I struggle with them, to be honest. Convictions are easy to have if you if you don't have to implement them. Everything Benn did when he was actually a minister was a disaster. Corbyn would be even worse, as he is essentially a campaigner, born to oppose from the moral high ground. I have got a lot of sympathy for some of their ideals, and was very impressed by Benn's "Arguments for Socialism" as a youngster. But I have long since realised that the type of society that these blokes want requires 95% plus of the population not only to agree, but actively support them. In a democracy it's never going to happen, and would probably be a disaster (and a self righteous, priggish one at that) if it did. Glad they exist though, it's important to have a broad spectrum of idea around. My heroes are pragmatists, like Bevan, Attlee, Bevin, Morrison who reshaped a country in the most desperate state in such a way that its taken 70 years for bits of it to unravel. I would feel more confident of this if I could think of a single person to fill this role. If Corbyn wins they will oust him within 2 years as their poll figures plummet.
and another thing...Jeremy Corbyn is the only candidate not have smoked the dreaded weed at college..or indeed anywhere (according to him). The other three were puffing away for England in their student days and, yes, inhaling
It really doesn't matter who wins this election, the bottom line is too many in the Labour Party don't want the 'middle ground' and can't see that anything to the left of that just won't get them elected. I'm sure the majority of the party blame the electorate rather than themselves for the defeat and until they wake up and smell the coffee they will be an irrelevance. The fact so many of the new intake are already showing their 'union' tendencies suggests things will get a lot worse before they get better. Ultimately they may end up ensuring we have a Tory government for the next ten years as they resemble the Tories in the late 90s...
I think the plan is for Umunna to take over when they have a serious chance of winning. He's the golden boy.
I'm sceptical of anyone who can go through a whole university education without taking any drugs at all.
One of Corbyn's core policies is to take the Railways and Utilities back into public ownership. It seems to me that this would very popular with the electorate, but no-one else in high Labour echelons would dare to advocate it for fear of being accused of being 'old Labour'. If Corbyn's candidacy does nothing more than to allow these taboos to be challenged it will have been worthwhile.
Post #360 line 7. I met Corbyn once, before he became an MP, before the 1983 election. He was canvassing in support of the local candidate in Crouch End. They came into The Queens, now an identikit gastropub but then a spit and sawdust boozer (well before Crouch End was gentrified). The local candidate was a caricature hard left Labour candidate woman, and they were both wearing their militant tendency badges telling us what we should think. For someone who was no fan of Thatcher it was a depressing moment to realise that I couldn't bring myself to vote for these jokers.
I'd love to see a Labour government in charge of the railways. I think I'd have to get on the next train to Wolverhampton to get there in time for the away match.
I'm not so sure about the railways thing. This was heavily subsidized so how much would taxes have to rise to fund this?
It's old school Labour. Tax the **** out of anyone who earns more than a pittance and then wonder why no one strives to work harder.
I'd go for 3 of the 9 - rent control, living wage and reducing tuition fees (actually I would get rid of them entirely and vastly reduce University intake). The nuclear weapons one is nice, but you can't de-invent something that exists. How much would renationalising the railways cost? Just make them better, don't waste time on management structures. 75% tax for those who earn more than £1m is pure envy politics, it would have a minimal impact on revenue. The top 1% of earners already pay more than 30% of all income tax. Scrapping the 50% rate cost £100m according to the OBR. The Iraq and Syria ones I am aware that I hold a minority position on.......
I'm not sure I agree with rent controls either. End of the day it's just supply and demand and anyone who can afford to save up for a second home to rent out should be rewarded a market rate for doing so. Agree with the above about envy politics and that tuition fees should be reduced at least for bright kids. It's far too easy for any thick as **** teenager to go and do a pointless degree at Bolton University after getting 3 Ds at A Level. It's become a lifestyle choice to avoid work.
Would a government run it better? I don't know if I'd trust them to. Rail travel is generally pretty good value I think. The underground is madly expensive but to get from Watford up north always seems reasonable unless you're buying on the day. I used to work in Manchester Monday-Wednesday and my train to Manchester return was something like £40.
It doesn't have to cost anything - just don't renew the franchises. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jake-hurfurt/renationalising-railways_b_5611357.html
