Friday, 31 January 2020

North England

There is much mirth over Sajid Javid's use of "North England" to describe the utterly foreign country that he is visiting for today's Brexit Day Cabinet meeting in Sunderland, where the referendum result for Leave shook the money markets, although it must be said the Conservatives still did not win a seat there.

But if Keir Starmer were Leader of the Labour Party, then we could draw a line from the Wash to the Bristol Channel. South of that line, then Labour would want to win, although outside the M25 it would stand little chance of doing so except in university towns. But north of that line, then Labour would not even want to win, although it still might from time to time, notably on Merseyside while Boris Johnson remained Leader of the Conservative Party.

The Labour Right does not want the Red Wall back. It never liked North England, anyway. But we do have the Internet these days, too, and the ideas are swirling. Even only of the ones that have managed to reach me, there is serious talk of our own media by Christmas, including a weekly newspaper, a monthly cultural review, and a quarterly academic journal. There is also talk of a fortnightly satirical magazine, but that would require a bit more, well, you know.

If all that mattered now really were social media, then Jeremy Corbyn would be Prime Minister. But instead, we are to have all this, plus a new political party, and a new think tank. Oh, yes, watch this space. The 2020 Vision, indeed. Keir who? Sajid who? I will be standing for Parliament again here at North West Durham next time, so please give generously. In any event, please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.

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