Blairite wipeout in Scotland teaches us an important lesson about them. They have no particular beliefs other than in their own careers. Progress was always more about career progress than societal progress. When politics stops being a nice little earner, the Blairites will very easily give it up.
If they had strongly held principles and beliefs, they would continue fighting for them even if they made nothing from it and it actually cost them money, like, umm, me. But you don’t see any Blairite ex-MPs who have spent the last couple of years on wholehearted political campaigning or working for their party. They have gone where the money is – many accepting their remunerative reward from the corporations they so loyally served while in office. Many with banks and financé companies; Brian Wilson never stopped working for the nuclear industry whether in parliament or out. Some have joined the laughably called modern charities sector with its high six figure salaries. The only professional Scottish Blairite (though not MP) who has prominently remained loosely connected to politics, John McTernan, has done so as the lowest kind of journalistic prostitute, damning Labour for anyone who will pay him.
When I read that Tory lickspittle right winger Blair McDougall is to be the Labour candidate in East Renfrewshire, my first thought was “Oh great, that’ll split the Tory vote, SNP hold.” My second was “where is Jim Murphy?”. The far right Henry Jackson Society member Murphy was so dedicated to the cause, he carried his own soapbox and braved eggs. Surely he hasn’t given up? Surely he’s fighting again? But no, none of them are. As soon as the Blairites found politics stopped giving them large wodges of cash, they all lost interest in it, completely. You will search this election in vain for the dulcet tones of wee Dougie Alexander.
It was not ever thus. Gladstone and Churchill are but two examples that spring instantly to mind of politicians who lost constituency elections after they were MPs, but kept fighting and made comebacks. But whatever you can say about Gladstone and Churchill, they were not just in it for the money.
I do not think Labour face a wipeout in England of the same scale they did in Scotland. In fact, I do not think this will be a comfortable election for the Tories, as even the media cannot prevent the electorate from twigging May avoids people, avoids scrutiny, and is programmed with only three lines. But if Labour do suffer large losses in England, then Corbyn should look to Scotland for an example and take heart. Any defeated Blairites will not come back. They go away if you stop paying them. That should embolden him to carry on as leader. Politics is in an era of unprecedented volatility, and assuming May is re-elected, within two years she will be massively unpopular as the effects of Brexit hit.
Great comment on carpetbaggers.
And yes, where is that turd Murphy now? He is the worst of the worst.
What elegant language to use at breakfast time.
In referring to the Blairite holdup of the Labour movement in the ‘nineties, elegant language is hardly an option. Certainly not considering where it all led.
It’s good to see Craig that you’re not only tough on Blairism but tough on the causes of Blairism.
Blair was not just defined by money, personal gain and ambition but, worse still, by seriously misconceived cavalier, cowardly violence. I don’t see that aspect covered here at all.
What pretentious language to use at breakfast time.
Tit-for-tat is bout the cheapest language to use at anytime. Grow up.
Now, your argument is?
(I’ll give you another chance.)
Great point well made Craig, Blairites have become part and parcel of the establishment and hence fight their interests resulting in stabbing Corbyn in the back. That they are still in the Labour party is now just a matter of timing, if they are still masquerading as labour after the election, they should be expelled, as a group.
The Tories are liars and cheats, even their own supporters can’t overlook the fact that they are walking towards a hiatus, war and more bad planning for us and brilliant ideas for the City gents and the establishment.
This mornings lies by Boris and the BBC’s anchor on the toady chit chat in the morning once again amplified the lies over the CW attack in Khan Shaykhun, clearly down to western backed Al Nusra and the white helmets, not Assad, making the US, share price raising, missile attack an act of war, ehem…. an unfortunate mistake that benefited the US president financially.
Likewise. I do not think that Labour will be forming the next Government, I am afraid, and a substantial contribution to that was made by the attempted coup, which very seriously damaged the Labour Party. But I also do not believe that it will be the rout that every hired liar seems to be predicting. I think the Conservative Party will suffer a very solid body blow, solid enough to show that Corbyn and his colleagues have been on the right track all along.
