New New Next Labour

So the five candidates have been chosen for the Labour Leadership. I'm glad Diane Abbott has a place in the debate, as at least there is some representation for the left of the party and it's backbenches. If Labour is to rebuild itself the debate needs to go beyond populist announcements or distancing themselves from the party's failures. As so far they've said nothing new. They have not yet re-shaped their politics to changed circumstances.

It's a sad representation of our politics though that most of the candidates are career politicians. It's a worrying trend as what do they really know about struggling to meet the bills, what it's like to wait on the NHS, getting on the property ladder? New New Labour sounds like much of the same. Which is disappointing, as who will speak for the little guy if not what many consider the "peoples Party"?

On a related note - Fingers crossed for Ed Ball's winning, there's hours of entrainment to be had.

Labour shows its Balls.
Balls bounces in polls.

New Labour Leadership Contest Underway

So the spectacle of the Labour Party electing a new leader starts. First up is David "Banana Man" Miliband, he hopes the leadership contest would be "open, warm, generous, comradely". Indeed, I'm sure that's what it will be David.

Gordon Brown Has Gone - Cameron Next PM

So Britain has a Lib - Con government and David Cameron as Prime Minster. I've held off posting as I wanted to see the terms of this coalition before writing about it, as they say the devil is in the detail.

Reading through it, I'm quite surprised by how much the Tories have compromised, though a few obligatory and traditional Tory policies. It is a fair balance between the two manifestos. I'm certainly very happy with the civil liberties section, would be happier still, if David Davies was Home Secretary rather than Theresa May, yet I feel fairly comfortable that any illiberal views she may have, won't be supported by this coalition. Most surprising though is how amicable it all seems, perhaps I've gotten too used to seeing politicians squabbling like children.

Yet does this deal mark more than the first between the two parties, does it mark the decline of the Labour Party? If they do pull this off, the Tories could shed the nasty party image, they could move out of the shadow of Thatcher, the Lib Dems will have time in office and a higher profile from that. So where does that leave Labour?

As I watched 13 years of New Labour draw to a close yesterday, I felt a mix of feelings - relief, joyful, happy, elated and a little shocked. Yet I do feel a sense of apprehension about what lays in front of us. I'm certainly not over joyed with Cameron as PM, yet I hope the sting of a Tory government will be damped by the Lib Dems. Only time will time however just who's interest they have and really what kind of government they are. Watching Clegg's speech today though, I admit, a smile crept across my face and a sense of hope I haven't felt about politics in a long time surfaced, just a little though.

Gordon Brown To Resign

Gordon Brown has announced he will resign as Labour leader, I, as I'm sure many will rejoice the era of Brown and Blair has gone. That is after all the back stabbing, the leader contest will bring. Yet in resigning Brown has lit the fuse to talks between the Lib Dems and Labour. I truly hope the Lib Dems don't cut off their nose to spite their face. As this looks like it's descending into chaos - no one knows who will be the next leader of the Labour party, yet again they will be "unelected" and to save us from the instability of a minority government, they will give us a minority coalition.

Oh well, let's just savour the moment. Gordon Brown is being thrown to the back benches of good bye political career, so long and thanks for all the fish.

General Election Prediction 2010

It's very difficult to predict this election, polls are like a boat on a stormy sea, moving back and forth, up and down. In some ways it hangs on Labour's core vote being motivated to go out on the 6th. If the bottom drops out of their base vote, much like the EU elections, they could lose very badly indeed. Also the Lib Dem factor here is unknown, though clearly support has risen, will that translate into seats? As the Lib Dems are at a disadvantage to start with, they have the least amount of seats and much ground to cover.

It has become clear that Labour are going to lose, so the question is how badly? On the bases that Labours core vote sits on their hands or protest votes, a Tory win with a small majority of 10 to 20 seats. If they don't, still Tories, but with minority government, so hung parliament. If it's small enough the Tories may form a coalition with the nationalist parties. If not they'll form with the Lib Dems. I don't see the Lib Dems forming a coalition with Labour to keep the Tories out, that wouldn't be very liberal at all.

