The wrong direction
Yesterday, I watched the numerous candidates for the Labour Party leadership election being interviewed on TV. It was a specially set up forum, designed to allow each candidate to get across their vision of a Labour government led by them. After the resignation of Ed Miliband, we might have hoped to see some passion, some bold rhetoric, even, dare I suggest, a return to some Socialist principles. But no, of course not, that was never going to happen.
Instead we got the two front runners talking about ‘engaging’ with Business and Industry, when they should have been talking about nationalising them instead. They all spoke about ‘connecting’ with the aspirations of all voters, and having to address the main doorstep issues of Immigration, and EU membership. They were quick to add that whilst Immigration might have to be dealt with in some sort of acceptable way, EU membership was a non-negotiable issue for Labour.
The female candidates were the most interesting. They talked of having children, understanding mothers, and of their natural empathy and compassion. We haven’t forgotten Margaret Thatcher yet. She was a mother. Enough said. One young woman looked as if she was about to say something good about equality and Socialism, so the chairman reigned her in. She won’t win, that’s for sure. A well-spoken, charismatic man at the end of the table talked with confidence about staying in the EU, appealing to the middle-ground in politics, and forging links with big business. He will go far.
It was depressing stuff. The potential leaders of a party that had already moved too far to the Right, all sitting there talking about moving even further in that direction, the wrong direction, to ‘appeal to the voters’. The new generation of voters, presumably. Those who worry about their mortgages, want bigger and better houses, bigger and faster cars. The same people who want to stop all Immigration, blame everything that is wrong with this country on foreigners, and stop paying any benefits to the elderly and disabled in our population.
They should have given each of them a hammer,and a large nail. Then they could have finished the job, by hammering the last nails into the Labour Party’s coffin. They will change the name again soon. Just watch.
REDFLAGFLYING 
I’m sure it is no consolation but the left has been dead in America for years. The “New Left” had one fatal flaw; it forgot the workers. Regards
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You are right Frank, they certainly did. Thanks for the comment.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think Europe is socialisms best chance, wait and see, but as you say there are no socialist parties left in the UK anymore. I think the last chance went with John Smith. Vote Green, you know it makes sense 🙂
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Cheers Eddy. Julie voted for the Greens, but they lost their deposit in this constituency, and have one MP nationally, so they are unlikely to change anything in my lifetime. I don’t know why I keep writing these posts, as they only make me feel worse about what’s going on!
Take care mate. Pete.
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The Greens was a joke to be honest, they need more thought and a serious manifesto, but my comment about Europe is serious. More and more governments within Europe are leaning towards the left, even if the exceptions are extreme, and this will filter down to the UK as EU directives supporting workers and more socialist values….just wait until the next financial crisis, it’s on the way!
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If there’s any consolation, it’s not only in England that the Labour Party has chosen the wrong direction.
We don’t have a television, but you made it vividly clear what went on, thank you, Pete.
I found the results of the last election surprising, to put it mildly. 😉
Best wishes from Cley, almost back in Bonn,
Dina x
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Thanks Dina. You didn’t miss anything not having a TV, except the look on the faces of all those who lost their ‘safe’ seats!
Hope all goes well back in Bonn.
Love from Beetley, Pete and Ollie. X
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