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.