I am also of the opinion that, should Labour be defeated at the general election, Corbyn should stay precisely where he is, at least until there is some assurance that the left, which is in the majority in the grass roots of the party, can have an opportunity to proffer other candidates without being blocked by the PLP.
John-your phrase ‘Every hired liar’ sums the situation up very well As to who is doing the hiring, and the practical day to day methodology behind it, is sure to leak out at some stage. A huge effort driven by secretive unknowns has been launched. It cannot be kept a secret for ever.
Blairites never go away, rather like Blair himself. They lurk in secret places waiting for the conditions that favour their existence to return at which time they re-emerge, shake off the slime, and act like they are our path to salvation. They’re rather like toadstools in their behaviour patterns. If only somebody could discover a suitable fungicide.
Of course Blairites, or rather, neo liberal/neo cons don’t go away, they are part of the venal modern political/ financial reward nexus that calls itself centrist. This battle has been going on for millennia. Exploitation of those who produce a surplus by those who gather surplus into their hands and then have the power to reorganize the system to speed up the process is a recurring problem of humanity and its place on Earth.
Yup.
Don’t think the Blairites could stomach another five years on the opposition benches.
They’ll simply drift away of their own accord after the election.
Time has a wonderful way of solving even the tricksyist of problems.
Let’s hope the Lib Dems piss off as well.
The sooner we get back to a real Labour versus real Conservative kinda thing, the better.
Clear blue water and all that, real policies and less of the word games, should bring some sanity back to this sorry old world.
There is a You Gov poll on Britain Elects showing Labour up 4% and the Conservative lead down from 23% to 16%. As far as I can see this has received no coverage in the MSM. I also read yesterday that Labour is leading among voters under 40. Still a long way to go but this election is not over yet
It cant be very far. Two pages in The Times.
Aye, wee Dougie Alexander went to lecture as a guest at Harvard. What did he talk about? How I was gubbed by a twenty year old fighting her first election?
Craig It’s O/T but in view of the difficulties you encountered at Leeds University, I am asking what your view is on the campaign to attack support for the BDS movement in universities. The chairman of the Charity Commission is being approached (he is Sir William Shawcross, a Zionist supporter and HJS etc) to examine the political aspects of various charities.
The Victoria Derbyshire programme on the BBC News channel have just carried a lengthy report including interviews with students who oppose BDS.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/27/charity-commission-investigates-universities-antisemitism-worries/
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170427-charity-commission-investigates-growing-support-for-bds/
etc
And what is your evidence Mary that Shawcross is a ‘Zionist supporter’? If I were Craig, I wouldn’t touch you with a 10-foot bargepole.
And just for the record, just a dozen comments in, there is an ongoing attempt by one-trick ponies to distract and divert. There are only two possibilities: Either they love Blair or they are trolling.
I have long known that Shawcross was one of the more extreme supporters of Israel. It’s a key part of his career.
I am very glad Craig that you have responded. Please now support your comment with substance and sources. I can legitimately claim that I have long known Shawcross, I do not have a dog in the race, except to say, that of what little I know, he is doing a fine job at the Charities Commission and it should be a full-time job.
I’m not sure about our Mary, but I am convinced that both you and I would like to see a fair resolution to the Palestine conundrum.
You may also want to consider this Op-Ed by Shawcross and consider it a blog entry and reply or critique, without being merely dismissive as you have attempted to be.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/An-irrational-obscene-hatred
‘The bien pensants of the Western world are never prepared to give Israel the benefit of any doubt.’ From the Shawcross article you linked, Alcyone. Are the US and UK — were any opposition to Israel and ZIonism is liable to be labelled ‘anti-semitism’ — part of this ‘Western world’? The US and UK main stream establishment opinion gives Israel a free pass!
Flaminius, I’ll wait for Craig’s reply if it’s all the same with you. Thank you for engaging with me, I would encourage you to engage with him too. Don’t you think he should back up his very personal assertions about Shawcross?
I have given my answer (with links) which was deleted.
I am ignoring you forthwith Villager/Alcyone.
Mary in the spirit of Craig’s reply, would you count yourself as an *extreme supporter* of Palestine? To the point that if a solution were to be found tomorrow, and I hope it will, it will finish your career?
