Neither here nor anywhere else have I ever written anything that has generated the response that I have received to my post offering to stand for Parliament wherever, if anywhere, the most people asked me to do so. It has really and truly chimed with what so very, very many people have been feeling ever since the workfare vote.
I have not seen or heard the like since 10 years ago, in the immediate run-up to, and then in the early days of, the war against Iraq. You really do not have to be Hard Left (heaven knows, I am not), you do not even have to regret the fact that Labour is going to win the next General Election (I am very glad that that is the case), to feel that they will be needing some people to keep the closest of eyes on them. And not only one man, let me assure you.
I have not seen or heard the like since 10 years ago, in the immediate run-up to, and then in the early days of, the war against Iraq. You really do not have to be Hard Left (heaven knows, I am not), you do not even have to regret the fact that Labour is going to win the next General Election (I am very glad that that is the case), to feel that they will be needing some people to keep the closest of eyes on them. And not only one man, let me assure you.
Several of the Blue Labour lot, and other sound people known to me, ought to be contesting the 2015 Election, and I wish that several more would; details to follow as and when I have them.
In addition, among sitting MPs, I should be disinclined to stand against anyone whose names appeared in normal script on any of the following three lists, I certainly would not stand against anyone whose name appeared in italics because they are on two of them, and given the opportunity I should actively campaign to re-elect either of those whose names appear in bold italics because they are on all three. I speak only for myself on this.
In addition, among sitting MPs, I should be disinclined to stand against anyone whose names appeared in normal script on any of the following three lists, I certainly would not stand against anyone whose name appeared in italics because they are on two of them, and given the opportunity I should actively campaign to re-elect either of those whose names appear in bold italics because they are on all three. I speak only for myself on this.
And do not believe in retirements until you see them: anyone who is italicised here must be positively prevented from retiring at least unless assuredly to be replaced with someone who would also have been italicised if an MP in this Parliament; anyone who is bold italicised here must be
positively prevented from retiring at least unless assuredly to be
replaced with someone who would also have been bold italicised if an MP in
this Parliament.
The mainland MPs who voted against the war in Libya:
Graham Allen (Nottingham North), John Baron (Basildon & Billericay), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), Barry Gardiner (Brent North), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Hall Green), Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion), John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington), Linda Riordan (Halifax), Dennis Skinner (Bolsover), Mike Wood (Batley & Spen).
Graham Allen (Nottingham North), John Baron (Basildon & Billericay), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), Barry Gardiner (Brent North), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Hall Green), Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion), John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington), Linda Riordan (Halifax), Dennis Skinner (Bolsover), Mike Wood (Batley & Spen).
The Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs who did not vote in favour of same-sex "marriage" (a position which in their cases we may be confident that they really do hold, unlike anarcho-capitalists who might happen to have Constituency Associations out of The Archers):
Norman Baker (Lewes), Dame Anne Begg (Aberdeen South), Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed), Joe Benton (Bootle), Gordon Birtwistle (Burnley), Gordon Brown (Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill), Rosie Cooper (Lancashire West), David Crausby (Bolton North East), Alex Cunningham (Stockton North), Sir Tony Cunningham (Workington), Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton), Brian Donohoe (Ayrshire Central), Bill Esterson (Sefton Central), Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South), Pat Glass (Durham North West), Mary Glindon (Tyneside North), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Hall Green), Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe & Sale East), Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney), David Heyes (Ashton Under Lyne), Jim Hood (Lanark & Hamilton East), Martin Horwood (Cheltenham), Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye & Lochaber), Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow), Jim McGovern (Dundee West), Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde), Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr), Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), George Mudie (Leeds East), Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West), Paul Murphy (Torfaen), Stephen Pound (Ealing North), John Pugh (Southport), Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East), Frank Roy (Motherwell & Wishaw), Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall), Jim Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire North), Gavin Shuker (Luton South), Sarah Teather (Brent Central), John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross), Stephen Timms (East Ham), Derek Twigg (Halton), David Ward (Bradford East), Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central), Mike Wood (Batley & Spen), Shaun Woodward (St Helens South & Whiston).
