Having spoken alongside Mhairi at a few meetings, and much admired her, it is rather strange to find her in danger of becoming an object of cult veneration. Just as with Nicola Sturgeon, it seems the shock of seeing the coherent and intelligent articulation of views outside the narrow consensus manufactured by the corporate media and political class, really does strike home to people. They almost never get to hear such views put; Mhairi is being given a hearing because of her youth in her position, but the marginalisation and ridicule will soon kick back in. Above all, Mhairi should remind us of how the Labour Party has completely sold out those they used to represent, and abandoned the task of proposing an intellectually compelling alternative to trickledown.
Jeremy Corbyn and the small group around him are of course an honourable exception.
You will recall that I managed to fall asleep on the platform in Perth while Mhairi was answering a question, embarrassingly revealed when the chairman passed the question to me! It really was nothing to do with Mhairi, I was exhausted. The question, as it happened, was asked by Joanna Cherry, who also just made a first class maiden speech.
The Labour Party has finally woken up to oppose something the Tory Party is doing, in the new draconian and unnecessary anti-union legislation. This is not because they really want to protect workers; the only thing that has motivated Labour to action is a threat to their own funding.
The Tory anti-union proposals are shocking. Criminalising peaceful secondary picketing is an infringement of the right of free expression and undoubtedly open to challenge under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The proposal that not just a majority of those voting, but 40% of the qualified electorate must vote yes for a strike to go ahead, is beyond belief, coming from a government who have an absolute majority on the basis of the votes of just 23% of the electorate. The hypocrisy is absolutely stunning.
The part of the proposed legislation I do support is on party political funding by unions. It should be by opt-in not opt-out. A majority of members must vote for a donation to a political party. That seems to me absolutely right and fair.
Precisely the same principle should be applied to company shareholders, of whom a majority should specifically have to endorse a political donation by the company. Where a shareholder is institutional, that shareholder must too base its vote only on a vote taken by a majority of its own shareholders specifically in each case, or its members if a mutual.
So if Tesco wants to donate to the Tory party, that must be specifically approved by a majority of Tesco shareholders. If Aviva is one of those shareholders, Aviva can only vote for Tesco to donate, if a majority of Aviva shareholders vote to do so. And so on down the chain ad infinitum.
That would be entirely fair and strike a massive blow at the corporate state/political party nexus. Then more real people like Mhairi would be able to become prominent in public life.
It’ll be smooth and without resistance, a first class stone to skip into the sea the next time I’m going fishing at Lowestoft…..
Yeah, but once it sinks it’ll put the fish off eating for days. Antibait.
Robert Crawford
“I look forward to the day when I read a happy, positive comment from you.”
_____________________
Fred’s comments are usually very happy and positive when compared to those from the majority of the Eminences, who bitch away incessantly in rain and shine. Recent reactions to the deal with Iran refer, as just one example.
The reasons Fred gets so much stick from an assortment of Eminences (from a mixed bag of fruits and nuts, if you will) are twofold:
!/. he continually deflates the Eminences on affairs Scottish, reminding them of how the many foolish claims they make are rapidly contradicted in real life;
2/. he is persistent and refuses to be browbeaten and silenced by the mob.
More power to his arm on a blog most of whose commenters are the very opposite of the democrats and freedom-of-speach zealots they claim to be
‘If Mhairi Black was English, she would have had wall to wall sugar coated coverage, and would have been classed as the greatest thing since “sliced bread”, and then some. But, she is better than that to me, she is SCOTTISH, so put that in your pipe and smoke it!’
Oh FFS Mr Crawford! The first comment from RobG on this thread links to a Mail article praising Ms Black’s maiden speech. Fleet Street also praised the eloquence of a young Bernadette Devlin 45 years ago, and she is IRISH, not English; it also lauded the speeches both inside and outside the House delivered in the 40s and 50s by Aneurin Bevan- who for those with short memories, like Mr Crawford, was WELSH.
Robert Crawford
I wonder if you are old enough to remember the mini-orgasms of adulation which greeted Bernadette Devlin’s maiden speech in the House of Commons?
Habby
“On the possibility of “civil war, or even a restored military dictatorship”, in Greece.
Habby harrumphs:
“There is zero chance of either.”
I have no idea whether there will be civil war or restored military dictatorship.
I know that both have happened before.
You however seem quite certain that there will not be.
I’m asking what makes you so certain there will not be.
It’s not a difficult question. I’m simply asking how you arrive at that conclusion.
On what are you basing your conclusion.
Don’t you know?
Do you just make it up?
Hmmmm.
Seems habby approves of Fred’s view that the SNP are Nazis.
Bizarre, innit.
It’s a pity there’s more than two between them.