And I’m sorry to hear about the deletion Mary, like april showers and May Day, I should welcome it.
See the Liberal Democrats have barred pro Palestinian David Ward as their candidate in Bradford East. Just hours too after Theresa May and Eric Pickles bullied the party over him at PMQs. Farron must have got on the phone and imposed the debarring by diktat. Aye, he’s liberal alright
Farron said that his party believed in politics that are “open, tolerant and united”.
Only an half wit like Farron could call for both tolerant and united politics in the same sentence.
The Lib Dems would be better barring their leader for saying that nuclear weapons give the UK a seat at the top table in a post-brexit world.
Vote for Mr. Fish Finger in Westmoreland and Lonsdale!
Try these Villager. You have fallen into a big hole.
http://azvsas.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/charity-funding-illegal-settlements.html
http://www.stopthejnf.org/charity-commission-is-protecting-sham-charities-not-only-tax-scams-for-the-wealthy-but-also-ethnic-cleansers-of-palestine/
Even Wikipedia.
‘He was a member of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’s Informal Advisory Group from 1995 to 2000. From 1997 to 2003 he was a member of the BBC World Service Advisory Council. In 2008 he became a Patron of the Wiener Library and in 2011 he joined the board of the Anglo-Israel Association and was appointed to the board of the Henry Jackson Society.’
Slagged off any Muslims lately?
Mary, I shan’t touch your links as (a) Norton, the anti-virus is not here, and (b) I won’t fall into your trap of propaganda.
As for your Wikipedia quote, where does it state, dear Bigotted Ears, that Shawcross is a zionist?
You are completely off-side on your remark about Muslims–I love all of Humanity, just not organised religions. Please try to exert some self-moderation.
PS I don’t particularly care what you have to say nor what name by which you address me. I changed my user name to Sharp Ears in an attempt to avoid the Zionist/Hasbara trolls of which you were one as Villager and now one as Alcyone.
Your anti-Muslim invective remains on here for all to see as well as the yards of Krishnamurti c**p.. And you are rude to Craig and treacherous.
Irrelevant what name you use Mary, your zealotry will always catch you out.
Now just answer the question, while I’m conscious that I am indulging you in your trolling:
“As for your Wikipedia quote, where does it state, dear Bigotted Ears, that Shawcross is a zionist?”
And you use it intentionally to malign him and his position.
As for Krishnamurti, it’s very poor form to be maligning, again, a dead man. At any rate the person is completely unimportant, it’s what he uncovered and discovered that is quite astounding, almost as if from another dimension. Einstein of the mind I’d say but not for the mentally lazy. I also don’t think Einstein would’ve cared one way or another to persuade you. Nor did K.
As for the Muslim bit, I have a few friends of the faith, who despite my personal disapproval, love and enjoy a glass of wine or whisky. I think Mohammed definitely had it right on that one, what do you think? Still I don’t think I would coerce you one way or the other. Do they cut-off your hand or something in Saudi Arabia if they find you enjoying a fine malt? Maybe it’s just a few public lashes or time in the cooler?
And Craig would neither be able to own his pub or even this blog.
Ignore. Ignore.
Alcyone : You are completely off-side on your remark about Muslims–I love all of Humanity, just not organised religions.
Not true. A few months ago I challenged your support for a ban on burkinis on French beaches. You admitted you wouldn’t ban a nun in a habit from the same beach, or a monk in a cassock, or a J*w wearing a kippah, or for that matter a knight wearing a full suit of armour. You couldn’t cite any other items of attire you would ban from a beach.
I considered your selective prejudice and drew my own conclusions.
Craig’s deletion machine remains in active mode and deleted my comprehensive answer. which included a bit of excellent humour. At any rate do provide a link to your my comment–happy to refresh my memory.
At any rate do provide a link to your my comment …
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/08/dysfunctional-united-kingdom/comment-page-4/#comment-618766
Your claims not to be Islamophobic were so self-contradictory that eventually I summarised your position thus :
LOL Node–I had a lovely laugh in re-reading our chat. Apart from failing miserably to back-up your assertions, you exceed yourself to prove what a classy joker you are.
