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.
“N, there are numerous reasons I don’t think Diana was murdered, not that I care enormously about the over-privileged slapper. But the fact that most of the murder theories seem to involve Robin Janvrin certainly helps persuade me they are not true.”
Craig, I am not sure that Robin Janvrin features in most of the theories, but why I think you are wrong on this is because the coroner’s verdict of ‘unlawful killing’ and the dead driver takes the blame. What is more disturbing if the establishment has nothing to hide is why they would not allow the documentary film ‘unlawful killing’ paid for by Dodi’s father be shown in the UK. Furthermore her seatbelt in the back had been tampered with so she could not fasten it. Then there was he long journey from tunnel to hospital to make sure she was dead on arrival. Many things do not add up. I believe, as in the case of David Kelly, she was murdered. The muslims killed in a drone strike were not the first.
Babbling Brook…
I see that you might have a point there.
To help me see even better, and since you obviously know quite lot about mining disasters in general and the Easington one in particular, could you go into a little more detail about what costs the owners were cutting and how that cost-cuttint was related to the disaster?
Thanks in advance.
—
So glad you asked; pleased to help you see better (I’m not sure I can help with the actual thought processes that must follow).
Mr Roberts (HM Inspector of Mines) had much to say about the role played by management.
…The Inquiry brought to light a number of bad practices and even direct contraventions of the Act and Regulations that must be considered in forming an opinion of the way in which the colliery was managed…
[Under summary of causes…]
Insufficient ventilation, particularly in regard to the use of the auxiliary fans.
As a result of weaknesses in the organisation, there was a lack of effective supervision and control.
And so it goes on. Plenty of info on the web, just a matter of keeping an open mind.
(Report presented to Parliament into the causes of, and circumstances attending, the explosion at Easington Colliery, County Durham, on the 29th May, 1951, H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr H. C. W. Roberts.)
RobG
“Anon1 and Kempe, not to mention Habba, you do realise that you are comic book characters, don’t you?”
The only comic book character is you, RobG, demanding more migrants to burden the British taxpayer with while your Poitou-Charentais farmhouse sits there all but uninhabited by you and your empty wine bottles.
” What is more disturbing if the establishment has nothing to hide is why they would not allow the documentary film ‘unlawful killing’ paid for by Dodi’s father be shown in the UK. ”
It hasn’t been banned. The makers won’t implement the cuts recommended by the lawyers. As it stands it’s libellous.
” Furthermore her seatbelt in the back had been tampered with ”
That’s a new one. Any proof? (Thought not) Out of four people in the car only one, her bodyguard, was wearing a seatbelt and he was the only one to survive.
John Spencer-Davis, back in the day, Bragg was a major force in the British music scene. He was the first to give his albums away for next to nothing; this, way before the internet age.
Feel free to criticise Mr Bragg. His integrity is a matter of record, though.
Here’s another one for you…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUVnap0VPx0
(sorry, can’t help the adverts. I have a YouTube channel, and they force ads on you thesedays – the answer is VIMEO!)
I’ve said nothing against Mr Bragg. I don’t know much about him.
J
Anon1 I will direct you here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html
The home of ignorant racists.
Or do you have anything intelligent to say about a milestone event in British political history?
Are you afraid that all the neo-con loons might now be put on trial?
From John Morgan, Cover-up of a royal murder:
Report goes on to speculate that the damage occurred at or after the collision, but the evidence for this conclusion is far from compelling.
John, I’m on the attack, and didn’t mean to include you.
Peace.
I’m going to bed…
The proof is in the film Kempe which has been freely available everywhere in the world except here. If there are inaccuracies in a film they should be challenged. You do not ban the whole documentary. Prove that they are inaccurate and you discredit the film entirely! Surely that would have been the way forward.
We don’t ban your comments! 🙂
Feel free to criticise Mr Bragg. His integrity is a matter of record, though.
Apart from noting his mediocre musical ability, I never took much notice of the wanker. Then I heard him on BBC Radio 4’s “Any Questions” in the week after Operation Cast Lead. His regretful opinion was that the loss of Palestinian life was regretful but Israel had a right to defend itself from terrorist rocket attacks. And that’s why the media portray him as a champion of the oppressed – precisely because he isn’t.
But before I do go to bed (hurry-up, everyone says) here’s the latest anti-Corbyn rant…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3232177/49p-hour-s-poverty-stricken-workers-earned-making-T-shirts-boosted-Corbyn-s-campaign-coffers-100-000.html
How this comic book stuff informs a democracy is beyond belief; much like the comic book trolls…
Because it is a comic book democracy too!
Just read the unconscious drivel plastered by the holy keyboard warriors who are pretending to be atheists and secularists. These cretins are besides themselves, all those years of penetration of the labour party and now Coryb at the helm!
These cretins are getting paid to spam here and elsewhere by the same banksters who are bent on keeping their ponzi scheme going for ever and ever and ev………..
Mind dm has sent investigative journos to Nicaragua to get the real dirt on Corby; the monthly wage of the garment industry workers!
