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.
‘wars between the US and virtually any country you’d care to name’———–Someone has obviously been in hibernation or maybe has a different name for those very wars.
I hope too that Mhairi Black remains a ‘signpost’. There are too many ‘weather-cocks’ in parliament in all parties whose principles (those who have them) can be bought for thirty pieces of silver and sometimes a few shekels.
Not only was I moved by Mhairi’s maiden speech but I was moved by Obama’s presidential speech when he was first elected. It was a beautiful piece of English literature which for a few weeks gave me hope, hope expecially that Guantanamo concentration gulag would be permanently closed and the innocent people incarcerated and tortured there might be returned to their loved ones, especially Shaker Aamer. But the speech was largely bullshit and Obama is clearly a ‘weather-cock’.
Mhairi seems genuine. Nicola seems genuine. I only hope that her kow-towing to the Yanks on her visit there offering promises to keep Trident was simply a means of extracting ‘a few dollars more’ and she was just telling them what they want to hear. Knowing what lying houses the house of representatives and the senate are, she is in order to treat them in the only way they understand – by lying to them. 🙂
“That’s the core of the matter. People exist to serve business….”
Thanks for that insight Ba’al. I’d been pondering for some time what the purpose of Hab ‘ s existence was.
“Habba, you glee over a decision that will cause massive civil unrest.”
_____________________
Well, RobG, as I pointed out earlier on (but the Mod appears to have deleted the post), my glee was at your abysmal powers of prediction. You could not have got the result of the vote in the Vouli more wrong, could you. You may have been listening to the debate in the Vouli live (together with an English translation) but you obviously understood very little.
“The lack of attendance by Tory and Labour MPs was lamentable.”
________________________
It may of course e that they are just a little less impressed by Miss Black than some of the people on here are.
Dave Hansell
And I was wondering where you suddenly popped up from as well. 🙂
RobG
“But I have to say, having listened to most of that debate in the Greek parliament this evening, we should perhaps parachute in some Mahairi Blacks.”
____________________________
I do hope not.
From observation, I’d say that the average attractiveness level of the women members of the Vouli ton Hellinon is rather high and I would not like to see that level lowered by the arrival (by parachute or not) of a number of Mary Blacks. After all, I may have to attend the Vouli at some time!
Perhaps forty or fify years of taxpayer-funded lifestyle ahead of her, demanding more tax, spend and borrow, and more benefits for Scotland, without ever having had to hold down a real job in her life. Time for a Scotxit.
After all, I may have to attend the Vouli at some time!
They already have cleaners.
“If if’s and buts were apples and nuts, we’d all be able to fill us guts.”
Old proverb.
‘Meanwhile, in further dramatic new developments revealed today by our special correspondent in trivial pursuits it was discovered IF Mary Black had lived in Salam she would most certainly have been burnt as a witch.’
‘Over to our special correspondent in trivial pursuits live from the street parties being held to celebrate his amazing wit reaching the dizzy heights of sarcasm. Hab.’
‘Thank you fans. It’s a pleasure to have me. Mummy is so proud. Whilst you’ve been talking I’VE discovered that IF Tsipras had lived in Athens at the time of the Roman occupation he most certainly would have been a galley slave.’
‘Thanks for that Hab. That certainly clinches it for the forces of self righteousness and has once again put all contrary views to the sword. I don’t know how he does it. The man’s a leg end.’
‘That’s all for now. Join us later when we will be checking out the amazing fact that IF Uncle Tom Cobley had been a women he would have been your Auntie.’
Impressed or not MPs should be obliged to attend the House of Commons or lose some of their pay.
The House of Lords should of course be elected and have similar obligations.
I’d been pondering for some time what the purpose of Hab ‘ s existence was.
It has an existence? But it is undoubtedly a global feudalist(tm).
Craig, your views on unions seem to be coloured by years of consuming the corporate media. Unions are already probably the most democratic institutions in the UK, representing millions of workers and can only work thanks to the efforts of thouands of volunteers giving up their free time to organize and help their colleagues – just the sort of thing Cameron’s “big society” is supposed to be about. Nobody has to pay into the political fund, this is already made clear, and furthermore, the political fund does not have to be paid to the Labour Party. The RMT have not paid the Labour Party for years. It is up to the membership to decide as unions are genuine grassroots bodies. I personally have opted out of paying the political fund and joined the only viable socialist party, the Greens. Our local branch have tried to make a democraticlly mandated donation to the local Labour Party but despite several attempts by the branch secretary to communicate with them, there has been no response.
Yup. Labour is definitely benefitting unfairly from union support. The nice Tories want equal access for all to the centre of government….
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/09/conservative-donors-pay-up-to-15000-for-table-at-election-fundraiser
The invitation encourages guests to sign up to premium, premier or standard tables for £15,000, £10,000 or £5,000 respectively. According to one donor, a different minister was assigned to each table last year. Those who paid the most were given the higher-profile ministers, he said.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cashforaccess-1750-for-access-to-the-prime-ministers-bed-8771525.html
£3500 gets you SamCam in the bed…
The innovative fundraising idea is one of many contained in an official Conservative Party sales document which has been distributed to potential sponsors ahead of this year’s annual meeting in Manchester.
