A defeated American presidential candidate once said, when asked about the election result, "the people have spoken, --- the B------s"
That's how I feel right now, following the England/Wales local elections and the election for Mayor of London, particularly the Mayor, how could they ? Boris Johnston ! he will bring the same gravitas as the 'Lord Mayor' brings, the 'Dick Whittington' one.
It wasn't that long ago that parts of London were going up in flames with nightly rioting caused by racial tension.
Now they have elected a Mayor who is to put it bluntly, an ignorant, arrogant racist, his pronouncements at the time of the riots would have poured petrol on the fires. I hope I'm wrong but I fear a long hot summer to come.
The Tories are back in the game and no mistake, an aspect of this which dismays me is the fact that they are just about the biggest collection of privileged politicians ever assembled in the same shadow cabinet, yes it was local elections but these people are not representative of the British people, we have taken a step backwards, we must try to ensure that we turn this round before the next general election.
The result also reminded me of how much money plays a part in the election process, the Tories were able to spend lavishly on the well to do suburbs where their supporters live and the 'Evening Standard' ran a relentless campaign of vilification against Livingstone while the rest of the country were bombarded by an anti Labour media campaign. Add to this mix the fact that Labour are 'mid term' in a 3rd. term Govt. and it becomes predictable, we shall of course be back.
The whole business in fact gets more and more like the USA every time we have elections. Not a healthy thing I.M.O. Remember, 'some of the best political jokes get elected'
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36 comments:
Aw diddums.
any views on the Labour /Tory coalitions running some of Scotlands councils or are they different Tories from the ones you rant against.
Yes you must turn it around, but how?
answers on a postcard to:
Labour Policy Unit
Hungry Caterpillar House
Kiddiewinkie Street
Balamory
Land of Oz
Kiddiewinkie street
(Anonymous) 17:28
Is that two Kiddiewinkie Streets ? Are you writing from the pub ?
“any views on the Labour /Tory coalitions running some of Scotlands councils”
Absolutely, I would wish “a plague on both their houses” but considering the Tories and Nationalists that I know personally I would rather deal with Tories.
Having said that I would argue against coalition with any of them.
There’s only one way to turn it around, we argue our case and we campaign, I would be opposed to killing people to save our skins like Thatcher in the Falklands.
'Johnson is an ignorant, arrogant, racist.'
Terrykins, the guy you're accusing of racism, would this be the same Boris Johnson who's wife is half Sikh, making his children quarter Indian?
And in case you are thinking of wheeling out 'homophobic' as well, let me quote his sister on the subject, 'Boris, homophobic? He went to Eton for God's sake.
Boo hoo.
Boris Johnson's reputation might not be spotless but then again neither is Red Ken's. Surely you aren't suggesting that comparing a jewish reporter to a nazi concentration camp guard is anything but ignorant, arrogant racism??
Terry
When you go to bed at night, do you take with you, a tape recorder on a loop, that constantly recites the words:
Breathe in - Breathe out?
Because your stupidity is such, I fail to understand how else your pea like brain, could make it through the night without external coercion.
So the English and Welsh "hammering" of this New Liebour junta, was all down to Tory money, and had nothing to do with the fact that your own damned party are now truly despised throughout the length and breadth of this Nation?
You'll be back?
O.K. Arnie - See you in the re-runs!!
"just about the biggest collection of privileged politicians ever assembled in the same shadow cabinet"
I looked up the current shadow cabinet on wikipedia a month back, then googled the individuals. About half of them were privately educated. Hardly any were from working class backgrounds.
The days of Ernie and Nye are long gone in the PLP. Labour no longer represent the white (i.e. native British) working class. Look at the way they've been rejected in the Valleys. It would have been anathema once not to vote Labour there. No more. And once people get out of tribal identification, it may never return.
The contempt that Labour have shown for the working class on immigration, law and order, the smoking ban, the 10p tax - it's at last being returned with interest.
Terry,
The Tories may not be representative of the people but, according to 76% of those who voted in the council elections, neither does it seem are the labour government.
There's lots of talk around about a candidate from the left (e.g. McDonnell) issuing a challenge for the Labour Leadership. I trust that you would agree that this should meet with the approval of all Socialists in the party?
"I would be opposed to killing people to save our skins like Thatcher in the Falklands."
Or Blair, in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan - take your pick Councillor.
(Macnasty) 03/05/08
There is really no relevance in any of this, he’s a racist clown no matter what his relatives are.
(Tory boy) 03/05/08
Ken’s remark to the reporter, whose background he didn’t know, was a remark made to an Evening Standard reporter.
If you know about The Evening Standard and Ken Livingstone you will understand why I regard his actions as a model of restraint.
(Anonymous) 04/05/08
Here is an example dear reader of what some people who hate labour are like, have a good look, don’t recoil, force yourself to read it and try to create a mental image of the author. Scary right ?
(Laban) 04/05/08
You can’t manage to hide entirely can you ?
The key words here are ‘immigration’ and ‘white working class’ right ?
(Chris Andrews) 04/05/08
I’m a Labour member of about 35 Yrs. Standing and I see absolutely no genuine evidence of a leadership challenge. The right wing press, predictably fly this kite because they know that some gullible people will buy it. Who could they be ?
(Serpico) 05/05/08
Blair’s adventures were extremely unpopular, that’s why no one has been able to label them populist.
You are exactly the kind of gullible fool that Thatcher roped in with her Falklands adventure, she knew her audience all right when it comes to people like you.
So Councillor, who would you rather see as mayor?
An Eton educated, successful publisher and member of parliament, or a corrupt politician who cosies up to suicide bombers, homophobes and thieves?