It's odd for me as someone who isn't an aligned voter, as a tribal political attitude could be what this election hangs on. I have never understood voting for 'X' party out of loyalty. My Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather (etc) vote was there own, not mine. Which is frustrating, this election result might, just might, lead to the biggest change in British politics for a 100 years. It also be the last Westminster election fought under first-past-the-post. If Labour poll 3rd but get more seats than the Lib Dems or the Tories form a government with less than 40% of the vote, it's hard to see just how there isn't a very strong argument for changing the way we vote.

Yet what stands between that is the question - how loyal will people be?

Poltical Posters Labour and Tory - Part 5

These should be the last couple of posters released. Labour have left there's quite late.

Labour's new poster launched to the sound of a car crashing, I'm sure no reflection on them at all. It's colourful and positive, unlike Gordon Brown at the last debate. Given lowering education standards, I wonder how old the child is though?

It makes the Labour Party look like the family party, a good tactic. Simple and too the point, just not very original. They have played it very safe.



Another Tory poster released to strike fear into people and yes we know you want to win Dave, don't need to rub it in.

Just a bit of hung parliament scaremongering. A waste of paper and I thought the Tories were Green?

Labours Censorship Of Comments

I was watching Labours animated manifesto on Youtube and was struck by the statement, "we like people with opinions" within their "active democracy" section. So I thought I would test this, I posted a comment:

So you plan to do in 5 years what you promised to do in the last 13, with no money, only debt you've created. That sounds so achievable.

It may surprise you to know it was rejected. I tried another tac:

It's nice to see a policeman on the beat . . . . . . for once.

Nope, another:

Boom and bust, where art thou?

Then another:

Please amend the dialogue to say "we like people with our opinions".

Interestingly other political parties don't censor their comments, seeming to understand that not everyone will agree with you. Yet to take away the voice and criticisms of those that don't, while I hasten to add, inviting comment, is far worse in the long run for democracy, tempers and debate.

Labour Election Manifesto

New Labour shines it's atomic ray's upon the nuclear active family.

Manifesto - [man-uh-fes-toh] - noun - A document that political parties release, which promises you something for your vote. Yet changes at will when they are elected. See bribery.


Update - Another Cover.

Election Pre Budget

Never before has a chancellor said so little in so many words. T'is the season though, which is why it was far better to kick the Tories, than come up with a credible plan to pay off £167bn of debt.

The BBC have a handy summary of the key budget points. Must remember to buy a couple packs of cigarettes and a bottle of cider before Sunday.

A Future Fair For All?

There's a website launched called 'a future fair for all' that is about:

providing people with facts about the last thirteen years, helping you take a long, hard look at Labour.

It's actually quite alarming viewing their record like that, it reads like a judge reading a conviction out.

I Too Was Bullied and Beaten By Brown

It's always strange to me that it's the smaller things that take hold in the media and get whipped into a frenzy, perhaps it's the relatable that people latch on to. Bullying is something which so many have personal experience of, myself included. Which does make this a damaging story to take hold.

The revelations about the rage, despair and indecision inside Number 10, doesn't surprise me. It is shocking to me that Brown essentially has a big fat ego? No. Does it shock me that he doesn't like to take responsibility? No. Brown on his damage limitation rounds said about his "passionate nature":

I think the country wants someone that will push things forward, and not allow things to be stagnant and stale...

Yes that would be nice, where can we find such a person? His indecision is a far worse trait for a prime minster to have, situations don't stop and wait while he ponders what to do. He is unfit for being prime minster because he doesn't take responsibility, just control. His temper/bullying etc is just a by-product of his inability to do his job.

No doubt Brown will weather this as he always has, the only change this will make is if polls drop, then the mystery election date may move. Which is the key factor to this story, how people interpret Ms Pratt's intervention - a breach of confidence or outrage at Number 10?

Political Posters and Slogans So Far - Part 1

What delightful campaign posters from the Tories and Labour to date. In fact so much so I thought I'd take a look them.

• Labour's two face Cameron poster

So off camera Cameron has an even bigger forehead than a Ferengi. Worse still the man is plotting to scrap our right to see a cancer specialist within two weeks. Not something he's put into his manifesto, given the slogan does translate to - the Tories want to kill you - perhaps I'm looking at the wrong section, maybe it's the under reducing the population chapter?

