I am unreservedly delighted at Jeremy Corbyn’s election. He made a quite excellent speech, specifically rejecting an attack on Syria, marketization in the NHS and the new anti-union legislation. Hopefully the scale of his victory will give pause to the Blairites who will realise they are not as all-important as they thought.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the vast majority of the Labour establishment, as represented by the people in that hall, are hostile to Corbyn. The question now is whether Corbyn can overhaul party mechanisms in such a way as to bring the opinions of the membership to bear on policy and override that right wing “elite” who have been in charge of the party.
The first few weeks are key. Most Blairites are above all careerists. If they think Corbyn can carry through his personal dominance into control of policy and party mechanisms, then many of the Blairites will look at their constituency members and suddenly discover they had left-wing principles after all. If the Blairites think that a resistance and undermining campaign against Corbyn will succeed (and there will certainly be one), they will go for that. In short, most “Blairites” are out for themselves and will join what they perceive will be the winning side Corbyn’s winning margin, and the fact he won overwhelmingly among full members, gives him a very strong base.
I have shared anti-war and pro-Palestinian platforms with Jeremy, and have the greatest respect for him. I also expect that he will have the strength to stand against both the smothering blandishments and the attacks of the neo-con establishment. The “Corbyn’s election is a disaster” narrative is being pushed by the BBC relentlessly in every question and comment – for example they just asked Ed Miliband “In retrospect was it a mistake for you to resign the day after the election?”, the clear sub-text being that Corbyn’s election was undesirable.
Ever since I realised that Blair’s New Labour was entirely subservient to the neo-con agenda I have regarded Labour as the enemy, as a fake opposition so close to the Tories as to make no difference. I viewed its leadership as utterly unscrupulous careerists fully signed up to a vicious pro-wealthy agenda at home and completely subservient to US/Israeli foreign policy abroad. This new careerism tied in very nicely with a pre-existing rotten borough corruption in Scotland and Northern England. I utterly detested the Labour Party.
So it is difficult for me to find the Labour Party led by a man whom I know, nuch respect, and with whom I disagree on almost nothing except Scottish independence. I also continue to believe that once consolidated, Jeremy will make it clear he has no hostility to Scottish independence and will support a second referendum whenever the Scottish government wants it.
But the problem is that the Labour Party hierarchy, and particularly their parliamentary party, is still full of people who are neo-cons, Red Tories, appallingly corrupt, careerists and in several cases war criminals. To know what attitude to adopt to the Labour Party must depend on how the battle for control of the party pans out. The scale of Corbyn’s victory, and the total rejection of the direct interference of Tony Blair, give Corbyn a great start. Those Blairite bastions – the Guardian and the BBC – are spluttering incoherently.
Jeremy Corbyn has just won the battle for party leadership. But the battle for control of the Labour Party just started.
“It often puzzles me that the Labour Left have mysteriously abandoned Tony Benn’s consistent and indispensable opposition to the EU”
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The above, from “old Hitchens” as relayed by one “Richard” is wrong on two counts.
1/. Although Benn became anti-Common Market by the time of the 1975 referendum, he was pro-Common Market during the 1960s, supporting both Macmillan’s try and the subsequent soundings by Harold Wilson in 1968.
Therefore it is incorrect to say that he was “consistently” opposed to UK membership.
One could in fact say that Benn became ant-Common Market as he drifted leftwards (as in other areas of state policy).
2/. It is also incorrect to claim that Benn was “indispensable” to opposition to the Common Market.
Most historians of the period would agree that Benn’s presence as one of the few leading lights of the “No” campaign in 1975 was a factor in the rather convoncing defeat of the “No” camp.
This is because he was unpopular with the public at large and, like that other leading “No” campaigne Enoch Powell, widely seen as a nutter.
@BrianFujisan
12 Sep, 2015 – 5:25 pm
Thanks for the link. Love him or hate him, Jon snow does come scross as one of the more moderates in the mainstream.
And as for Chunky Mark, some say that he rants too much, but I find that when it comes to covering demos he’s invaluable. You get raw footage of events that most often don’t make it into the mainstream media.