Did Brag really say that..Geez, older generation, what ever happened to em. Guess it’s about given just enough people, just enough money, air time ect. I think a life of poverty is better, I think you can do more good. Keep what matters…
These strange organizations that people calm or seek ‘legitimacy’ for or from (the weak minded) don’t seem to get that they are all made up…And human virtue is something naturally individual to all. All these leaders and strange hierarchical structures, i’m not against all groups or people who are experienced, set examples etc. But mostly these structures pervert FREE human nature.
The freedom to act individually withing groups, and to trust you own self as equal and equally as valuable no matter ‘where’ you are . If you can’t have that what learning or growing can happen? It’s all just following some bloody order. And all the questioning and self reflection goes out the window, especially when those groups find a way to ‘enslave the vulgar’ and think themselves above, end up dominating other’s as a twisted kick, while calming to serve or be good, who says?
Individual growth, questions, change, becomes anathema to ‘legitimacy’..Because it’s going to expose what’s really going on.
People should really get in their heads, stop seeking ‘legitimacy’ for your gang, it doesn’t and will never exist. You may be able to justify action sometimes but God or nature didn’t crate government, nation states, leaders, They are factitious ideas, made up.
And so we come to the right to kill, or put others in prison, punish other beings. Because you convinced a bunch of people to follow you? No, no no no, You don’t own me and you never will. I’m free, born free and this is how nature made me. A club is just a club, a party just a party.
The idea you these groups can even justify existence of an army, let alone it’s use…But most just take it for granted. Fucking zombies. And look what they do to people, that little girl with her face down in the dirt. Yes Brain was correct. You did that. certainly more the responsibility of those who sleep walk along with society.
And your gona prove me wrong? No. These systems need dismantling and maybe some things can be left that can be justified.
Apparently, the Tories deride Argentina as a ‘Banana Republic’ but they actually have more enlightened laws about gender than Britain does:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/12/government-claims-there-will-be-social-consequences-if-trans-people-can-pick-their-gender/comments/
I so hope this is the Tory government that loses the Malvinas Islands to a more tolerant country. Cameron tries so hard to emulate Thatcher so it would be lovely to see him end in humiliation and total defeat. Please sign the petition against this Tory scum folks:)
History is happing, but a lot has already happened. Have you been paying attention?
Leaders, nation states, they are not legitimate. Very little of society can be justified with even a cursory look at history. It’s a positioned legacy we have, and it should be treated as such.
Certainly NOT gloried, celebrated or even approached with a good hard look at what your messing with. Without this your just going to basically go on like before. And we can kiss goodbye to any decent future.
Sorry but I look at these things and see self interest, self glory, in what is a death machine. That’s the facts on the ground, that’s what’s really going on.
So sure, slags each-other off, winners and losers. Slappers. who’s thinking of the children?…Dreaming, England’s dreaming.
Change my fucking ass. I tell you what would be a change, if we all went and burned down parliament and started over. After ejecting royalty from the face of the uk. But I expect slow rot. Ego competitions, etc. having your say, here here, congratulations, let’s celebrate…Don’t even know your alive IMO.
Watered down JC reforms. No sorry it’s just not going to cut it. And I think we all fucking know it. We have to REALLY start doing things different.
Certainly NOT glorified…
Richard was correct on this, But he’s going back on himself. No doubt his book career will be cosy for the next few years.
No, id rather live in reality and with no hope than minor bullshit reforms that will disappoint and keep everything in place because we’re keeping everyone happy.
Why the hell do I care about keeping everyone happy. It’s not how to get things done. They spent there whole life treading on us. And they will not just go away. The money and power they have YOUR DREAMING.
I do want heads on pikes, not really but REALLY. End this fucking class system. Cut the head off the snake. See where the cards fall.
What we are seeing is not justice but cowardice, the least that can be done.
Fuck, if I have to read another self important guardian comment, clever remark or witty comeback …Look I strung together two sentences. Such effort.
They died for change in Egypt, fucking sofa sitting, self congratulatory tv nation. All looking to be the next in the next congratulated party.
I’d be fooling myself to think this is the change we need, this culture is so dumbed down I just don’t believe in people, they don’t believe in themselves, respect themselves, and are hardly awake.
We gota start real alternatives. Ones that give people enough freedom that they can be free to invent and come up with new stuff. Take a ciry or a large area and start building alternatives. They don’t own us, this system is usury, this land should be ours to keep as custodians. We should be free and could be.
Habbakuk,
Who really cares what you think?
Youre just another establishment whore.
You musta done summat seriously bad in your life to end up being blackmailed by them and forced into your current role.
And more to the point, it’s real alternatives that would facilitate waking people up. If they could just go somewhere and have some freedom.
Giving ‘members’ a bit more say, come on. This is not even scratching the surface of possibilities. Certainly not unlocking free imagination. Still all live in our drab every day life…Looking for hope in individuals and archaic systems of strange rituals…isolated and fragmented, nothing is really gona change like this.
Beth 9.26pm,
Absolutely agreed.
Craig…dont be a shallow hypocritical prick…change that wording ffs.