They’d ‘ave made a half decent vaudeville act, particularly since ‘Stalker’ Gollum seems to have discovered irony in presenting himself as the champion of the underdog against the howling mob.
He certainly knows how to do chutzpah. Even a weasel would have blushed at that one.
Fred
17/07/2015 11:11am
“Good to see you place so much importance on experience Brian, I think you have a valid point. After all in cultures all over the world and throughout history leadership has gone to the old and wise not the hot headed inexperienced children.”
It’s certainly gone to the old. I’m not so sure about the wise. Possibly, it’s gone to those people who have demonstrated over a sufficient number of years that they have no intention of implementing radical change.
I think age and experience bring great gains, but they also bring considerable losses. In my opinion, younger people can often have a clearer moral view than people who have spent years ramming their heads against obstinate ideological brick walls. Gives you concussion.
From what I have seen of her, Mhairi Black seems to have decent instincts. I hope that age will add to her stature, not diminish it: which I am sad to say, I think happens to many, if not most, politicians.
Kind regards,
John
Herbie
“It’s not a difficult question. I’m simply asking how you arrive at that conclusion.
On what are you basing your conclusion.
Don’t you know?
Do you just make it up?”
________________
I’m basing my opinion on the fact that I have considerable expertise in and knowledge of the contemporary Greek scene whereas you do not.
But hey, don’t take my word for it, Herbie. I repeat the generous offer I made you earlier, viz:
“Here’s my suggestion : you keep a sharp eye out for civil war or military dictatorship in Greece and report back on here let’s say every 3 months.
If you’re right, I’ll eat humble pi and pay public tribute to your powers of analysis and prophecy; if you’re wrong and what you wrote is just your usual bollocks then it’ll be for you to crawl back on here with your tail between your mangy legs and admit you were wrong.”
Waddya say Comrade Herbie, innit?
Is “Gollum” Sofia’s new conceit?
I liked the father/ daughter theme much better.
🙂
“I’m basing my opinion on the fact that I have considerable expertise in and knowledge of the contemporary Greek scene whereas you do not.”
Good for you, habby.
But, I’m asking how you arrive at the conclusion that there will be neither civil war nor coup in Greece.
Was there a script written in advance. Was the whole thing a kind of game for public consumption.
Thanks.
Herbie
”
“I’m basing my opinion on the fact that I have considerable expertise in and knowledge of the contemporary Greek scene whereas you do not.”
Good for you, habby.
But, I’m asking how you arrive at the conclusion that there will be neither civil war nor coup in Greece.”
_______________________________
I arrive at that conclusion on the basis of my considerable expertise in and knowledge of the contemporary Greek scene, expertise and knowledge which you do not have.
But hey, don’t take my word for it, Herbie. I repeat for a second time the generous offer I made you earlier, viz:
“Here’s my suggestion : you keep a sharp eye out for civil war or military dictatorship in Greece and report back on here let’s say every 3 months.
If you’re right, I’ll eat humble pi and pay public tribute to your powers of analysis and prophecy; if you’re wrong and what you wrote is just your usual bollocks then it’ll be for you to crawl back on here with your tail between your mangy legs and admit you were wrong.”
Waddya say Comrade Herbie, innit?
I’ve already indicated, habby, that I’ve no view on the matter.
My only interest was in determining why you’re so sure.
You haven’t given an adequate account.
“Is “Gollum” Sofia’s new conceit? ”
Progress. Not only able to recognise the given name but also recognising the accurate description of yourself in the final word.
Mind you, there is scope for improvement in the English language department. But do not be disheartened. There is no shame in not being able to spell Gretal.
Herbie,
You seem to be working under a premise which is not valid in this instance.
Gollum here is an expert simply because he says so. Ergo he must be so.
The normal rules of evidence and the scientific method handed down from The Enlightenment not apply to those who exist, in their own minds, outside of the reality based community.
Herbie
“I’ve already indicated, habby, that I’ve no view on the matter.
My only interest was in determining why you’re so sure.
You haven’t given an adequate account.”
______________________
If you have no view on the matter, Herbie, then why were you making dark hints about civil war and a military coup?
Would you not agree that you might have done better to say nothing if you have no view on the matter?
Agree with what you say about Mhairi Black here Craig – and everthing else. I love it when that happens!
Absolutely love your idea of shareholder approval for corporate donations.
If they have to vote by post it will be huge increase for the postal business and a boost to employment!
Habby
I’m simply asking why you’re so sure.
Why are you having so many problems answering such a simple question.
Good for you, habby.
But, I’m asking how you arrive at the conclusion that there will be neither civil war nor coup in Greece.
If he told you, he’d have to troll you.