Jeremy Corbyn had barely pulled clear of the congratulatory hug from rivals for the leadership of the Labour Party before they began plunging knives into his back. Part of their attack has been that he’s too ‘socialist’ – can’t have that in the Labour Party – but lately they’ve been excoriating him for his belief that it’s not a good idea to spend £300 billion on a renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. I’m going to resist the temptation to explore the mentality of people who condemn a leader who doesn’t want to wipe out millions of innocent people and forcus on one thing: electability.
Even people who say they like Corbyn say that he will never be British Prime Minister, and the sooner the party gets shot of him, the better for them. Caroline Flint, a prominent anti-Corbynista, was on the telly this morning arguing that there’s no good in having fancy policies that the public don’t like, you’ve got to respond to public opinion if you really want to get into power and do something.
I think that shows a depressing lack of confidence in your own policies and/or in the intelligence of the electorate. There is a period of some five years before there’s another British general election. Wouldn’t it make sense for Jeremy Corbyn – or any other political leader – to set out what it is they have to offer, and try to show people how this would be worth voting for? Five years is a long time, especially in politics.
Or is it that people are so stuck in their views that it doesn’t matter what argument you present, if you’re aiming for a radicial overhaul of how things are organized, you’re on a loser?
I’m optimistic enough to think not. The most obvious example on this island is Sinn Féin. Something similar might be said of the DUP and in Scotland of the SNP, but let’s stick with Ireland. The fact is that Sinn Féin came from virtually nowhere politically speaking and inside a twenty-year period – maybe less – became the major force in nationalist politics in the north. That work done, they turned to the south and have now made themselves one of the three leading parties there. In other words, people’s views and attitudes and voting patterns can be changed. Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it’s near-impossible, but most of the time it can be done.
So I think it’s time the British Labour Party stopped assuming they would be incapable of persuading voters of the worth of Corbyn’s vision of Britain over a five-year period. Maybe if you stopped back-stabbing and got properly behind your leader, your nay-saying might stop drowning out your leader’s message.
maybe hes chasing the muslim vote regarding nuclear deterrents.
You.are.one.sad.man.
Jim. Try.To.Avoid. Isolated.Insult.
Sorry.Jude.
O.K. Jim.
?? What part did you find hard to understand Jim Hunter, before you regressed to personal insult? If its too complex for you, maybe Sky News or the SUN Newspaper might be better for your contributions. You are out of order.
I believe Jeremy Corbyn was elected to try and make in roads again in Scotland more than anything else.
I also believe the SNP will remain the biggest party in Scotland and that Labour will never again be in power in westminster – ever.
There are big changes coming in the UK
What I like about Sinn Fein, is not their socialist policies as I am not a socialist, but the fact that they engage with and listen to the people on the ground and are willing to change with circumstances for the better of the communities collectively.
It isn’t socialism that is making Ireland the fastest growing economy in the EU, OK, it is essentially the Excessive Deficit Procedure enforced by the European commission and its central bank but it isn’t doing Fine Gael any harm electorally either, austerity or not it works and things are looking good as a result just as it did for Germany who went through the exact same sustained austerity and came out the other side doing ok.
Sinn Fein has gone as far as it can on the far left, to grow and get itself in power in the south, it will have to prove itself capable of building on that growth which will require moving towards the middle ground and away from the far left. Much like the recent agreement in Stormont has done.
The south will be out of the EDP conditions next year and once again have access to low level borrowing having come out the other side of the property crash. This needs to be used in economic investment and tax breaks to encourage spending and used wisely to sustain the economic growth.
It is also time to start putting the banks back in control of the private sector. Time to step up and move away from the far left methinks.
Is Sinn Fein really changing voters attitudes, or are they changing themselves to attract the support of voters. I believe and hope it is the latter.
Put the banks back in control? Banks continue to write off bad debt for certain individuals. You owe £3,000, experience how the banks react. The BBC revealed some questionable banking practices recently. If you owe millions, bankers will meet you in the Bahamas and arrange to write off lots of debt. That is why the banks are made of marble with a guard at every door.
“Put the banks back in control? ”
It makes sense for the bank shares to be gradually sold off back to where they were before the bailouts as it will further reduce the deficit and also introduce competition into the market, which will kick-start private sector borrowing, investment and economic growth.
Can such impropriety not be dealt with by suitable regulation rather than stymie economic growth?
There is more to Mr Corbyn’s fancy policies than perhaps meets the eye. The papers are full of the terror threat today. “Terror threat in Brussels…plot to detonate 5 bombs in Hanover foiled…Crimea declares state of emergency…”. For years we have watched and listened to reports about western military intervention in the Middle East yet the incidence of cancers associated with the use of depleted uranium, particularly among children, barely gets a mention.