Btw, have you been to the beach today in body armour recently? They say the diving in the Red Sea is brilliant–try it there. Don’t forget to go to the local church in Jeddah first.
And just for context, I don’t take you seriously.
You’re behaving exactly like you did on the previous thread. You can’t hide your Islamophobia and you can’t justify it, and you’re too cowardly to admit to it, so you pretend it’s just light-hearted banter …. until the next opportunity to spread a little hatred comes along.
Two things to consider..
1) Today’s Blairites in Scotland will be joining the SNP. As you say they are careerists. Tasmin Asmin Sheikh for example. Also the two fraudsters. The SNP is as likely to build a corrupt apparatus as any other party and given their lack of party democracy and strcit discipline probably more likely.
2) I look forward to removing my corrupt Labour council on Thursday but I am also aware that the Labour wipeout led to the removal of excellent MPs like Mark Lawrociwz and Katy Clark. A few SNP MPs have shown promise such as Elidh Whiteford and Tommy Sheppard but most of them have incredibly bland.
3) When the second independence referendum comes around it is vital that we win. Due to the independence movement progressive politics in the UK have been splintered and in Scotland put on the back burner. We have gambled far too much to lose now which should inspire every progressive supporter of independence to take personal responsibility for campaigning.
If Labour lose, the message that the left can and must start the fight again will be crucial against media and neoliberals painting leftism as having its chance only to fade away. As for your assessment of the Blairites, I would agree but add those at the top of the Blairite pyramid will stick to their mission – it’s just that they need footsoldiers who are impressed by a route to power and wealth and those selected for such traits are indeed flimsy on purpose and ideology when the route becomes hard and problematic.
You are of course correct about Blairite ranks depleting, just adding that its generals with access to powerful interests all over the globe will still be motivated to regroup. The Thatcher-Blair era enabled it powerful UK and foreign interests to be conveniently positioned to infiltrate our politics. Prior to the end of consensus capitalism as flawed as it was, Thatcher came about because a hardcore of London-lunchers kept extreme-right hopes alive at a time when we took Keynesian regulation of capitalism for granted. We also thought – again a complacency resulting from the comforts of progressive milestones such as the NHS – the world was naturally progressive without steering it that way.. That realisation of need is the baseline incentive, and reminds me of Benn’s ‘there is no final victory’ logic that hopefully drives the left on whether the next pivotal point is frustration or strength.
‘ My second was “where is Jim Murphy?”’
I think it’s normal these days for the ex-leader of a party to stand aside so as not to undermine the authority of the new leader. Otherwise you can get some ludicrous situations, such as in the SNP where Nicola Sturgeon makes a statement on STV one day and the next day Alex Salmond says the exact opposite on LBC. People start to ask who is actually in charge of the party and what exactly the party policy is.
Salmond is no longer an SNP office bearer. He’s only an MP now, albeit one of the most impressive in the Commons who is always worth hearing. When he speaks on LBC he is speaking for himself and not for Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP or the Scottish Government.
But does he speak for himself? He sounds an awful lot like he’s speaking for the SNP. When he says the vote in June is a vote on independence it sound a lot like he is stating SNP policy.
Fred. Murphy (and now Dugdale)was not leader of the party. Labour in Scotland are a mere branch office of British Labour run and led from Westminster. As for party policy , read the SNP manifesto.
So you’re saying Murphy and Dugdale weren’t really Scottish, only Nationalists are Scottish.
How about Scottish Greens, do they count as Scottish?
And so I don’t have to read the manifesto how about the SNP making it clear to the media what their policies are? Or at least not telling one group of voters one thing and another the exact opposite.
Well I’ve never argued that a Scottish unionist politician isn’t really Scottish. We should never claim that those on the opposite political side in our country are not full compatriots.
Even the deeply conservative Charles De Gaulle felt compelled to say about Jean-Paul Sartre,
“Ah well, he belongs to France too I suppose.”
Theresa May please take note.
I suppose the one and only one good thing about brexit is that it will probably mean that lots more Blairites will go abroad to follow the money.