Norman Baker (Lewes), Dame Anne Begg (Aberdeen South), Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed), Joe Benton (Bootle), Gordon Birtwistle (Burnley), Gordon Brown (Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill), Rosie Cooper (Lancashire West), David Crausby (Bolton North East), Alex Cunningham (Stockton North), Sir Tony Cunningham (Workington), Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton), Brian Donohoe (Ayrshire Central), Bill Esterson (Sefton Central), Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South), Pat Glass (Durham North West), Mary Glindon (Tyneside North), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Hall Green), Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe & Sale East), Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney), David Heyes (Ashton Under Lyne), Jim Hood (Lanark & Hamilton East), Martin Horwood (Cheltenham), Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye & Lochaber), Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow), Jim McGovern (Dundee West), Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde), Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr), Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), George Mudie (Leeds East), Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West), Paul Murphy (Torfaen), Stephen Pound (Ealing North), John Pugh (Southport), Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East), Frank Roy (Motherwell & Wishaw), Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall), Jim Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire North), Gavin Shuker (Luton South), Sarah Teather (Brent Central), John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross), Stephen Timms (East Ham), Derek Twigg (Halton), David Ward (Bradford East), Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central), Mike Wood (Batley & Spen), Shaun Woodward (St Helens South & Whiston).
The mainland MPs who voted against the retrospective legislation relating to workfare:
David Anderson (Blaydon), Nick Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East), Richard Burden (Birmingham Northfield), Katy Clark (North Ayrshire & Arran), Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and Falkirk East), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), David Crausby (Bolton North East), Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West), Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton), Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr), Bill Esterson (Sefton Central), Paul Flynn (Newport West), Mary Glindon (Tyneside North), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Hall Green), Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe & Sale East), Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney), John Healey (Wentworth & Dearne), Kate Hoey (Vauxhall), Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North), Stewart Hosie (Dundee East), George Howarth (Knowsley North and Sefton East), Ian Lavery (Wansbeck), Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith), John Leech (Manchester Withington), Elfyn Llwyd (Elfyn Llwyd), Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion), Angus MacNeil, Fiona Mactaggart, John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington), Jim McGovern (Dundee West), Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), Austin Mitchell, Madeleine Moon, Grahame Morris, Sandra Osborne, Teresa Pearce, Linda Riordan (Halifax), Angus Robertson (Na h-Eileanan an Iar), Steve Rotheram (Liverpool Walton), Jim Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire North), Dennis Skinner (Bolsover), Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South), Derek Twigg (Halton), Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North), Mike Weir (Angus), Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire), Eilidh Whiteford (Banff & Buchan), Hywel Williams (Arfon), David Winnick (Walsall North), Mike Wood (Batley & Spen).
This is not to say that I do not believe that anyone ought to put up against these MPs, especially the Lib Dems.
For example, I do not doubt the principles of Sarah Teather on the marriage issue, but I do not see any reason why Labour ought not to confirm her fears and stand a leading local black pastor against her.
I do not doubt the principles of Gordon Birtwistle and John Pugh on the marriage issue, but I do not see any reason why Labour ought not to confirm her fears and stand Northern Catholics of the old school against them.
I do not doubt the principles of Charles Kennedy and John Thurso on the marriage issue, but I do not see any reason why Labour ought not to confirm their fears and stand staunch Highland or Island Presbyterians (or Catholics, depending on the local circumstances) against them.
Provided, in all five cases, that those candidates would also have voted against the war in Libya, with everything that that entails, and would also have voted against the retrospective legislation on workfare, with everything that that entail. None of those five figures would be difficult to find. If Labour does not find them, then someone else ought to do so.
I should of course be interested to hear of campaigns and causes of local importance in areas where people were interested in having me.