” The proof is in the film Kempe which has been freely available everywhere in the world except here. ”
Wasn’t released in the US because it proved impossible to gain insurance against possible litigation. It’s on Youtube but really just regurgitates the same unproven conspiracy drivel that’s been floating about since 1997.
The shroud of D.E.A.T.H. be upon the transphobic Cameron regime and believe me, it WILL happen and I will laugh so much when I see the maggots eat their rock hard corpses LOL:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interestingly, in JC’s victory column, he tells us that half his shadow-cabinet will be women. I personally think 50% is too strict, and figure about a 60/40 split (which could go either way) more sensible, but still, this is an unusual policy from JC. Wonder if he means it? I’m under no feminist illusions about women in leadership positions – in the places I’ve worked, female leaders can be as good, bad or indifferent as the men – but do agree that politics can be too competitive and ‘blokeish’, where is should be thoughtful, considered, and much more about ideas and policies. If having 40-50 representation of women in parliament changes the atmosphere, that’s a good thing. I also hope they start using the self-serving term ‘leadership’ less often. It’s just so tedious and narcissistic – thus a favourite of Tony Blair. I note Corbyn doesn’t use it so much, if at all. Clever bloke that Corbyn.
The DM is swift out of the blocks. Corbyn’s childhood was somewhat properous, and he went to an expensive school, where he was not especially academic. Seems a bright guy to me, likely he just hated school, not unusual. And his parent’s money isn’t his fault. Also, un-named sources (hilariously tagged refuseniks and moderates) tell us Corbyn is already fair game, and moves are afoot. I wonder, are the moderatniks, as I will now call them, worried that Corbyn will do terribly or that Corbyn will do terribly well? I suspect they fear the latter much, much more. And The Tories. I don’t think I’ve seen a front rank politician wade into the leadership debate of the opposition with quite so much shamelessness as Osborne. Normally, when the other party is making these decisions, there is a kind of unwritten rule that they are left to get on with it, until someone emerges. Osborne has already told us that Corbyn is a threat to national security, which surprised me. But now he’s elected, the Tories are swift of the blocks, telling us they won’t do personal (as if!), and will instead bring intellectual arguments to the table (which might possibly be a first in the entire history of the Tory party). So, expect lots of IRA\Hamas\Marx stuff in the near future.
Not so sure about Tom Watson. I commend his good work on the paedophile scandal, and think he’s probably a good bloke, but his politics are fairly Nu Lab, and he was, for a time, a whip head-kicker in Government. But perhaps he will do ok, and I genunely do admire his bravery in taking on the establishment nonce-network, bad things have happened to others who have tried. He can’t be worse than Harman, so there’s that.
And we’re stuck with Bill Shorten. It really is quite depressing.
Thanxxx Jives:)
The thing you need to know about the present government is their diktum is paedos equals good and LGBT people against transphobic discrimination equals bad.. Need I say more about these unnatural blood sucking parasites!
… I lament the wealthy, they could help it happen. And rather then spending most time earning money, getting status or ‘security’ just have fun, create, share. Make the most of life…
But I suspect they will be a hindrance and call out the army or something. But I feel it’s getting to a point where the responsibility is to break from the system, for some to at least start something. In fact I think is necessary and important to have that outlying body in order to pull the center, the right wing do it all the time.
Autonomous community, people already do it. But something substantive that get’s noticed and takes itself seriously. Arn’t people sick of joing in, becoming a member,etc, when every day we must face the bureaucracy and 9-5 of ‘normality’..It’s just more nonsense stuff.
JC is correct in a way, life is way to short for all that. But we must obey mustn’t we, each having our place. I disagree. In this mundane slave like existence it’s a virtue to resist, for our own and others freedom.
I don’t see anyone else even close to creating a free society that our children can inherent, the notion (let alone the realty) is so far away from most people, who are so embedded and have identity tied up in structures of domination and control. *Cough* ^^ They long for it..
But that’s what they are, just study where these structures originate, very little has changed. Shame really, you’d think we could do better for our offspring. Instead they have the consent threat of war, nuclear war (that they must sense, they are not stupid) environmental collapse. and a dept salve system. Pollution
Do you all really feel so great? About your wonderful party, country, nation. talent …Cleverness. I don’t think people are clever at all. And they don’t know what they have got.
Ishmael.
You write some wonderful stuff.
We need you in Government to blow away the rubbish that swirls around like tumble weeds.
You would be the ideal person for a think tank.
Keep posting, well done, and thank you.
I also congratulate Jeremy Corbyn on his outstanding success in winning the leadership election to the Labour Party in such a decisive style.
Judging by the amount of opprobium being piled upon him by the the MSM and the red tories and the blue tories, I think they must all be shit scared that something of a revolution is finally underway. It happened in Scotland with the SNP and at last there is a chance the electorate in England will have a similar choice.
The road ahead will not be easy, and as in Scotland there is an overwhelming need for a truly independent, radical press. I endured the BBC and the Grauniad during the indyref, as their coverage bordered on the comical, but the vilificatioin of Jeremy Corbyn by these two disgusting propaganda machines is outrageous.
I have deleted their apps as I am no longer amused.