We live in completely mad times, waiting for the Great Leap Forward…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHbfZiE1D50
I would imagine, like Craig, that Corbyn’s problem will somewhat like Morsly’s in Egypt. Sitting on top of the volcano doesn’t mean that he’s mastered the “deep state”. However, I am somewhat optimistic. Corbyn is very reactive to problems, which Morsly wasn’t.
John Spencr-Davis
“Personally I think he would be better advised to start closer to home. I would like to see him begin on housing (priority one), the effects of austerity, the need to protect the NHS, the sense of renationalisation, and similar domestic issues. That is what will bring the electorate around to him.”
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I agree.
Speaking of the Washington Post, Donald Trump was tricked into thanking U.K. Labour Party’s new left-wing leader.
Notice that the Washington Post has begun spelling the name of the Labour Party correctly.
Morsi, not Morsly.
Will Her Maj be purring into Cameron’s ear as she did last year?
David Cameron heard saying Queen ‘purred’ over Scotland’s no vote – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2014/sep/23/david-cameron-queen-purred-scotlands-no-vote-video
Will the Labour leadership be discussed? You bet it will.
“Craig, hats off to you for having called the new JC superstar electable when he was still a shy, tentative addition to the cast.”
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Indeed, Alcyone, and hats off to Craig as well for not muttering darkly about various plots to ensure that he wouldn’t win (up to and including dark mutterings of assassination).
That demonstrates once again that Craig is streets ahead of a goodly number of his followers on this blog. They don’t deserve him and he certainly doesn’t deserve them.
you’d want to shut the fuck up for a while Well my work is done for a bit; a fantastic day – elated – in seventh heaven. Oh by the way the SIS called me Wednesday using this number 02039718172 which they have junked for the time being. Obviously another ‘officer in training’.
Mary
“Will the Labour leadership be discussed? You bet it will.”
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That’s a gross over-statement of the obvious even by your high standards, isn’t it?
But you seem vaguely to disapprove – why do you think it shouldn’t be discussed?
rehab
“Unarrested despite your petition. Will you never learn?”
We should thank the Conservative Friends of Israel. The petition reached the necessary number, but curiously enough the government refused to act as it should. Democracy is not high among Tory values.
“What does he do now?”
Join labour ?
I’m sure he’ll not rest much but really shouldn’t worry about some job or membership to anything imo. Just one person focusing on standard issue policy fixations. It’s something, it’s something we, the good press (if there are any), and many other groups can use.
I’m often pushing but maybe we can just use what we have more effectively. And pushing for more can hider that. I mean good change happens, and this blog is still just a blog. I think knowing the many issues can lead to desperation or trying to do more than individuals can, or is effective.
Just thought’s, he’s his own man.
I would have been happy if ‘Israel’ had never been born. ie by occupying another people’s land.
I am very happy I was born and I love my life. Why else did I put up a fight for life five times last year?
Of course I am even happier today. Good news is rare in this country these days.
Laguerre
“We should thank the Conservative Friends of Israel. The petition reached the necessary number, but curiously enough the government refused to act as it should”
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As you know, 100.000 signatures means that the subject of a petition becomes eligible for debate in the HoC. Eligible, not obligatory.
In any event, Netanyahu left before a debate could have been organised, hence a debate calling for arrest while on UK soil would have been rather pointless anyway, would it not?
Hence your expression “to act as it should” is meaningless.
Here is Jeremy in 1990 v Thatcher on lack of housing
Jeremy Corbyn vs Margaret Thatcher at PMQS (08/05/1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhEPyjolGQQ
Lysias, what I found fascinating today, with regard to North American coverage of all things Corbyn, is that the Washington Post has, generally, been more to the left than the New York Times.
This totally topsy turvy stuff seems to reflect USUK foreign policy in the Middle East.
Habbabkuk
You’re quite right. I pointed this out but my comment appears to have been deleted. Wasn’t Jeremy supposed to have been assassinated, or at the very least the election rigged against him?
Anyway, all respect to Walt Golding for having thwarted the dastardly British establishment’s plans, this time.