One good thing about Brexit is it will benefit the fishing industry in the north east of Scotland. I have no doubt there will be other good things as well. If the good things outweigh the bad things remains to be seen, personally I don’t think they will but I hope I am proved wrong.
One good thing about Brexit is it will benefit the fishing industry in the north east of Scotland.
Are you sure about that?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/15/uk-fishermen-may-not-win-waters-back-after-brexit-eu-memo-reveals
I don’t think we can be sure about anything but at least now there is hope. The fishermen have some control, they will go out and vote based on what the government says they will do for them and if the government doesn’t deliver then next time they will vote for someone else.
We will have to see.
Who knows what fishing rights the Conservative party has in mind for a future Independent Scotland, but Mrs. May’s refusal to take any note of the SNP and their demand to be part of the negotiations does not bode well.
Those who argues that the 200mile fishing zone will be reinstated, are merely expressing their wish list, not something they could possibly enforce.
I don’t think the 200 mile Zone of Exclusive Economic Interest has ever been abolished.
I’m confident the civil servants charged with the task of negotiating fisheries will be eager to discuss matters with the representatives of the industry.
I think that regardless of what they say the Tories planned the end of the fishing industry because they were lobbied by the fish-farming industry. Kinda like agribusiness but wetter.
May I add a word about fishing rights in the event of Brexit? In summary and simplifying somewhat, I believe the position is as follows:
1/. Exclusive economic zones will of course continue to exist – the principle is anchored in UNCLOS, which, as the title suggests, has nothing to do with the EU. The median line principle will also continue to apply.
2/. Certain North Sea fishing stocks (essentially those which move across the median line in certain fishing zones, eg ICES IV) will continue to be jointly managed but the joint management will be between Norway and the UK as opposed to between Norway and the EU as at present.
3/. If there is an independent Scotland which is outside the EU, there will probably need to be trilateral joint management of those stocks in those ICES areas between Norway, rUK and Scotland.
4/. If there is an independent Scotland which is in the EU, ditto except that the trilateral joint management will be between the EU (continuing to represent Scotland), the UK and Norway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, account will have to be taken – as at present – of the so-called “traditional fisheries” of some of the rEU states in all territorial UK waters up to the 12 mile limit.
In the scenario under 3/., idem but rEU / rUK / Scotland and rUK / Scotland.
In the scenario under 4/., idem but rEU plus Scotland / rUK .
Corrections welcome from Craig (and possibly Martinned?).
I doubt it. I doubt they believe their own propaganda.
You mentioned quite a few Blairites, Craig.
John McTernan, a Blairite who has stated more than once that he thinks privatisation is good for the NHS.
One thing you have to acknowledge about McTernan though. He was much more skilled at starting a riot than Jim Murphy.
Reel guid, you might find this amusing…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iLuGIy3C7kw
Hi JOML
Brilliant! I’ve enjoyed seeing some Yew Choob vids before. That one’s a cracker.
I remember Neil Kinnock’s passionate speech in his doomed election campaign along the lines of, if the tories get back in, you’d better not grow old, better not grow ill, better not need schools for your children etc., etc. All very moving, but when he lost that election, he shot off to fill his snout in the Brussels trough (as did his wife) and now his son is an MP and one of the chicken coup Blairites, having previously married some one high up in Denmark and being very obscure about his tax arrangements.
All very predictable.
He did say “you’d better not” instead of we’d better not. So at least he was being sort of honest.
John A / Reel guid
Not really fair because when he made that speech he had no idea he was going to be appointed as one of the two UK members of the Commission (or that his wife would become an MEP).
(He thought he was going to become PM).
he shot off to fill his snout in the Brussels trough
He did what now? If memory serves, he became a Member of the Commission, which seems as noble a calling as ever there was.
“If memory serves, he became a Member of the Commission, which seems as noble a calling as ever there was.”
As noble a calling as ever there was…!!!
As noble a calling…..!
EU….,Commission….noble…!!
Is there any pollution on that planet, Martinned?
