Sunday, May 18, 2008

Out of touch Labour




Thank god I'm not actually a labour party supporter, although as a liberal whose slightly to the left, I find their current state very depressing.

Gordon Brown, now prime minister has proved to be even less charismatic and in touch with the British people than he did as Chancellor of the Exchequer. So much for prudence and a steady hand on the economy, last week's desperate tax giveaway shows how weak labour are.

The fact is labour have been living a lie, during the Blair years, when they unreservedly sold their soul, to big business with the cost been borne by working people who've had to bear the brunt of the importation of cheap labour.

Next week labour will undoubtedly lose the Crewe by election, and its interesting to see how leading labour figures such as Cherie Blair and John Prescott have published their grim little biographies, I for one have not had the stomach to read anything other than headlines from the newspapers concerning these books, John Prescott cheated his wife and family (and I assume the British public) and for that reason I have no interest or sympathy with the man and just glancing at reference to Cherie Blair forgetting her contraceptive equipment sounds about as frightening as things can get. Since I know little about Catholicism, the mind boggles as to the contraceptive equipment, what was it, maybe a blow-up priest, that stares at you, early night?.

The rather indecent rush to cash in on their time in office by Tony Blair's former colleagues, wife and not least himself, has shown just how committed they were to the labour party and how sincerely their commitment was to the working people that created the party.

5 comments:

  1. The national and local scenes interestingly mirror each other, Tony. The local labour politicians are desperate for media time to show themselves in a good light, and try and use the media to show their opponents in a bad light. Now some of their opponents seem to make it easy for them, but their desperation is showing all around the edges right now.

    I have no doubt Clive Hart sees what he does exactly as he describes, which is that the interests of the people of his ward are entirely in line with the wishes he has for himself and his own career.

    His standing down from a shadow cabinet job at county is an interesting decision, a wonderful variant on the traditional spend more time with my family, he wants to spend more time with his voters. I suspect he jumped before he was pushed, as a shadow member he has made virtually no impact, asked few questions of any worth and made no notable speeches offering any real alternatives: in short has proved less than able to carry out a strategic role.

    Its interesting that Steve Ladyman, no longer good enough to be a minister in a labour government, is apparantly good enough for the people of Thanet; and now Clive, unable to cope with a shadow cabinet role at county, is still good enough in labour eyes for Margate and Cliftonville. What an interesting electoral rallying cry - labour's best, second best; good enough for you....should prove to be an interesting electoral season to come!

    Truth to tell, local labour is looking just like national labour - old, tired, in need of decent ideas and capable people, desperate to hang on to any vestige of power they hold.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's just labour that are out of touch? Our concil does not listen to residents views and carries on regardless. TDC just need to look at the state of Margate, empty shops, replaced by artistic nonsense, excessive parking charges, a visitor from Brighton this week commented on how high the charges were and what has happened to the town? Also tdc are complaining how much rubbish was left on Viking Bay, our obeservation was their employees spent most of the day sitting around, and then when they did empty the bins it took one to lift the lid off and another to take the bag of rubbish out, casual staff are not suitable. I am a conservative voter, but this council certainly looses my vote. Even outsiders ask why do we put up with this council?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Did the Council take advice on the new retail units on the harbour. According to the decorators the sea spray is a problem and is constant. Surely no business will suceed there due to sea waves and the horrible smell of the harbour due to lack of dreadging. Anyway looking forward to eating my meal sitting on the habour front, food and coffee maybe abit salty, nice smell and we will need an umbrella.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chris I have to agree that labour politicians do seem to concern themselves more with knocking the opposition, and maybe a certain amount of preening rather than actually coming up with any policies or initiatives themselves.

    Although that said Chris, certainly your colleagues in Kent seem to reliant for substantial parts of policy on officers, too much for my liking.

    It is a worry that local labour politicians, whom I occasionally attempt to goad into response, by highlighting Labour's abandonment of working people, seem unable.

    I can well understand that someone of say Stephen Ladyman's stature, might well not indulge in the lower level, debate with the likes of me (an why should they when there hobnobing further up the food chain) but it really is a remarkable, that local labour councilors are incapable of defending their party and policies.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Re C.Wells, the way things are going in Thanet, decline, busineses closing, overdevelopment, drop in centres/libary etc Despite the rise of the torys nationally, on a local level the consevatives here should be on hiding at the next elections as the residents here are becoming increasingly fustrated with the actions of Tdc and inability to listen etc.

    ReplyDelete