Necessary Preliminary Actions

Of course John McDonnell will expect the Treasury to educate itself in the theoretical basis of his economic policies. 

And of course the Treasury will need to do so. 

McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn have opened up the debate on economic and foreign policy for the first time in a generation. 

Before the summer of 2015, Britain had an unquestionable State ideology in international affairs and in relation to the architecture of the economy.

It was occasionally possible to make a small and probably jocular criticism of the Government. But it was effectively forbidden to criticise the State. 

Corbyn has brought onto the platform the voices of opposition in principle to politically chosen austerity and to wars of political choice. 

Nevertheless, he has overlooked his supporters by appointing his enemies to front bench and other positions. 

He has permitted a free vote on Syria. He has whipped an abstention on Trident. He has never brought the arming of the Saudi war in Yemen back to the floor of the House of Commons for another vote. 

His housing and transport policies go nowhere near far enough. He supports the Government’s indulgence of gender self-identification. He sides with neoliberal capitalism on the issues of drugs and prostitution. 

He wants a Customs Union with the EU, possibly even at the price of accepting its State Aid rules. He is open to a second referendum on EU membership. 

He has accepted some of the Government’s baseless and collapsed claims about Salisbury, Amesbury and Douma. 

He has acted against the social and ethnic cleansing of Labour Haringey, but not to secure justice for the 472 Teaching Assistants in Labour Durham. 

He has failed to prevent the expulsion of distinguished black activists from the Labour Party on trumped up charges of anti-Semitism. 

And he has failed to defend either Kelvin Hopkins or Chris Williamson.

Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it.

It has become a local commonplace that I am on 30-30-30 with Labour and the Conservatives here at North West Durham, so that any one of us could be the First Past the Post.

I will stand for this seat, if I can raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.