John A,
As I keep stating, hailing from the Kinnock Clans neck of the woods here in South Wales the Kinnocks are detested – that the pillock/playboy Stephen can represent one of the UK’s poorest constituencies just goes to show the crooked hold the Welsh Labour Taffia have on our affairs – a grip, despite an increased membership, they don’t want to release. Afraid to say in Torfaen, and despite canvassing for Labour, I shall place a cloths peg over my nose when voting for my own MP – many others feel as I do, but the Tories are much worse I’m afraid, whilst a third party vote on this occasion will all but guarantee a Labour rout – hence why I’ll canvass for them knowing change will come if we democratic socialists can regain control of our CLPs.
Neil Kinnock and all his clan
are grade one snout in the trough bastards
Ruth Davidson is demanding that Nicola Sturgeon reveals her plans for indyref2.
Patience Ruth, patience. As Baltasar Gracian said, it’s neither useful or pleasurable to show all your cards.
I think people have a right to know before they vote in June.
People had a right to know that brexit would mean hard brexit but the Tories didn’t mention it.
Are you saying you do not think Scottish voters have the right to know SNP views and intentions regarding a second independence referendum before they vote in June?
Scottish voters have a right to a referendum since we voted in a majority of MSPs who were in favour of a second indyref in the event of Scotland voting to stay in the EU but being dragged out anyway.
Are you saying you do not think Scottish voters have the right to know SNP views and intentions regarding a second independence referendum before they vote in June?
The SNP along with the Greens voted for a second indyref in the Scottish Parliament. In doing that they have made their views and intentions perfectly clear as well as carrying out the wishes of the voters who put them there.
If May had agreed to a referendum – as her predecessor as PM democratically did when there was a majority vote for one at Holyrood – the SNP wouldn’t have to be thinking up a strategy of how to overcome the democratic deficit caused by May’s autocratic refusal.
Then why do they not publish their plans for a second referendum before the June election so people can vote accordingly? Don’t you think the people have a right to know before they vote?
Theresa May called the June election. Not Nicola Sturgeon. And the Scottish Government is at Holyrood. They’re not up for re-election in June. It’s Theresa May who has the obligation to go into detail about why she’s refusing indyref2. But of course she can dodge it because she’s run away from a tv election debate.
The SNP are trying to trick the Scottish voter again.
Here’s the SNP manifesto:
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/thesnp/pages/5540/attachments/original/1461935515/SNP_Manifesto2016_-_ER.pdf?1461935515
Tell me what it says about a second referendum, that is what they told the voters so they can’t claim a mandate now.
They should stop treating the people of Scotland with contempt and publish their plans for a second referendum before June so the people of Scotland can vote informed.
Fred, we had this conversation a few weeks back. The full manifesto covers the referendum issue – but, if I recall rightly, you said you didn’t have time to read the full manifesto for every party. You could complain that the ‘easy read’ version didn’t cover it but that’s a separate issue.
What are you saying? Ha ha ha we fooled you you should have read the small print?
Before the election the SNP said they would consider another referendum if the majority of people in Scotland wanted one. That is what they said in the media and the link I posted. It is reasonable for the people of Scotland to expect them not to call a referendum unless the majority want one.
There is no way they can claim a mandate on the result of the last Scottish election.
No, Fred, I’m saying, read the full manifesto if you want the full story. If you voted SNP solely on the reading of the ‘easy read’, then you will know better in the future. However, I suspect you didn’t vote SNP and you will attack all things SNP because that’s “all that matters”.
Fred’s point about the “small print” of the full SNP manifesto seems a fair one.
Especially if you are part of the brigade of commenters who regularly post to the effect that politicians are wilfully attempt to keep the general public uninformed and/or that the general public are lazy buggers easily bought off by consumerism and who almost want to be fooled.
Of course it is possible that the SNP and Scottish voters are altogether different (superior)..
“I think people have a right to know before they vote in June.”
Why? Officially there isn’t going to be a second referendum, so the SNP’s plans for one are, at this stage, pure fantasy. I think the voters will get enough fantasy from the Tories, they don’t need any more from the SNP.
