tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post4239156007747980947..comments2024-03-17T00:10:44.022+00:00Comments on From Arse To Elbow: Liberalism and LabourDavid Timoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-64077841050685758982017-01-08T14:58:42.860+00:002017-01-08T14:58:42.860+00:00I suspect the problem is that most potential '...I suspect the problem is that most potential 'successors' that have enough credibility with the majority of the current membership are lacking in Corbyn's resilience and would be far less able to resist the temptation to give in to the PLP. In many ways it has only been the fact that Corbyn is almost totally free from personal ambition and the urge to be accepted by the establishment that has led him to hold out for this long.<br /><br />The lack of sympathetic candidates among Labour's career politicians is a major issue for the left of the membership, and the withdrawal of threats to deselect MPs means that opportunities are even more scarce. Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-52005235714975275182017-01-08T12:50:30.483+00:002017-01-08T12:50:30.483+00:00Given that Corbyn, given his age, was only ever li...Given that Corbyn, given his age, was only ever likely to be an interim leader, one thing that surprises me is the lack of any visible strategy about his succession. Maybe that's because they have been too busy fire-fighting, or maybe some candidates want to be protected from being labelled "hard left" by the PLP and media ATM. Although as that glare will come eventually, any reticence now is not exactly a recommendation.<br /><br />Maybe that's one reason for the current (relatively) quiet period. The irredentists are biding their time - waiting either for Corbyn to self-combust or the next GE where they presume he will fail and be forced to resign. The left are (should be) gathering experience in order to be more prepared next time. It would help if they could raise their profile more - although I note that Clive Lewis had a big announcement last week that was mainly ignored by the MSM.<br />gastro georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-19495112810350916382017-01-08T11:49:24.153+00:002017-01-08T11:49:24.153+00:00I suspect the media would harp on about their yout...I suspect the media would harp on about their youth and inexperience being a handicap, blithely ignoring how this was a virtue for the likes of Blair.David Timoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-27726875181563665822017-01-08T11:25:22.543+00:002017-01-08T11:25:22.543+00:00What do you think the media treatment of a putativ...What do you think the media treatment of a putative leftish and 'credible' leader such as day Clive Lewis or Lisa Nandy would be like? Boilsternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-67580017284773599392017-01-07T16:00:57.117+00:002017-01-07T16:00:57.117+00:00"Labour is far less divided than it was in 19..."Labour is far less divided than it was in 1981: the space between Umunna and McDonnell is much narrower than that between Jenkins and Benn."<br /><br />This is a very much ignored truth. I suspect the reason why there appears to be such a gulf is due to differences in strategy. The bulk of Labour career politicians reject any over-commitment towards left-leaning ideology or the interests of the poor and disadvantaged for fear of alienating the mythical median voter, while Corbyn, McDonnell and the majority of Labour members believe that there is a hidden spirit of democratic socialism that is waiting to be ignited by an honest statement of Keynesian economics and tepid social reform. The reason the latter has achieved more prominence in the Labour Party is that, firstly, the former has proved too cynical to achieve popularity, and secondly, that the political situation is too volatile for Blairite tactics of manipulation to succeed. The liberal media is way too dumb to understand this. Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-68351908816622174432017-01-07T11:06:58.529+00:002017-01-07T11:06:58.529+00:00Yes, I guess life is too short. I was wondering i...Yes, I guess life is too short. I was wondering if he might have any political ambitions of his own, as he turns a nuance quite easily - rather like an alternative Hannan. In any case, he represents something that I suspect we will have to get a lot more used to - the acceptable face of racism.<br /><br />Re Parris, yes I have a bit of time for him - he's obviously a thoughtful person. He was on the panel as the Tory Remainer, and did pretty well. As did the Green. But for "balance", in addition to those and Goodwin, we had two Republicans (yes, really, Trump's a clever guy ...), a Taxpayers Alliance, and two "pollsters" who presented the usual inanities. One does wonder about the BBC these days.gastro georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-83243314879606247692017-01-06T22:17:27.458+00:002017-01-06T22:17:27.458+00:00I'm not sure I could bear too much exposure to...I'm not sure I could bear too much exposure to Goodwin. His motivation is not only pretty transparent but depressingly petty. He and Ford have secured a cushy number in recent years pushing the same guff for the national media. I suspect they now see rigid consistency in their views, and thus a refusal to consider the evidence, as their pension plan.<br /><br />Parris might be wrong on many things, but he is intellectually interesting and I still remember his stint trying to live on benefits in Scotswood in Newcastle (I used to live in nearby Elswick) for a TV documentary in the 80s, which revealed both his ignorance and his willingness to learn.David Timoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-79190658071168991122017-01-06T22:05:23.884+00:002017-01-06T22:05:23.884+00:00Excellent stuff.
Have you ever covered Goodwin in...Excellent stuff.<br /><br />Have you ever covered Goodwin in more detail? He appeared on Newsnight at the start of the week, in their preview of 2017 - in which, incidentally, of the 8 talking heads Matthew Parris was the second most left wing, FFS. He appeared even more barking than his writing, although he was treated with due deference. He asserted "the death of social democracy" and was completely preoccupied with the "identity" and "community" of the working classes, a litany of nudge-nudge racist nuance, like some reborn Powellite.gastro georgenoreply@blogger.com