The Labour leadership contest throws up 5 candidates who in terms of experience and qualifications are remarkably alike; all 5 have been in Parliament and the Labour Party long enough to know the ropes when dealing with both institutions and all 5 are Oxbridge graduates. In terms of who to pick therefore it would be difficult to choose the smartest, they are also roughly the same age; all 5 are good commons performers and all 5 come across well in the media; some people will obviously claim special preferences for their candidate because they will argue that their choice is in fact smarter, better qualified and more experienced etc, but; I personally think there is not enough between them to decide using such criteria.
How to choose then? For party members there is only one way, what do they stand for and what are their records like on the issues that you as a Labour Party member consider to be significant? 4 of them have similar voting records and comparable opinions on some big issues. These 4 are in favour of the Iraq War, Trident, PR and Reducing Immigration. The 5 th. is opposed to these policies; she is Dianne Abbott; she also described Peter Mandelson as “a source of poison in the government” Her reputation as a staunch Socialist did take a dent when she opted to send her son to a private school, she took flack for this and deservedly so, so much so in fact that some so called left wingers are trying to use that as a motive for not supporting her. I say to them; if you buy this line this you are suggesting that sending your child to a private school is a greater transgression for a left wing candidate than supporting the Iraq War, PR, Retaining Trident and playing the Race Card over immigration. For her opponents that is not a sustainable argument if you are genuinely on the left.
From what I can see she stands where I do on every issue and she is closer to the Labour traditions than any of her opponents. She would take the party in a leftward route, back to our roots in the working class communities and lead the fight back which is urgently needed. She would provide a new impetus; she is a charismatic intelligent fighter for Socialism, oh! and did I mention that she is black and that she is a woman? She and Labour have the chance here to make history let’s go for it.
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26 comments:
May I, on behalf of your more elderly and short-sighted readers, politely ask you stick to this font style and size, it is so much easier to read. I know that as a committed socialist you always have the needs of the elderly close to your heart.
Now, as to the content ... oh hell, I can't be bothered.
(David Duff) 08:50
This is a vast improvement compared with the unintelligible drivel you usually send me, well done.
Hilarious nonsense.
Dianne Abbott is a rather entertaining sideshow to mainstream political issues.
Hypocrisy over education and pure racism over Finnish nurses mark her out as totally unsuitable for any leadership position is indeed as an MP. If a white male Tory MP had said some of the things he has would be a social and political pariah
She makes Gordon Brown look sensible.
You really should grow up.
Simply wonderful and reasoned piece councillor. Well in your mind anyway.
Can I interest you in an apple? In fact, one for you and one for Comrade Dianne. I've got plenty going spare for Bolshevik revolutionaries..
The Tories agree with you Councillor - they would like nothing better than for Dianne Abbot to be elected as the next leader of the Labour Party.
However, for those of us who would like to see a genuine and forceful Loyal Opposition capable of holding the executive to account, the need is for someone with the proper credentials. Mr Cruddas seems to fit the bill admirably; what a shame he is not standing.
(Lady Virginia Droit de Seigneur) 18/07/10
Dianne Abbott has made mistakes who hasn’t? OK maybe you haven’t. I don’t find her a particularly pleasant person but this is political and she is the only genuine left wing candidate, therefore she gets my vote.
(No Moral Fibre) 19/07/10
What is the point of writing this if I don’t understand what you are getting at?
(Caratacus) 07:35
Dianne Abbott is the best candidate; had Cruddas been running I would have supported him. I don’t really care what the Tories say they would claim that about any Labour candidate.
Oh dear,Terry! Andrew Neill ate her alive on This Week.
Not only private schools and racism, but expenses. Nearly £200 quid on a taxi journey, and her an inner London MP!
Andrew is a mate of hers, so Heaven help the lady if Paxman gets hold of her!
She sent her son to a private school beacuse she felt that was what was best for him. She'd like to make it such that all the inner-city schools in London were of a standard where she didn't need to make that choice.
To have not sent her son to the right school when she had the opportunity and ability to do so would have been a deriliction of her duties as a mother.
The more people in the Labour party who actually face up to the reasons why parents choose private education for their children and come to grips with why the state system fails so many parents, the more chance they have of improving it.
I respect her decision to send her son to the private school and am much more concerned by the character of those who would attack her for making it.
(Byeck) 12:05
“Andrew” does not have any mates; if Labour wait to find a sympathetic media or a friendly interviewer then we will wait forever.
(Jim) 12:15
The record of achievement for children sharing her son’s background in her London Borough is deplorable and she could afford to pay so she did. It’s a nightmare choice for any parent on the left who can afford it and who disagrees with private schooling.
"The record of achievement for children sharing her son’s background in her London Borough is deplorable and she could afford to pay so she did. It’s a nightmare choice for any parent on the left who can afford it and who disagrees with private schooling."
Hackney's a Labour-run council. Abbott is a Labour MP. Labour were in power for 13 years. The education system in our inner cities is an ungodly mess. Abbott publicly slagged off Blair and Harman for their choices, yet in private applied to three different private schools. What is it about hypocrisy and sanctimoniousness that you don't understand? Or is it simply that you're just so tribalist in your outlook you can't bring yourself to acknowledge a wrong 'un even when the evidence is staring you in the face?
It's pathetic. One of the many reasons why this former Labour voter will never vote Labour ever again, and I look forward to the day when your cabal of lying, thieving, warmongering, illiberal, bossyboots shysters goes to the wall. I can hardly wait.
Oh do vote for her and let's hope she's elected .. It will guarantee the labour loonies are put of power for years.. go onTel;, go for it!
Kelly @ 1.08
Kelly, the woman is Oxbridge educated. How many of her neighbours share that background?
And is 'deplorable record of achievement' a coded admission that Labour has failed our children?
(Private Widdle) 15:05
I CONDEMNED HER FOR THE SCHOOL THING BUT ONE OF THESE 5 IS GOING TO BE Labour Leader and she is the best of them.
Having read your last paragraph I very much doubt if you were ever Labour but; even if you were I would rather you did not vote for us. We must be doing something right sure enough.
(Andy) 17:38
Why do you say that I wonder?
(Byeck) 18:42
I don’t know how many of her neighbours went to Oxbridge and I am not sure what your point is, not for the first time.
Labour did not fail our children Labour were doing a good job in education but; it is a huge job to turn round hundreds of years of discrimination against the poor.
Just keep your eyes on the Tories if you want to see educational failure 750 new schools cancelled and they are just starting, their own kind will be looked after of course.
Ah the compassion, integrity at the top of the Labour Party knows no bounds. i hope he wins.
"Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds and, as I understand it, that depends on him having less than three months to live, so something has gone badly wrong" Milliband
(Anonymous) 20/07/10
If you don’t like Milliband’s view you can always share mine.
I support the release of Megrahi.
'Mandelson, a source of poison in the government,' according to Diane Abbott
Do you think she's questioning Brown's judgement in bringing him back???
(Byeck) 13:08
No.
Kelly @ 4.09
Do you think she was congratulating the Fife Gauleiter on his choice? Confess I didn't read it that way, but you always have been an original thinker.
What's your view on Brown bringing Lord M back?
(Byeck) 21/07/10
This obsession with Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson is becoming distinctly unhealthy. Mandelson and Dianne Abbott have never exchanged Christmas Cards anyway, why do you find it so difficult to move on? You’ve got a new Tory led Govt. to support get on with it.
Kelly @ 12.31
And your view on Brown bringing Lord M back into government?
You are being rhetorical now.
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