Craig,
I read Jim Murphy was employed by Tony Blair at £200,000 .00 P.A.
______________________________________
Alcyone,
Your inferiority complex is showing.
Leave Sharp Ears alone.
Sharp Ears’s links are most superior to yours and factual, where as……..
Q – “What’s the difference between a drummer and a drum machine?”
A – “You only have to punch the information into a drum machine once.”
Surely this could be adapted for the modern political and journalistic classes?
What you reckon Clark, should we have a virtual ‘not so busy’ lawyers coffee morning here? give em’ a rhetorical question and then watch what happens…..
it might turn out like the House of Commons….
Don’t you ever get tired of accusing people you disagree with of acting in bad faith? It’s not productive.
Wise words from Les. The profession of ‘traitor’ is even older than that of the prostitute. So Blairites are likely to be with us for a long time yet.
In fact they have always been around, in every party, and the Labour Party was run by them for most of its life. It still is.
I agree entirely with Robert at 11.37. If anyone should be banned from this blog it is the insufferable Alcyone, whose constant attacks on Sharp Ears reveal a troubling streak of sadism, real nastiness intended to wound and cause pain. It is like watching a demented child torturing a helpless kitten. Sharp Ears, is full of good will and the milk of kindness: even her trenchant attacks on oppressors and oppression can cause no real offence to those at whom they are aimed, for her purpose is to assist in the reformation of wrongdoers and to correct them.
On the other hand, were it not for the steam he can blow off here, it is possible that Alcyone would go looking for kittens- so perhaps we must bear him like a cross.
fred
April 27, 2017 at 11:05
“One good thing about Brexit is it will benefit the fishing industry in the north east of Scotland.”
………………………………………………………..
You state that as fact Fred, not you’re opinion and you offer no evidence.
Then when you are referred to a site that would contradict you:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/15/uk-fishermen-may-not-win-waters-back-after-brexit-eu-memo-reveals
You state:
fred
April 27, 2017 at 13:09
“I don’t think we can be sure about anything but at least now there is hope.”
………………………………………………………………….
You’re debating skills would improve if you could resist you’re knee-jerk interjections.
The Yestapo has arrived.
Craig Murray,
YES, YES, YES – Thank you for such a erudite post detailing the full ‘horror’s of the Blaire/Progress brigade – that presently are a great threat to Corbyn than the bloody Tories – and , should Labour lose seats, at least we have the silver lining that it is the Right element within out PLP ranks that will suffer the losses – hope also exists in the fact that Corbyn’s message is gelling with those born after 1982. However, the thought of another five years of Ms May and a very rightwing Tory Party fills me with dread, particularly when I look at my daughter and elderly parents. I’ve backed Corbyn for the past 22 months, and will continue to do so regardless of any personal cost to myself.
Had no idea that Brian Wilson had led such a varied career.
Blair will not be part of the G20 in Hamburg, and its Mayor says that ‘only those in the Hall can do the dancing’.
In reality he will have a very busy time with Trump, Erdogan and Putin visiting this Hanse City, my congratulations to Hanse Town Kings Lynn for their preparations to celebrate this medieval European wide trade pact, many protesters will amasse and huge police contingents are on stand by.
Don’t know whether there will be surface to air missiles stationed on high rise buildings, hallo London, but I’m sure that there will be traffic restrictions and snipers on roofs.
‘All those invited by the Government are also invited by me’ he says, which means that they are officially welcome by Hansestadt Hamburg and are allowed to sign the golden book of the City.
it is in German, but not too complicated to read, forgive.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/olaf-scholz-zum-g-20-gipfel-in-hamburg-getanzt-wird-mit-denen-die-im-saal-sind-a-1144965.html
Where is Jim Murphy? Seen earlier this month pontificating in Kenya on behalf of the Tony Blair Institute, by which he is now employed Blair Miles refers, I think. And the soakaway Scottish Sun reports him at the Palace of Tony Blair three days ago. As the new Institute combines all Blair’s previous dealings with his passion* for the EU and aspiration to teach the world to sing/In perfect harmony, it’s a pretty safe bet that Jimmy will be joining the ranks of Labour Party m,embers not actually supporting Labour in the near future.
