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Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
16. Blairism was nothing but Tory-lite.
Tue Jun 28, 2016, 09:48 PM
Jun 2016

It was based on hatred for Labour values(among which opposition to everything Thatcher did is paramount)and hatred of internal party democracy(after Blair took over, it became pointless to purchase a party membership, because the only reason to be a dues-paying member of a British political party is to have a say in what the party stands for. No one who pays to join a political partyy should ever have to just take what the leader and her or his advisors come up with on policy. The people in Blair's inner circle cared more about driving socialists and socialism out of the party than about making life better.

The voters were never demanding that Labour repudiate EVERYTHING it stood for in the Eighties...that it move to the right of the Tories on defense and on "law and order", that it treat activists as the enemy, that it be just as dismissive of movements for social and economic justice as the Tories were.

Blair did some small good things. But he didn't have to demonize the left to get the chance to do them.

To preface this: I think the rebels are doing the wrong thing, and fiddling while Rome burns LeftishBrit Jun 2016 #1
Trying to understand what's going on. Matilda Jun 2016 #2
A tiny handful aren't, but the overwhelmingly majority are. Ken Burch Jun 2016 #3
It's a bit surreal. Matilda Jun 2016 #4
No, absolutely not. The rebels are about 70% of the PLP, from across the left wing of the spectrum. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2016 #8
If they succeed, there will be no left-of-center proposals in the next Labour manifesto. Ken Burch Jun 2016 #15
Is Corbyn a good leader? Dworkin Jun 2016 #5
I can see where the comparison to Foot could be made RogueTrooper Jun 2016 #20
And I think Corbyn and his team do understand television. Ken Burch Jul 2016 #21
Not particularly IMO; but then neither is anyone likely to replace him LeftishBrit Jul 2016 #22
There are many reasons why Labour imploded in Scotland. Denzil_DC Jun 2016 #6
Easy: because practically every word you've written is a black lie. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2016 #7
Dude, shrieking "Lie!" Denzil_DC Jun 2016 #9
A few points in response. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2016 #10
Ok, forgive the bluntness, but if he's a liar!!!!, you're a bullshitter. Denzil_DC Jun 2016 #11
Spot on about perception. Dworkin Jun 2016 #13
Blairism was nothing but Tory-lite. Ken Burch Jun 2016 #16
Corbyn wants to win the election just as much as you do. Ken Burch Jun 2016 #17
For some muppet shrieking "Lie" every paragraph, you certainly enjoy telling them ... (n/t) Nihil Jun 2016 #19
OK. It's war. Denzil_DC Jun 2016 #12
those numbers... Ironing Man Jun 2016 #14
Well ... Denzil_DC Jun 2016 #18
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