Nationally and internationally, this is a chance to bring to the floor of the House of Commons, and to use the platform provided by membership of that House in order to make, proposals such as those set out here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here, to name but a few. These are the practical expressions of the broader and deeper philosophy set out, at least in part, here.
David Anderson (Blaydon), Nick Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East), Richard Burden (Birmingham Northfield), Katy Clark (North Ayrshire & Arran), Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and Falkirk East), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), David Crausby (Bolton North East), Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West), Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton), Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr), Bill Esterson (Sefton Central), Paul Flynn (Newport West), Mary Glindon (Tyneside North), Roger Godsiff (Birmingham Hall Green), Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe & Sale East), Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney), John Healey (Wentworth & Dearne), Kate Hoey (Vauxhall), Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North), Stewart Hosie (Dundee East), George Howarth (Knowsley North and Sefton East), Ian Lavery (Wansbeck), Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith), John Leech (Manchester Withington), Elfyn Llwyd (Elfyn Llwyd), Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion), Angus MacNeil, Fiona Mactaggart, John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington), Jim McGovern (Dundee West), Michael Meacher (Oldham West & Royton), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), Austin Mitchell, Madeleine Moon, Grahame Morris, Sandra Osborne, Teresa Pearce, Linda Riordan (Halifax), Angus Robertson (Na h-Eileanan an Iar), Steve Rotheram (Liverpool Walton), Jim Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire North), Dennis Skinner (Bolsover), Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South), Derek Twigg (Halton), Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North), Mike Weir (Angus), Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire), Eilidh Whiteford (Banff & Buchan), Hywel Williams (Arfon), David Winnick (Walsall North), Mike Wood (Batley & Spen).
This is not to say that I do not believe that anyone ought to put up against these MPs, especially the Lib Dems.
For example, I do not doubt the principles of Sarah Teather on the marriage issue, but I do not see any reason why Labour ought not to confirm her fears and stand a leading local black pastor against her.
I do not doubt the principles of Gordon Birtwistle and John Pugh on the marriage issue, but I do not see any reason why Labour ought not to confirm her fears and stand Northern Catholics of the old school against them.
I do not doubt the principles of Charles Kennedy and John Thurso on the marriage issue, but I do not see any reason why Labour ought not to confirm their fears and stand staunch Highland or Island Presbyterians (or Catholics, depending on the local circumstances) against them.
Provided, in all five cases, that those candidates would also have voted against the war in Libya, with everything that that entails, and would also have voted against the retrospective legislation on workfare, with everything that that entail. None of those five figures would be difficult to find. If Labour does not find them, then someone else ought to do so.
I should of course be interested to hear of campaigns and causes of local importance in areas where people were interested in having me.
Nationally and internationally, this is a chance to bring to the floor of the House of Commons, and to use the platform provided by membership of that House in order to make, proposals such as those set out here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here, to name but a few. These are the practical expressions of the broader and deeper philosophy set out, at least in part, here.
I broke down and wept when you were too ill to run for North West Durham last time, especially with the papers all signed and everything. A lot of us who knew you from school felt the same, so did plenty of other people round here.
ReplyDeleteYes we got Pat and she is very good. Where had the Labour Party been hiding her, no-one had ever heard of her but she had been living in Lanchester since the 70s? Waiting for Neil Fleming instead I suppose. Still waiting today. LOL.
Parliament needs you though. Good luck finding someone to take you on, you are showing great humility doing it this way. You are an inspiration, you always have been.
Yes we got Pat and she is very good. Where had the Labour Party been hiding her, no-one had ever heard of her but she had been living in Lanchester since the 70s? Waiting for Neil Fleming instead I suppose. Still waiting today. LOL.
ReplyDeleteNow, that's not nice. That's not nice at all.
Otherwise, though, you are very kind.
David, do you think that people who knew you from school with felt like breaking down and weeping when they found out that you were too ill to stand for Parliament?
ReplyDeleteIf they say so.
ReplyDelete