Whilst the nation's press and TV have been concentrating on other matters, in a smoke filled room (somewhere in Islington) the Labour Party have just elected a new 'leader'.
In a country where there is now only one viable political party, one tends to forget the 'also rans'. Can anyone name the leader of the Lib Dems, or UKIP, or the Social Democrats, or even the Greens? Probably not.
However, in amongst all these smaller parties is the Labour Party (remember them?), who have recently exchanged their Marxist leader for a North London, Champagne Socialist, of the Blair ilk.
His name is Sir Keir Starmer; this Knight of the Realm is an ex human rights Lawyer/Barrister. (photo: Starmer right, Corbyn left)
Of course, as is normal with the Labour Party, some are not happy that their strict Marxist credentials look like being camouflaged in order to make the party more electable, and there will no doubt be many casualties as Starmer clears his benches of the more radical voices.
On the other hand he has promised the Corbynite Rebecca Long-Bailey the job as Shadow Education Secretary, and dear old Ed Miliband the job of Shadow Business Secretary (remember him?), David Lammy gets the Justice job (heaven help us), Lisa Nandy becomes Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry becomes Shadow Secretary for International Trade, and Valerie Vaz (sister of naughty Keith) becomes the Shadow Leader of the House. It must be said that poor old Starmer has a rough bunch to choose from for his Shadow Cabinet.
It all makes Boris look like an intellectual God amongst a congregation of angry school children.
Strangely, the only opposition Leader with any clout whatsoever is the highly unpleasant Scottish Nationalist Party's representative Ian Blackford. He may be misguided in his politics, but he's often a worthy opponent, and he speaks coherently.
When Parliament returns to its intended form, it'll be interesting to see how Starmer acts. As an ex-Barrister he should be used to logical debate, and hopefully we'll have no more letters from Doris of Darlington, or from Clarice of Cleethorpes; he'll be far more likely to fire from the hip.
Starmer will have to spend most of his time fighting Momentum. His deputy appears to have the IQ of a garden gnome so I can't see her being any help.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see if they can form a credible opposition but looking at the dearth of talent and intellect I can't imagine they will.
Starmer is (I think) a bright guy, but looking at all those around him, I think he's got a real job on his hands!
DeleteFor now we have coronavirus so the best path is unity. I am not sure how he is going to get on with his own party or how he has changed since he was DPP. He does not strike me as particularly Party Leader material.
ReplyDeleteI had a look at the Labour Party website about the new Shadow Cabinet, and they still look a really unelectable bunch. There is no 'depth' in the party, just one or two front benchers who can speak well at rallies.
DeleteJust popped in to say I am making your pasta dish you posted a few days ago for my lunch today - I will let you know how it turns out. And Happy Easter to you and Lady M.
ReplyDeleteI hope it turns out well; mine was delicious, I'm having something very similar again tonight.
DeleteThe first thing he said after being voted in as leader was that the government should be telling the county when and how we are going to get out of lockdown ?!?!?! I thought that was the most stupid thing to say considering no one knows yet ! I think he realised he shouldn’t have said it as he said yesterday that politics should be put aside and that we all need to work together ! I don’t think he started his leadership very well. XXXX
ReplyDeleteI also heard him criticise Boris for being too slow with certain things. Had he been PM, no doubt he would have followed the same expert advice. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
DeleteKeir Starmer's mother was a nurse and his father was a toolmaker. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth like most of the Tory cabinet. He passed the 11+ before entering Reigate Grammar School when it was a non-paying state school. Then he went on to gain a first class law degree from the University of Leeds. Johnson only got an upper second at Oxford for he was a lazy, disorganised student. In my opinion it is most unfair to refer to Keir Starmer as a "champagne socialist". He has worked hard, with dignity, good grace and noble beliefs to become the fairly elected leader of the Labour Party - the process being infinitely more rigorous and lucid than anything that happens in the Conservative Party.
ReplyDeleteYou let yourself down in comparing him to Johnson. Your argument and explanation would have been fine as stand alone. You cannot resist a jibe at every turn, your downfall I'm afraid.
DeleteBoris was awarded a Scholarship to Eton, and another to Balliol; possibly the two most coveted, and difficult awards to obtain. I hope you're not suggesting that both of these awards were not down to hard work.
DeleteRachel, socialism runs deep in this one. I remember him voting for Jared O'Mara. Nasty is what they are.
DeleteSmoke filled room sounds very anti social. They should keep distance and meet on the internet.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was 'beer and sandwiches'; who knows.
DeleteWearing masks in group therapy I hope. Not that masks can stop a virus 1/100th diameter of a grain of salt.
DeleteI normally know about such matters but this change I missed. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMost did, Andrew. You're not alone.
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