to a trash person) whist partaking canapés ……
Well one defender of the poor resigns and another defender of the poor is forwarded whilst in the wings the unelected hasbara author one D. Milliband is touted as a great substitute for the leadership of the labour party.
This is the choice for the electorate, that the “legitimate governors” of this country have afforded the trash to vote for and elect.
Tom Watson is running for deputy.
Alex’s mate Rupert doesn’t like him much.
Father
‘Assassination’ riddle of star Labour MP’s father: Businessman killed in mysterious car crash after refusing to pay bribes in Nigerian election, family friends claim
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180339/Bennett-Umunna-death-Labour-MPs-father-killed-mysterious-car-crash-refusing-pay-bribes.html
Mother
Patricia Umunna
Position: Partner
Core Areas: Social Housing
Patricia advises clients on all aspects of social housing finance and funding. She acts for Registered Providers, charitable and non-charitable entities, SPVs and also corporates.
http://www.wslaw.co.uk/people/patricia_umunna/
More on his desire for ‘trash free’ clubs.
Chuka Umunna’s West End Nightclubs Full of Trash Slur ‘Beggars Belief’
Labour shadow business secretary and rising star challenged in open letter to go clubbing in Soho.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chuku-umunna-nightclubs-owners-letter-456477
RoS
“If indeed the Guardian newspaper is to be believed,the London protesters are planning another assault,this time on the Bank of England…Good luck to them.”
I wouldn’t use the word assault but yes June 20th is going to happen. That’s widely circulating info. Or not. And other things no doubt. By the end of the month or I’ll eat my kilt.
Don’t bother sending good luck wishes on the internet. Get organised and resist where you are. Cause we can count on one thing:
The tories are going to hit hard and fast.
For Chuka read “Dumpa” Umunna … and the sooner the better. Anyway Craig’s blogspot is timely and worthwhile. When I see Umuna I get anticipatory feeling it’s time to throw up.
Vernissage: it’s the varnishing of recently completed paintings to which the privileged few potential buyers and patrons are invited
What a marvellous biography for the Leader of the Opposition, eh?
But the main thing is that he has a set of headphones at home, to take orders directly from Washington. Just like both the Miliband twins.
Of course, Dave has already emigrated to the USA with his American wife (I believe he already has a Green Card and will take Citizenship soon), and he’s keeping a seat warm for Brother Ed, once a respectable period of mourning (let’s say 3 weeks?) has elapsed.
Have those, errr, WMD ever been found? Hands up, everyone on the Labour front bench, who claimed there were WMD in Iraq? And, errr… were there?
(Clue, don’t try asking anyone in Iraq, as they’re either dead or homeless)
[[ If indeed the Guardian newspaper is to be believed ]]
You mean, like when it claimed that a “column of Russian tanks is motoring through Ukraine” (accompanied by photographs of Russian tanks passing a petrol station in the Urals city of Perm, in 2007).
The Guardian no longer even bothers proof-reading NATO press-releases – it just prints them as ‘fact’ as soon as they are received.
Talking of which – did you think you’d seen the last pile of Grauniad bilge from Dennis McShame when he was jailed for fraud? Not a bit of it – Mr Matyjaszek (to use his actual name – “McShane” is an adopted name) is back this week in the Graun, punting out his usual twaddle without a shred of apology or shame.
And don’t even get me started on the Chairman for the European Council on Foreign Relations – “Professor” Timmy Garbage Trash…
Meanwhile, as Labour voters apparently turn to UKIP, the National Front have posted a youtube video showing 10 of their supporters, large men waving large St George’s banners, surrounding, threatening and haranguing, and eventually chasing, four of the Women against UKIP in Thanet just before the election. It is not a pleasant sight. UKIP have just won control of Thanet council.
Look as if he’s growing a beard to hide that chorister boy look:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11595641/Chuka-Umunna-appears-in-public-with-girlfriend-as-he-sets-out-stall-for-leadership.html
@John Spencer-Davis :
Thanks for posting. I read the exchange.