"You are exactly the kind of gullible fool that Thatcher roped in with her Falklands adventure, she knew her audience all right when it comes to people like you."
Would that be the adventure after the Falklands was invaded by a hostile force? And before you run off on another anti-Falklands war diatribe, I was present at the capture of Goose Green.
So you can argue all you like. I was there - you were not.
(Serpico) 11:14
Gentle reader here is another example of what passes for debate from my reactionary opponents.
(Serpico) 11:21
“before you run off on another anti-Falklands war diatribe, I was present at the capture of Goose Green”
So what ? You are still a gullible fool, it must be harder for fools like you to justify the deaths.
“I was there - you were not”
I wasn’t at Agincourt, Stalingrad, El Alamein, Vietnam or Salerno either, what’s your point ?
"I wasn’t at Agincourt, Stalingrad, El Alamein, Vietnam or Salerno either, what’s your point ?"
You are just one of those "saloon bar soldiers" you love to accuse others of being.
Some of us love our country, some of us serve our country. Unfortunately there are others who hate and despise our country so much that you do all you can with your lies to try and divide society.
You can't stand it that an Eton educated "toff" has beaten Ken Livingstone to become mayor, you can't stand it that there are people in the Tory party who were Eton educated.
It is inverse snobbery, no more no less.
You are employed to serve all the people of your ward not just the select few whose views you share. Anything less and Ferguslie may as well be twinned with Harare.
"Remember, 'some of the best political jokes get elected'"
How very true Councillor, how very true.
8 answers to valid points that. You bluster and you prevaricate and say nothing in answer.
You are truly New labour to the core and true child of Bliar who you worked to keep in power and kill now millions of innocents. You are a disgrace to the Labour party.
(Serpico) 12:12
“"saloon bar soldiers"
These are the people who brag about fighting, I’ve never done that. Were you in Army Intelligence by any chance ?
“Some of us love our country, some of us serve our country”
It doesn’t take long to retreat to “the last refuge” does it ?
“You can't stand it that an Eton educated "toff" has beaten Ken Livingstone”
I can’t stand it that a reactionary racist bigot is now Mayor of London.
(Daniel Dravot) 12:19
Well done Daniel, you got it first.
(Anonymous) 12:46
Something not quite right here, try again.
Kelly @ 10.26
'This has no relevance.'
Councillor dear, you accused a man of racism who chose to marry a lady who is half Indian and you think this fact has no relevance to your accusation of racism?
Councillor, if it came to the crunch between voting for you and a monkey with a red rosette, I'd go for the monkey every time.
"I can’t stand it that a reactionary racist bigot is now Mayor of London."
Why ever not? Ferguslie has a reactionary racist bigot as Councillor.
Better a reactionary racist bigot, that a reactionary homophobic, anti-semite.
(Macnasty) 15:37
If you marry someone who is half Indian you can’t be a racist - well you learn something every day. I would be worried if a clown like you were to vote for me.
(Serpico) 15:59
Dear reader (Serpico) claims to have been present at Goose Green, re-read his comments and form your own opinion.
Ken DID know the reporters background. When he made his first Nazi comment the reporter said "I'm Jewish". Ken then went on to suggest that this made him a "collaberator" type of jew in the holocaust.
It is disgusting that anyone would defend Ken's remarks like that and you should be ashamed. The fact you are willing to lie about the encounter that was caught on tape and distributed to all news agencies is pathetic.
I for one am glad he is gone.
(Anon (not the original)) 14:29
You are a liar you could work for the London Evening Standard alongside this slime ball journalist.
For your version of events to be true this creep who was sneaking around behind him like a rodent would have had to say “ good evening Mr. Livingstone I’m from the Evening Standard and I’m Jewish, can I ask you some questions”
You must be delighted to have a proper racist now in charge.
No - he first implied he was a Nazi and when he said he was a jew Livingstone then said he was like a jewish holocaust collaberator.
So when he had established that he was a reporter from the ES (from the outset) and then that he was a Jew (half way through) he still made a disgusting comment about genocide.
To claim otherwise is to be attempting to re-wite history. As I said - your defence is unmaintainable as the reporter published the audio online and it is there for all to hear. Why do you find this so hard to accept?
(Anonymous) 07/05/08
I am not questioning what the reporter said on line, I am saying that Livingstone did not know this man’s background at the beginning of this exchange. Had he known this background, this would never happened.
I think his attitude to the Evening Standard has been restrained, I couldn’t care what this man’s background is, he is a gutter rat journalist, I do know that.
No Terry - what I am saying (and what you SHOULD be interested in) is that the reporter held a digital dictaphone under Kens face and asked him a question. This prompted the barrage of anti-semitism.
The reporter then posted this RECORDING of the exchange online. A recording that Ken never challenged and in which you can hear Ken's distinctive tones.
So are you now not ashamed of defending someone with such vile prejudices?
(Anonymous) 12:51
Ken Livingstone is not anti semitic, that’s a slur from someone who is getting desperate.
“So are you now not ashamed of defending someone with such vile prejudices”
Livingstone is not guilty of these vile prejudices, his prejudices in this matter are against this low life gutter reporter. And that’s what I believe.
Anti Semitism is a vile smoke screen, being used against him by other gutter reactionaries.
"Anti Semitism is a vile smoke screen, being used against him by other gutter reactionaries."
Racism is a vile smokescreen used by large-gutted gutter reactionaries.
(Daniel Dravot) 08:08
People like you bandying about accusations of anti Semitism at anyone who disagrees with you are a disgrace.
You besmirch the memory of Jews who suffered and died.
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