Verdict - Bit rich from Labour, I don't know anyone that hasn't been on waiting lists longer than 2 weeks to see an actual Doctor. A "right" is not a word I would use, "luck" would be more accurate. Hypocritical at best.

• Labours election campaign slogan

"A Future Fair for All"

This slogan was announced along with a speech about knowing that they are inept, but the Tories won't let everyone ride on the roller-coaster at the forthcoming fair. Though given inequality has increased under a Labour government, perhaps they mean- some futures are fairer than others?

Verdict - Gimmicky and joins the ever growing list of slogans generated by the Labour spin machine. The only use it has is allowing Brown to keep repeating his new slogan at every opportunity and like a scratch on a CD, he will. An exhausted and exhausting election technique. Give us a break.

• Conservative "I've Never Voted Tory"

Like a dirty secret you wouldn't want anyone to know, these posters act as declaration, you're not alone if you are thinking of voting scum sucking pigs Tory. Like an alcoholic Julie states it openly for the first time, while her son comforts her and daughter looks like she might vomit.

Verdict - Too manufactured, vanilla and generic. What are they for really? Tell us your plans for families Dave, she may look happy, but does she really know? Does anyone know? Do you know? What a waste of paper.

• Tories - Gordon will even tax you when you die
  

Jumped the gun with this one, as it isn't Labour policy and apparently it wasn't under consideration. But don't let facts stand in the way of scaring people with death. Gordon will steal your money when you die and then bury you in an unmarked grave.

Verdict -"Brown taxing everything" narrative could strike a cord with people, as it is an expression about him so often used. Yet this just fell flat on it's face, badly judged. Another waste of paper.

• What do we learn?

Tories can't communicate their message, they're walking in the dark while hitting their shins on chairs and kicking out at Labour. They really need to be clear and a lot more finely tuned in their campaign. Stop trying to be everything and just be about something.

Labour don't have a lot of money and are it playing safe. Same battle lines as they always draw, evil Tories, cuts etc. Their attack on Cameron is similar to John Major's on Blair, asking voters to question what's behind the public face. This is a good attack, though with Blair being so associated with New Labour, there is only so far they can take this without it backfiring.

New Labour Laptops On EBay

There's a wonderful satire of the Labour laptop give way announced earlier this week on ebay. It's listed as "the latest offering in the "class war" series and will be issued exclusively to "low income" families". It has a Labour election processor and it's primary drive is re-election.

According to the Q & A's it also comes with a CD containing the names of the 25 million taxpayers in this country.

You can read British contempt at it's best here.

Airport Scanner - Coming Soon

Who said this?

I think we all know what they are trying to do. They are trying to use the slaughter of innocent people to cow us, to frighten us out of doing the things that we want to do, trying to stop us from going about our business as normal, as we are entitled to do and they should not and they must not succeed.

When they try to intimidate us, we will not be intimidated. When they seek to change our country or our way of life by these methods, we will not be changed.

No not the words of a crazy blogger about the Labour Party, they are in fact Tony Blair's words after the terrorist attacks on London. As I now read about the full-body scanners that will be installed in airports, yet another terrorist necessity, I'll bear in mind those words as I head to the airport for my nude photo shoot. Because of course the only real choice here is between being groped or being stripped? Yet should people really be humiliated by their government like this? And for how much extra security, really?

Class Wars - Does Anyone Care?

There's been lots of continued talk in the papers about Labour's election tactic being based on 'classes'. The notion being that the Tories are elitist snobby Eton boys who want to bring back fox hunting, in order to use the hounds to hunt down coal miners and those that aren't millionaires that donate to their party. Essentially it plays on the Lib Dems narrative of the Tories sense of entitlement, but New Labour dust off their dead donkey like they always do, to beat it to the rhythm of evil Tories. Which I think must sound a lot like "Things can Only Get Better".

Though I do understand that if those in power had experienced what it's like to live on the poverty line, been unemployed, relied on the NHS/state schooling and so on, that they would have empathy, the idea that some things need to be experienced to be understood. Yet one person could never experience everything in life, the most important point here is having politicians that listen, that very simple notion crosses class, age and wealth. I don't care in the slightest what someone's background is as long as they listen and in doing so speak up for those that elect them.