Ian Warwick Blair, is a retired British policeman who held the position of Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 2005 to 2008. He warns us that “governments fall” when they fail to protect their citizens. His words sound hollow in this part of the world. Waiting lists get longer and people die on trolleys in hospitals. Teachers and junior doctors are discussing industrial action and many others face the prospect of unemployment in 2016. The word “militant” is now being associated with some junior doctors. Ms Flint should seek feedback from the public about staffing shortages in public services. It is not fancy policies that contribute to the crisis in the public services. It is sustained lack of investment which gives rise to the current crisis in the health service, yet Mr Osborne remains determined to reduce welfare budgets. Perhaps the electorate will warm to Mr Corbyn’s fancy policies and reject policies designed to feed the insatiable greed of those in the arms industry, an industry determined to lead more gullible young men and women into yet another armed conflict.
With the strident voices of his own party members in his back, Esteemed Blogmeister, and the sharpened tridents of the Tory party gladiators in their glad rags to the front of him, one suspects that Jeremy Corbyn is a chap knows well the origins of the word ‘terrorism’.
It comes from the French word ‘terrorisme’ and originally referred specifically to state terrorism as practiced by – mon Dieu ! – the French Government during the Reign of Terror of 1793-1794.
Although, ‘terrorism’ originally referred to acts committed by a government, currently it refers to the killing of innocent people for political purposes in such a way as to create a media spectacle.
Right now, even as one writes, the French Government is – Sacre Coeur ! – unleashing a rain of terror from the air down upon the Syrian city of Raqqa. It has attracted the notice of distinguished media outlets as Le Monde and Charlie Hebdo lui meme. It is rumoured that many if not indeed a majority of the residents of Raqqa can be categorized under the heading of VIP (Very Innocent People).
But it is not they who are the intended target of M. Hollande’s Amiot 143s and Douglas A-20 Havocs. Rather is it the G.P.s (Guilty Parties).
However as hairline accuracy is not in the gift of these aerial admonishments it is a toss-up whether this policy of retaliation might be best described as ‘Trial and Error’ or indeed, ‘Trial and Terror’.
To conclude with a head-turning contrast between the treatment meted out to the leader of the opposition in the UK and ditto to his counterpart in the Free Southern Stateen.
Whereas Jerry is being encouraged to relinquish his leadership of the Labour Party by his own membership from behind , so solicitous for the welfare of Sinn Fein are the opponents of the party that they are down on bended knees making a pitch with the membership to (gulp) ditch Gerry.
Is ait an mac an baol.
Well said Jude. An energetic summary. There are too many defeatist Politicos. Corbyn’s vision 25 years ago would have been akin to the then liberal Democrats, but Keynesianism in the new Thatcherite Dystopia has taken the middle ground so far to the right, that anybody left of Gingus Khan as they say, would be regarded as a Communist and a Subversive. I joined the British Labour Party to specifically vote him in. Although a nationalist from the north, I believe in being pragmatic when it comes to the bigger scheme of things, and know rightly that Corbyn and Mc Dowell, are no friend of Irish Unionists. I kept my membership up in case the New Labour(Right) of the party, try to oust him. I remain committed to Irish Unity, but Social issues cross borders and boundaries and a risen Left where Schools and Hospitals are prioritised over weapons of mass destruction, need all constituent groups and individuals working together for the greater good. Larkin and Connolly would definitely concur with this I’m sure. Great Article Jude which cuts to the heart of the matter.
Grma, Francis
Francis, I think there is no denying that keynesian economics works and does not go against the grain of left of centre politics and in fact has Corbyn ever claimed his policies would not follow this principal?
I am quite confident when I say that the economic policies of far left socialism including those aspired to by Larkin and Connolly have been proven as complete failures in all modern societies. Communism has no place anywhere on these islands and has no chance of being accepted by the people in ireland or britain. In fact the tories use this type of language to attack parties like the SNP and labour as they know it will put the electorate off.
Irish unity would also have no chance under such ridiculous ideology and thankfully no party espousing such policies will ever be elected to lead a government in the south so it will quite simply never happen in that way. Sinn Fein need to distance themselves from such rhetoric.
On his stance over military spending I would support him 100% however, is it not more likely to be the SNP that put an end to Trident in Scotland, not Jeremy who is never going to be PM of england.
I wonder if Jude would be making such a fuss if Corbyn wasn’t a close supporter of Sf? still Corbyn is a godsend to the Conservative party as he will destroy the Labour party both in England and Scotland
I admire Corbyn for his stance on Ireland at a time when it was neither profitable nor popular. On the other hand, I’d rather he didn’t succeed in reviving Labour in Scotland. My central point is that to throw up one’s hands in despair five years out from an election because he’s the leader, elected by an overwhelming majority, stinks. And the media who weigh in with a will stink too.
“I wonder if Jude would be making such a fuss if Corbyn wasn’t a close supporter of Sf? still Corbyn is a godsend to the Conservative party as he will destroy the Labour party both in England and Scotland”
It wasn’t Corbyn destroyed the labour party in Scotland neill, if anything, he might have prevented it and I believe there is some hope in labour he will be able to turn things around for them there at least.
It is possible and I am sure he will have some success but to be honest, I think the SNP will be the dominant force there for a long time to come.