Among other offers is access to the official VIP lounge where “the Cabinet, Government Ministers and senior Party Officials” go to “relax or grab a quick snack”. For £20,000 plus VAT company executives or lobbyists can buy “access to lounge” with “complimentary passes”. They can also brand the lounge with their logo.
Companies who pay to have a stall at the conference are guaranteed pictures with cabinet ministers that are taken by the party and then given to them on a CD. As the disclosure rules covering the lobbying of ministers have tightened up in recent years, the attraction of party conferences as an opportunity to get discreet access to power has increased. Last year just 38 per cent of those who attended the Conservative conference were actually members – slightly more than the 36 per cent who were described as “Commercial/Charity/Exhibitors”.
A little further back –
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17501618
Cruddas was stung, but he must presumably have been acting with the (deniable) support of someone high in the party.
Tories presuming to restrict union activities – plainly the melanic kitchen utensil berating the chanty for its lack of reflectance.
Ba’al,
As I recall one of the key features of polite feudalist social convention involved copious amounts of forelock tugging. That being the case it would seem reasonable to surmise that the presence of a forelock would dictate the presence of an existence.
Having said that your comment has generated the germ of an idea. Thanks for the inspiration. I hope to back later.
“I fully agree with all the mawkish and fawning comments above and, like previous writers, feel myself swooning t the very thought of Miss Black.
She is the best thing in politics since sliced bread.”
I wasn’t aware that sliced bread had entered the political arena.
Where’s Mary? She doesn’t appear to have posted anything for the past few days.
Beth,
The available evidence is also conclusive that 2007-2008 were years when Hab was in deep hibernation.
The implied conclusion that the difficulties experienced by the periphery economies of the Eurozone, Greece being only the starkest example, the existence of multiple asset bubbles and the levels of unsustainable debt across the globe do not represent “economic collapse” is clear evidence of a pathological level of cognitive dissonance and rejection of reality in favour of an ego driven fantasy which is truly epic in both its scale and it’s tragedy.
I wasn’t aware that sliced bread had entered the political arena.
And this is why.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/13/david-cameron-gives-up-bread_n_6464016.html
That’s a marmitogram, if I err not.
“Impressed or not MPs should be obliged to attend the House of Commons or lose some of their pay.”
___________________
I quite agree.
But when you say “attend”, do you mean in a George Galloway sense or in some other sense?
““I fully agree with all the mawkish and fawning comments above and, like previous writers, feel myself swooning t the very thought of Miss Black.
She is the best thing in politics since sliced bread.”
I wasn’t aware that sliced bread had entered the political arena”
__________________
Wake up! Sliced bread, like politics, is everywhere.
“…..do you mean in a George Galloway sense or in some other sense?”
It’s good to someone has been paying attention.
I do take it, by the way, that is some oblique reference to Galloway’s mates listening in to other people’s phone calls?
But don’t mind me. I’m just the Ugly one out of the fairy story.
“Where’s Mary? She doesn’t appear to have posted anything for the past few days.”
From memory, because the mods seem to have deleted the exchange on, I think, “The Attraction of EVEL” thread :
She said she had had enough of harassment from the usual suspect, and that he wouldn’t stop her posting about what she believed in, but it would no longer be on this blog. Please don’t give in to the obnoxious creep, Mary.
Cannot see a post on the map at those coordinates, which don’t conform to normal standard Northings and Eastings or even GPS conventions anyway.
I can see a bloody great car crash, if that’s any help?
Oh! Hang on, my mistake. You’re already in the middle of it. Do you need pulling out? Shall I call an ambulance or are you going to click your heels together again and try to wish it away?
The European Central Bank has decided, today, to increase the amount of liquidity funding for Greek banks.
This is a desirable and positive reaction to the Greek Vouli passing the four priority legislative measures early this morning in accordance with the agreement reached between the Heads of the Eurozone countries on Monday.
I see the M.P.’s are to get a 10% pay rise to bring them up to 74 grand a year.
On the brighter side, a new electricity and gas supplier, “not for profit” is being launched in Scotland to wipe out fuel poverty, and our Scottish Government is putting in £2.5 million.
Who says were not so smart?.
Hmm. Chunks of the narrative keep disappearing rendering parts of the commentary even more nonsensical, if that’s even possible given who has come out to play today.
Is this some esoteric metaphor experiment mirroring the la la land of fractional reserve banking and the way money/comments are created and destroyed?
I blame the fictional levels of commentary from Hab, which seem to have infected the blog beyond its carrying capacity.
Perhaps a ritual sacrifice of a few dozen Central bankers (did I spell that right?) might restore some balance to the force.
Mhairi Black’s maiden speech : respected by all except the BBC, who gave it minimal coverage. A corrupt, mean spirited organisation.
“Mhairi Black’s maiden speech : respected by all except the BBC, who gave it minimal coverage. A corrupt, mean spirited organisation.”
You have to remember that to people who are not cult members Ms Black is not some sort of deity who’s feet are to be worshipped at she is just another politician.
I’m with node,
I regret that Mary was cyber stalked on this blog, singled out, for being informative and on the button, even when it became obvious that she has a terminal illness.
Despicable, vindictive and inexcusable for such a bragg.