Today is the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Harold Macmillan.
On the extent of public ownership, and on the proper role of trade unions, he was well to the left of Jeremy Corbyn.
In 1984, his maiden speech in the House of Lords received a standing ovation that was all but unprecedented, if not actually so.
He had bemoaned the polarisation of society, ridiculed the origins of monetarism, and called the striking Durham miners "the best men in the world", not least for the part played by the Durham Light Infantry in the two World Wars.
By very stark contrast, the present Leadership of Durham County Council has closed the DLI Museum, and intends to sell the land for luxury housing.
It is probably too late to do anything about the first part of that.
But the second part might just about be preventable, when Labour is cleared out of Durham County Council this coming May.
And replaced, at least in Leadership positions, with people who support, and who are supported by, Jeremy Corbyn, Champion of the Teaching Assistants.
On the extent of public ownership, and on the proper role of trade unions, he was well to the left of Jeremy Corbyn.
In 1984, his maiden speech in the House of Lords received a standing ovation that was all but unprecedented, if not actually so.
He had bemoaned the polarisation of society, ridiculed the origins of monetarism, and called the striking Durham miners "the best men in the world", not least for the part played by the Durham Light Infantry in the two World Wars.
By very stark contrast, the present Leadership of Durham County Council has closed the DLI Museum, and intends to sell the land for luxury housing.
It is probably too late to do anything about the first part of that.
But the second part might just about be preventable, when Labour is cleared out of Durham County Council this coming May.
And replaced, at least in Leadership positions, with people who support, and who are supported by, Jeremy Corbyn, Champion of the Teaching Assistants.
He has stated today that Tony Blair would never be a Labour parliamentary candidate while he himself was Leader.
One of Corbyn's closest allies was kept out of Parliament by Blair 20 years ago. What goes around, comes around.
One of Corbyn's closest allies was kept out of Parliament by Blair 20 years ago. What goes around, comes around.
I cannot imagine that Constituency Labour Parties were queueing up to select Blair, anyway. But my offer to him still stands.
There will be an open seat right here in his old County Durham stomping ground in 2020.
I am putting up for it. There is nothing to stop him from giving me a run for my money.
Or he can stop interfering in British domestic politics.
Do you REALLY believe Labour is going to be "cleared out" of DCC this May? Frankly, some loss of seats may occur, such is the state of the party nationally, however, the idea it is cleared out (your words) seems like something you, as a clever man, would know. Do you say this and mean it or is it just opportunistic and spinny? Either way I understand, I'm just curious whether you really believe it. How do you define cleared out? No seats? Fewer seats? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVastly fewer seats. Enough to deprive them of any kind of power. But no, nothing to do with the party nationally. Not here, where that has never had any impact. Until now.
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