Without a strong labour presence, the conservative right wing rebels will argue and push for the brexit.
What impact do you think that would have here neill?
For me Jessica wont have an affect whatsoever.
“For me Jessica wont have an affect whatsoever.”
How so sure neill?
what impact do you think that would have here..
going by the figures all the uk will be better off and that includes us like it or not.
“what impact do you think that would have here..
going by the figures all the uk will be better off and that includes us like it or not.”
Really, what figures are those billy?
I can see how the financial market will be better off which is the UKs wealthiest sector and indeed pays for the rest of the UK.
And the industry in the south of england which benefitted from thatchers growing this industry by businesses moving south to follow the wealth to the detriment of the north of england.
In fact lets even imagine the overall benefits that the growth in the south outweigh the losses in north England, scotland and wales but do you really think they will allow south england to have that level of hold over them?
The effect in the north of ireland would be worst of all, a return to policed borders, the agricultural sector would be finished, business trade cross border slashed, young people would leave in droves.
In short it would be devastating billy.
The referendum is a few years away but I look forward this being discussed in more detail.
I would be surprised if the referendum in Scotland did not include an option for Scotland to stay in the EU and leave the UK in the same referendum.
Perhaps we could do likewise here and discuss reunification at the same time also.
what is this referendum you speak of going to change according to the gfa the union is safe.the scaremongering about farmers and fishermen is exactly that,there are more pluses going for it as cameron has just announced cuts in foreign aid which will be extremely popular with voters.
“what is this referendum you speak of going to change according to the gfa the union is safe.the scaremongering about farmers and fishermen is exactly that,there are more pluses going for it as cameron has just announced cuts in foreign aid which will be extremely popular with voters.”
The GFA allows us to leave the UK when a majority here wish to do so not sure how safe that makes it. The wording for the referendum will need to be discussed here soon and when we have more information, should their be sufficient support for staying in the EU, it would be perfectly legitimate to have reunification on the options list here. The south have already said they will not keep out of this referendum as they did with the Scottish one. It is about time they woke up and got off the fence so that is the first positive change it has made already.
I am not sure how you feel cuts to foreign aid will help us here. Our cuts started some years ago and will continue regardless. When it comes to the crunch will the English see money blew in Ireland any differently.
In reality though, foreign aid is an international agreement, the money goes into a global pot managed by the world bank and allows donor agencies such as difd to tender for work to help build third world economies. DFID have built up the Bangladesh government and are doing great work in Africa. Billions of this money is actually won by UK consultancy firms who deliver the programs so a great deal of this money is coming back in again and UK consultants gain great experience overseas which helps win other international work. This is not money wasted though I agree, voters will see this as a positive thing.
There is too much heart felt decisions here billy, this is exactly why we need more educated and informed discussion.
I certainly have more questions than answers. Well just have to wait and see what happens I suppose.
Hear Hear! Well said Neill, how dare, I say again, how DARE Jude like or support a democratic party, the cheek of him!…..
I don’t know about other people but I always considered the prospect of a nuclear war to be next to nil? Or maybe I’m just a crazy fool who should be locked up in a padded cell along with Neill and his all seeing crystal ball. Or maybe I’m underestimating the stupidity or foolishness of politicians who have access to the big red button that could leave our world a nuclear wasteland for the next thousand or so years.
Speaking of wasteland, that’s exactly where Sinn Fein and the DUP were once upon a time. The political wasteland. Now both parties are the top dogs in the North and have created stable but bumpy government for the past 8 years. Quite an achievement. Especially given the venom both parties have for each other and given the UUP and the SDLP failed to achieve similar stable government and yet they are regarded as the “moderates”.
Sinn Fein has done very well in the South’s elections, they more than tripled their seats in the 2011 election and look set to make more gains in 2016. Indeed, there’s now people saying its a matter of “when”, not “if”, Sinn Fein will be in Government in the South. Again, quite an achievement for a party whose members weren’t even allowed to use their own voices on the radio/tv 25 years ago, never mind being in with a chance of holding senior positions in the Irish Government, maybe even the office of Taoiseach.
So can Jeremy Corbyn become the British Prime Minister? Of course. Is it likely? Its far too soon to say. But one thing I will say is: stranger things has happened. As our Joint/Deputy First Minister proves….
Ok everybody on here will anybody wager with me that Labour will win the next General Election under Corbyn?
Go on Jude bet you £100 that they lose heavily!
Sorry, neill – I bet only with professionals…No, I doubt if he will win it, as things stand. The media in Britain, both press and broadcasting, and his parliamentary colleagues, have done everything within their power to cripple him from the get-go. Much depends on whether the people who elected him overwhelmingly can withstand that kind of onslaught and maintain their support. It’s outrageous that he’s being vilified because (i) he doesn’t dress nice; (ii) he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to shoot on sight; (iii) he doesn’t see himself prepared to obliterate millions of people. What sort of crazed world is British politics?
You a professional who would have guessed it!