As you presumably have a view, I’d be interested to know both how you interpreted the subtext (or tone) of the correspondants,
and your (brief !) opinion on the main subject they addressed.
Thanks.
Spoorfugger
10/05/2015 8:15pm
You’re most welcome.
Before doing anything like that, I will have to read the exchange again, a good deal more slowly and assiduously.
Harris’s tone struck me as importuning, Chomsky’s as irritated and contemptuous – but that’s how he is with most people who attempt to critique him. I think it very likely that Harris is aware of this, and did his best to lower the temperature. If you appreciated the exchange, you might also appreciate Chomsky’s volatile exchange with Werner Cohn, published on Cohn’s website, without Chomsky’s agreement, incidentally.
One small point struck me straight away. Chomsky is slippery about what he called Harris, when responding to an audience question regarding Harris and Christopher Hitchens. The video of that question has been put up by Harris and the matter is very clear.
Kind regards,
John
What’s the fuss? Umunna is surely the natural choice of the liberal-left for the genocide of the English through mass immigration. At least he, or someone like him, is surely the inevitable choice. When you swamp the indigenous population with settlers from Africa and Asia, the settlers will begin to take over the government and, in multi-culti Britain, they will govern in a fashion consistent with their culture of origin. So get used to it.
If you haven’t heard him, Cornel West gives a great left black critique of Obama:
https://www.google.com/search?q=cornell+west+obama&tbm=vid
And for how West is assailed by power for his opinions there’s Tarzie:
https://ohtarzie.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/cornel-wests-impermissible-opinions/
Oddly enough, I can take a little comfort, in the very long term, from Umunna as Labour leader. It would mean that Labour has finally and unambiguously severed itself from any pretence of working for the good of the many. Which will leave some political room for real social democrats. Labour will become completely irrelevant, as it does nothing that the Tories disapprove of, it will disappear as thoroughly as the Liberals did post-1924, and for a comparable cause: its reason for existence has gone.
That’s my hope, at any rate.
Still not sure what you mean Craig by the phrase “gallery vernissage”.
If you’re trying to say that that Umunna is a dilettante, just another member of the elite reveling in his privileges and otherwise making no useful contribution to society then I wish you would just say it in plain English.
We should of course be wary of any candidate picked by the media. Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper are more experienced and just as politically savvy and Cooper is more liberal (she was the only senior Labour figure to even hint at letting in more Syrian refugees while everyone else on the front bench remained deafeningly silent) and now that her ghastly husband is out of the way until he next safe Labour seat comes up for grabs she is even more of a good bet.
Dan Jarvis would be the only effective choice.
“Oddly enough, I can take a little comfort, in the very long term, from Umunna as Labour leader. It would mean that Labour has finally and unambiguously severed itself from any pretence of working for the good of the many. Which will leave some political room for real social democrats. Labour will become completely irrelevant, as it does nothing that the Tories disapprove of, it will disappear as thoroughly as the Liberals did post-1924, and for a comparable cause: its reason for existence has gone.
That’s my hope, at any rate.”
My hope too. I totally agree with you. We need the SNP to stand candidates here in England in 2020.
John, Spoorfugger
I only quickly skimmed those emails. This article reckons Harris made a fool of himself:
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/scoring-noam-chomskysam-harris-debate-how-professor-knocked-out-atheist
Clarification for the confused:
a connoisseur of gallery vernissages is one who would wish to be thought knowleagable about cultural matters, but is in fact a mickel plated Philistine chiefly interested in offering his perpetually protruded tongue to the recta of the exceedingly rich art collectors he hopes to meet at such gatherings.
nickel, of course, and knowledgeable. Damn proof reader.
Neil McGowan, 7.37 p.m. I have been regularly asking about the elusive WMD for about six years now. Given the high spookage ratio even in 2008 in Brit Rags-increased tenfold over the last couple of years-no-one has ever come up with any believeable argument for their existence. I guess it was all bullcrap.
We need the SNP to stand candidates here in England in 2020.</i.
Know what you're saying but respectfully disagree. The example of the SNP is better employed as a model for our own regional parties, reflecting our own allegiances and requirements. This could take a while.