Advertorial on BBC Magazine for Israeli invented skunk water. It comes recommended ‘as used on Palestinians’.
Who, What, Why: What is skunk water?
Yolande Knell
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34227609
Some Palestinians on which it has been used have ended up in hospital.
There are other ‘non lethal’ weapons used. The Scream, tear gas, rubber coated bullets. Some are lethal. Ms Knell knows but omits to tell her readers.
The truth here.
Israel sprays “skunk water” into Palestinian homes
22 September 2014
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/patrick-strickland/israel-sprays-skunk-water-palestinian-homes
“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”
Walter Mitty 2013
N, there are numerous reasons I don’t think Diana was murdered, not that I care enormously about the over-privileged slapper.”
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Ditto, it’s one who dunnit, that I couldn’t care less about.
Completely agree. I’ve never voted Labour but it’s a great day for democracy when the political and media establishment can be so comprehensively trounced.
One in the eye for IDS
‘Breaking News!!!
Gill Thompson, Mike Sivier, Maggie Zolobajluk
12 Sep 2015 — “The United Nations is carrying out an unprecedented inquiry into “systematic and grave violations” of disabled people’s human rights by the UK government, Disability News Service (DNS) can finally confirm.”
“The DPAC spokeswoman added: “This inquiry is an unprecedented move and unchartered territory for the UNCRPD committee.
“It is also another route of hope for disabled people who have been abused by the UK government, ignored by most of the opposition and betrayed by the big disability charities.”
Read more here:
http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/confirmed-un-is-investigating-uks-grave-violations-of-disabled-peoples-rights/
Thank you for your support
Please keep signing and sharing’
https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-david-cameron-mp-implement-the-recommendations-of-the-benefit-sanctions-policy-beyond-the-oakley-review
“Indeed, Alcyone, and hats off to Craig as well for not muttering darkly about various plots to ensure that he wouldn’t win (up to and including dark mutterings of assassination).
That demonstrates once again that Craig is streets ahead of a goodly number of his followers on this blog. They don’t deserve him and he certainly doesn’t deserve them.”
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Hi Habby, good to see you!
Well we can’t blame Craig I guess for the Cuckoos who have made there nest here.
btw it sounds like you have had an absolutely fabulous summer and I for one am glad you were able to stay in touch and keep up your rational contributions. But, it was completely unfair for you to be teasing us with all the women you were surrounded with.. And a 7 km swim?!! I don’t think even wild mermaids would be able to motivate me through that distance. I’m starting my plan here and now to get fit by next summer and join you in the Blue Mediterraneo! 😉
I was offering to take anyone’s money against Corbyn becoming the next PM before the leadership election, and I am still offering that today. There are many here who are certain the country is clamouring for a left-wing government, but none apparently prepared to put their money where their mouth is…
I will even take money off those who believe Jeremy will survive until the next election, if anyone would like to bet. Good odds guaranteed.
“That demonstrates once again that Craig is streets ahead of a goodly number of his followers on this blog. They don’t deserve him and he certainly doesn’t deserve them.”
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Habb, and of course a commentor of your esteem would surely know who deserves what, as would Anon1 and Alcyone.
Rounding up, if reports are to be believed:
50% of the Labour Party membership voted for Corbyn.
9% of Labour Party MPs voted for Corbyn.
Whence this extraordinary discrepancy?
Kind regards,
John
I don’t know about her….murder….
But I think Craig is dead wrong and she was (considering everything) A pretty stand up lady..
Seems like a drunken throw away comment to me.
“not that I care enormously about the over-privileged slapper.”
Great stuff Craig! Now that we’ve seen Gnasher bowing and scraping before Her Majesty, is it any wonder you were not selected?
The freeloading vacuous compliance operatives have little in the way of relating to the world outside their own echo chamber. The limited, pusillanimous compliance operatives are in panic stations. The years of selective promotions and grooming have com to naught by the curve ball called Corby.
Time to get rid of the bastards to a man of them, get the selections committees ready for the selection of new parliamentary candidates, don’t forget the rules apply the same people can have a say in selecting their own candidate for parliament. The current bunch of compliance operatives, can always break cover and come out as Tories!