Saturday, August 1, 2015

Blairites seem keen to erase from history Jeremy Corbyn's willingness to serve under Tony Blair

Apologies if this blog is giving the impression of turning into a pro-Corbyn site, because from a hard-headed tactical point of view I'm inclined to think it would be much better for the SNP if Labour elect Continuity Miliband and proceed with their slow, intensely boring descent into irrelevance. But some of the nonsense being spouted by panic-stricken Blairites really deserves to be called out. There's a downright offensive article in Labour Uncut today by Paul Richards, who with no trace of irony refers to rank-and-file Labour members who diverged from the leadership line in the 1980s as "non-entities", but then whinges about a trade unionist who referred to Blairism as "a virus" that needs to be stamped out. Here's a thought - if the Blairites disapproved of any threats to harmonious camaraderie, wouldn't it have been better not to give their own faction of the party a specific name, and then boast about that faction's triumph over the left by plastering the name over every Labour manifesto and conference backdrop while Blair was leader? Wouldn't it have been better not to make the total exclusion of the left from the cabinet or Shadow Cabinet a test of 'sanity' and ideological cleanliness, as Liz Kendall did in one of the recent televised leadership debates?

Richards also says this -

"There’s Jeremy Corbyn himself, obviously, who has been a hardcore Bennite for 30 years...never sullying his political purity with a single minute on the front bench."

It's true that Corbyn has never been on the front bench, but the snide implication is that this was through personal choice, rather than because of the disinclination of others to give him a job. A quick glance at the records of Shadow Cabinet elections in the mid-90s gives the lie to that notion, however. Corbyn stood in 1994, finishing 49th out of 52 candidates (believe it or not, among the three MPs who finished even lower was Rhodri Morgan, the future First Minister of Wales). He stood again in 1996, finishing 26th out of 26. Extremely unimpressive results, but the fact remains that simply by standing, he was making himself available to serve as a Shadow Cabinet member under Tony Blair. You can't get much more ecumenical than that.

22 comments:

  1. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 1, 2015 at 9:23 PM

    You seem to be content on dwelling in the past James. Your lot have not come up with any progressive policies. You cannot come up with a currency inspite of being in power for dunkies. You just play the blame the English card for everything. The Labour Party and the Trade Union movement fought for social justice for thè poor during the rise of capitalism yet all you do is condemn them.

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    1. Please stop vilifying the Danes, GWC. And also, could you get your story straight on whether you love or hate the Labour party? We've had both versions.

      Delete
  2. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 1, 2015 at 10:54 PM

    It depends on policy James but I suppose like a good obedient Nat you do toe the line. You agree with anything the Executive says! Freeze council tax, yes I agree. Unfreeze council tax, yes I agree. GET OUT OF NATO, yes I agree. Stay in NATO, ooops ok I agree. Keep the Monarchy, ooops choke double choke, Ok Kim Jung Eck we follow blindly.

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    1. Oh dear. I disagree with the NATO policy and said so on this blog when it was changed. I want the monarchy scrapped and have said so umpteen times.

      Might be worth double-checking in future, if you can find enough time while you're busy being racist towards Scandinavians.

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    2. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 2, 2015 at 12:03 AM

      Seems to me James your mention of Scandinavians is just the usual Nat tactic of diverting from explaining your Nat policies which do not exist.

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    3. Not at all. I just don't see why the Danes should get the blame for everything.

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  3. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 1, 2015 at 11:44 PM

    I am not racist towards anyone but some people do have their opinion on what is racist. Some Nat sis are definately racist towards the English. The fact the term English is used confirms that. However I have worked with many Scandanavians mostly women and It was my pleasure. But be honest James wee eck told you lot to forget about social progress and put all your efforts towards independence and all would be right on the night. But it was not.

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    1. Let me get this straight - the use of the word "English" is racist? Haven't you just proved yourself racist, then?

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    2. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 2, 2015 at 12:17 AM

      James stay aff the plonk and read what I said. I said some! Have you ever come across an anti English Scot racist James? I have but maybe he is a politician now!

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    3. By all accounts, the arch-unionist Willie Ross used to be known for making horrendous anti-English remarks in private.

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    4. There's a load of anti-Scottish comments by its fellow astroturfers over on Cif. Maybe it should go and join in.

      Nice to see the old daily mail, labour till he's dead version of K McK has resurfaced over at the Observer/Guardian. Prick!

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    5. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 2, 2015 at 12:23 AM

      Just to take a step back James. Why do you think I am racist towards Danes?

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    6. Well, racism is usually a sign of immaturity.

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    7. You're racist towards the Scots!

      Why do you tolerate this idiot James?

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  4. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 2, 2015 at 12:35 AM

    Willie Ross was a progressive and a man that had progressive policies to help the poor. You Nats are keeping the poor poor with a lack of policies. He was not anti English but thought some English like Scots narrowbacks were wankers.

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    1. Glasgow Working Class.

      You appear to be a party all of one.

      As a Nat, we are doing what we can. We voted against welfare cuts.

      Who do you support again? Hopefully not Labour, who couldn't find the balls to do the same thing. If you really are Glasgow Working Class perhaps you could find a party that reflects your views?

      For it certainly isn't Labour.

      Your problem may be that most left of centre groups do support independence from Westminster. I assume you have some affection for it? For whatever reason?

      So, I suppose, you are between a rock and a hard place.

      UKIP may find you a home though.

      Best wishes.

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  5. Why on earth do you give this racist clown breathing space on here, James?

    He is no more than a Unionist Coward who is too embarrassed to Troll under his real name and is repetitive to the point of boredom.

    He contributes nothing constructive, he plainly is a one-trick Unionist halfwit who continuously spouts the same old, failed Unionist garbage which has been disowned by the majority of Scots and is to be be pitied as well as scorned.

    This clown is yesterday's man, spouting yesterday's crap which most Scots have now ditched.

    Get rid of this total irrelevance - it is having a detrimental effect on those who genuinely wish to contribute to your Pro-Independence site.

    Tolerating dissent is one thing - tolerating destructive idiocy is something else.

    He is an idiot - get rid of him.

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    1. I rather admire our web author's tolerance.

      The point, within limits, is for btl comments to challenge the opinions stated. Sometimes btl wins, often it doesn't.

      I think James is well up to dealing with Glasgow Working Clas. If his comments, GWC, annoy you, just skip them.

      You are right, imo, to see him as a troll. But he isn't even a very good troll.

      I recall good trolls as suggesting that the solution to the Iraq conflict was to turn Baghdad into an 'illuminated parking lot'. Now, that is trolling. Or mental illness. Or American Forign Policy options.

      Glasgow Working Class is a flea on the back of trolls like that.

      Delete
  6. Labour elect Continuity Miliband and proceed with their slow, intensely boring descent into irrelevance.

    You have a way with words.....

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  7. Even the ones that we might perceive as having something in common with are still Labour politicians. If they really gave a toss about the working classes they would leave the party. But then they would, most likely, lose their safe seats.

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  8. Glasgow Working ClassAugust 2, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    Looks like the swarm has arrived since going to my kipp. Poor answer James I will ask again, why do you think I am racist towards Danes? Your swarm above seem to think you are a capable chap.

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