Largely though it's a very desperate tactic. There is so little different between the parties they're creating the dividing line of class, just when did New Labour start routing for someone other than themselves and banks? Oh that's right, when faced with loosing the election because of that very fact. This election isn't about class difference, there will always be those that look down on others and those that look up with scorn. This election is when distilled down, just about how badly Labour will loose. As people are angry, that is what will define voters agenda.

Iraq Inquiry Starts Tomorrow

Sir John Chilcot kicks off the non judgemental inquiry from tomorrow, in order to identify lessons that can be learnt from Iraq. Of course we wouldn't want to pass judgement on anyone, as that would mean taking responsibility for actions and events.

There is one upside to this is with no position of power to protect him and Labour facing the losing the election next year, Blair has reason to feel a little nervous. The Tories could shift the goal posts, if public opinion strongly shifts against Blair and New Labour in light of what will be disclosed.

It's the hope I hold on to at least. As someone who strongly believes in the rule of law, the fundamental principle that the law is above everyone and it applies to everyone. There little more distasteful to me than seeing Bush and Blair prance about on the world stage while blood covers their hands. They made a mockery of parliament, they made a mockery of democracy. That's before you even consider the human cost and how on earth can that be measured.

Lest we forget.

Hung Parliament

On seeing the recent polling, my first reaction was to grab a paper bag and control my breathing.

Conservatives 37%(-6)
Labour 31%(+5)
Lib Dems 17%(-2)

This is hung parliament territory. That kind of shift in polling I've only seen once recently and that was towards 'others' after the expense drama broke. Labour have done nothing to gain the jump, so I agree with general consensus that it's a rogue poll.

Yet if Labour were party more to the left, if they didn't have Brown in charge, if they didn't have the history they do, I wouldn't be worried about a hung parliament. As it would be the best way to keep the concerns over the Tories cuts, welfare apathy etc in check. Labour however are too similar to make a good opposition party and they really do need to lose power in order to reinvent themselves.

The Queens Propaganda Speech

So the Queen shall be doing a party political broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party tomorrow. A government using the Speech for advantage ahead of an election isn't new, it stinks of desperation though. Nick Clegg has called for the speech to be cancelled and replaced with emergency reforms to "clean up politics". He makes a very valid point that:

The one gift this failed Parliament can give its successor is a fresh start.

They should be using this time to restore trust, it would be the right thing to do. Yet never one to miss an opportunity they're be promising the electorate the moon and stars, while only able to deliver the little paper cut out ones with dog eared edges and mute colours, which they'll grasp in there clammy outstretched hands. What's the point? I like to think British scepticism will win out over such a cheap stunt.

Harman jumped in to defend the Speech, saying it would include measures to boost financial stability, curb "excessive risk taking" in the City, crack down on gang violence and give more help to families caring for elderly relatives. Just like every Labour manifesto for the last 12 years then? Only difference is rather than pushing for less bank regulation, they've done U-Turn now we're bust.

All of this is about grabbing every headline they can before the election starts and coverage will be split between the parties. It doesn't change the underlining point that this government, this parliament and this prime minster have lost the confidence of the public. There are no better words than Cromwell's when he said to parliament:

Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation.

Here, here.

The Rise and Fall of New Labour

The Wardman Wire have posted a video of Liberal Vision’s take on the rise and fall of New Labour. I'm quite surprised by how I felt after watching it, I didn't expect to be so angry and disgusted. Looking over my posts it shouldn't really be a surprise to me. Yet I watched it with a growing sense of it just being so beyond the pale, it's scary that so few can have that amount of power and can do so much damage with it.

You can see it on YouTube here.

Glasgow North East By Election - Result

I lost my bet again, I would usually be humble in defeat, yet given the coverage of what a great victory it was and two losses in a row for me, it's starting to feel like a Brown stealth tax. I think I'll push decorum aside.

It's not a vote of victory for Labour, if they couldn't win that seat they couldn't win anything. A turn out of 33%, the lowest turnout in Scottish by-election history, is voter apathy. Is it really victorious that Labour voters are sitting on their hands on mass rather than voting, that's a shinning endorsement of Brown's policies? What wouldn't be then?

When you take into account apathy it's not a good sign for South of the boarder and it's English seats that win elections, as they account for the largest proportion of them. If they can't mobilise their voters in Scotland, in effect their heartlands, that doesn't bode well for England.