Which is a plus for Labour. The man’s a stumbling incompetent.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/926212/jim-murphy-tony-blair-alastair-campbell-new-labour/
He’s fundilymundily unsound.
This is not not only sad, it’s disgusting and suggests that the Scot’s judiciary and it’s politicians are totally complicit in trying to put this miscarriage of justice to bed once and for all.
https://gosint.wordpress.com/2017/04/27/lockerbie-a-open-letter-from-dr-jim-swire/
Still, Blair won three elections, which is three more than Jeremy will ever win.
Pffft. Robert Mugabe’s won eight.
Is Corbyn eligible to stand elections in Zimbabwe?
Blair sold Labour’s soul to do it. That’s not a positive. That’s quisling.
The SNP are rather fond of the moolah as I recall.
To be recalled in this context that Ms Nicola Sturgeon and her husband pull in a bit under £ 250.000 per annum between them.
I have been told that the average (and the median) wage in the UK is around £25.000.
Why the green eyes Habbs? For an educated middle-class professional £125,000 per annum is pretty unremarkable.
I think this final paragraph is very funny.
There is a very strong chance that Woodcock will be defeated. If so, I bet he gets a job working for BAE systems, makers of the Trident submarines. I am highly sceptical about his concern for the workers that make the submarines.
Another thing, apart from the money, that keeps the Blairites around is the delight that they take in torturing the left. It really is incredible that after winning two leadership elections in the face of every sort of corrupt practise known to election man, Corbyn still puts up with people like McNichol running the party and sabotaging his position, disenfranchising members and banning constituencies from meeting.
Corbyn and his supporters have grown so used to being unfairly treated, cheated and betrayed by the right that they appear not to notice it any longer, almost to welcome such treatment.
This leaves the party in a very peculiar state: the right wing is praying daily for Corbyn’s defeat and working 24/7 to arm his opponents in the Tory party and the media. And the only hope of the left, the only chance it has of ridding itself of the Balirites, it to hope that Watson and his scores of fellow traitors get defeated and drift away into the ‘private sector’ prisons, mercenary forms and the like.
So both sides are putting their faith in an election loss. The left is suffering from a psychological disorder that makes Stockholm Syndrome look like the common cold in comparison.
Blairites still control the NEC, and amongst other things the NEC have ruled-out re-selection for this forthcoming election…
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-uk-early-labour-mps-jeremy-corbyn-trigger-ballots-mandatory-reselection-a7689916.html
As I see it, Corbyn’s hands are tied.
And on a perhaps related matter, there’s been more major civil unrest in Paris today…
https://www.rt.com/news/386306-paris-protest-lepen-macron/
They’re protesting against both Macron and Le Pen.
Rob, it seems from U.K. perspective that France exists in a maelstrom
of unrest, who could possibly pull the country together, I think France is doomed.
As an aside, why on Earth would a British based bank wish to relocate to Paris, they have to want their windows put in.
Therefore it ain’t goona happen.
Buisness is goona stay put in
The United Kingdom.
Hail Brexit, let’s get away from the European Empire.
In another thread, I have suggested the possibility of Le Pen seeking an electoral alliance with Melenchon by toning down the anti-Muslim stuff and offering him and his people major posts, like prime minister. Couldn’t that unite a lot of France?
And on perhaps the same thread I wondered whether M. Melenchon was going to recommend that his voters should vote for M. Macron in the second round (as have done MM, Fillon and Hamon) as opposed to the horrible Mme Le Pen.
It now appears that, having consulted “la base”, M. Melenchon is not going to recommend M. Macron.
Almost like Communist candidate M, Jacques Duclos in the 1968 French Presidential refusing to invite Centrist 2nd round candidate M. Alain Poher in order to defeat the Gaullists.
Spoilers both, and it does seem strange that a defeated left winger candidate (Melenchon) would not encourage his troops to vote against the extreme right (Le Pen).
La politique du pire?
A bit like voting for obvious no-hoper Ms Jill Stein in fact.
All hail the 2 quid carrot ! The Brexlemmings newest must-have snack !