The Labour Leadership Contest

[poliphilo]

Milliband, Milliband, Balls- three unhealthy-looking young men with starey eyes- all deeply compromised by their membership of the last government. I feel a revulsion that is almost physical. I wouldn't care to shake their hands.   

Burnham- I don't know much about Burnham except that he was questioned the other day about his support in government for something he now condemns- and his stuttering defence was that he's a team player and proud of it.

And then there's Abbot- a woman with a mind of her own.

Guess which one of them isn't being taken seriously.

Comments

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

For the record I don't think it is a very bad thing for somebody to tow (or should it be toe?)the party line even though they personally disagree with it. In corporate life it is seen as a virtue, once a decision has been made, to subjugate your views to that of the team which, after all, provides your livelihood. Cases of blatant naughtiness requiring whistleblowing are exempted, obviously.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I favour "toe", but I suppose it could be "tow"- as in "towpath".

I understand what you're saying, but I believe we could do with more parliamentary rebels. If the people who didn't believe in the Iraq war had- like Robin Cook- all elected to stand on principle we might have been spared that particular piece of wickedness.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

That might have been a case of blatant naughtiness at senior level - but of course, like us, MPs were all sold the story of the Weapons of Mass Destruction, so it's not surprising that they rolled over in the end.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

But did they really buy it? I didn't. The inspectors were out there, they weren't finding anything, Hans Blix was saying "give us more time..."

[ibid.livejournal.com]

I think everyone knew. Considering North Korea DOES have wmd and we are not ruching in there in a hurry. I suppose they got rid of Saddam but at what cost?

I like Abbot too and it would be wonderful to get someone with true labour values in.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

WMDs were a convenient excuse- and even Blair has admitted now that that's all they ever were.

It would be great if Labour would elect itself a leader who embodies its historic values.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

It's toe. I used to assume it was all about towing a barge, but it turns out to be a 'standing beside a line with your toes just touching it' metaphor.

I have never done either of these things myself.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Me neither.

Lines are there to be scuffed.

[trixibelle-net.livejournal.com]

three unhealthy-looking young men with starey eyes

Hahaha, v true!

I'd love Abbott to get it, for both the principle and the fact I think she's a top bird. However I know that as soon as she did get it I'd go off her, as I tend to do with all the Lab/Lib folks once they become leaders.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think she'd be a great leader in opposition- which is where Labour is going to be for the forseeable future.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Abbott would definitely get my vote, assuming I had one. :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Frustrating, isn't it!

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

It's the old story -- most men in a male-dominated society really DO take such a woman seriously -- and they fear "a woman with a mind of her own." Hence the dismissal...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Abbot is also unabashedly leftwing. Oh, and to complicate things further, she's black.

[redatt.livejournal.com]

Mr Redatt was canvassed via email by one of the Millibands this evening, but he's already decided he's voting for Abbott. I would to if I were a Labour member.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's good.

Perhaps she has a chance after all...

[redatt.livejournal.com]

I frequently hear that she is very popular with Labour grass roots, but I don't know how much good that will do her. People seem to have a tendency to vote for second favourite candidates when their preferred candidate is perceived to be unpopular in in with less of a chance. Ho-hum.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes. If people would only vote with their hearts- and not tactically- British politics would be very different. For one thing we'd probably have a coalition in which the Lib Dems were the senior partner.