What Martin Amis thinks of Jeremy Corbyn

A thread started about a person who dislikes Corbyn is accepted , Jen adds the name of someone who likes Corbyn and is criticised , Ana gives names, I give names - I am called childish , mmmmmmmmmm

'when you look at left wing marches'....
...can I have an example of the marches referred to please.

nigglynellie I quite understand why a person who is very anxious because they have a potentially life-threatening illness or who is in pain might decide to use whatever resources he/she has to get speedy and effective treatment.

Alan Bennett is not responsible for the parlous state of our NHS, or slave wages or exorbitant energy, transport and housing costs. Our tax system is meant to provide a means whereby the majority of people pay a fair proportion of their income in order that they or the state can provide for such essentials. Most of the high profile people who have strongly objected to these cuts and to growing inequality, such as Charlotte Church, have stated they would be quite happy to pay considerably more tax in order to enable this to happen. I think it is commendable that people who are well able to afford to pay for private provision for themselves are campaigning to protect public services for the benefit of all.

Compare their stance to what appears to be that of very many wealthy individuals who begrudge paying almost any tax, despite their millions, and who shriek about leaving the country if there is a suggestion that they should pay a bit more.

Who would you describe as having "far left" views, and do you consider it is only they that have grave humanitarian and practical concerns about the current austerity measures?

Niggly I know someone who has been a Trotskyist for about 40 years. She has pretty hard left views I guess. Never encountered anything remotely close on Gransnet.

A leading British novelist of his generation and a leading left-wing figure-well who knew??

If there are demonstrations to protest against poverty/ tax credit cuts/ bedroom tax/ unemployment etc they are called left wing marches , seems those on the right couldn't care less about people in poverty or we would have right wing marches ?

People whose political allegiance inclines to the left do not have a monopoly on care and compassion for their fellow men and the most vulnerable in our society, Anniebach.

Of course the marches you mention are labelled as 'left wing' because they're demonstrations against the actions of the current government, which is (for want of a better description) right-wing.

I'm sure not everyone who campaigns against certain government proposals and who donates their time and money to support charities which help the needy is a fully paid up member of the Labour Party.

What you don't understand is not everyone turns up at the ballot box with just one thought - what's in it for me
I would imagine that nigglenellie, like most people, understands that right enough (although I cannot speak for her!) anniebach - but people's perceptions of what is right for the country and its citizens may differ!

It seems to me that anyone who doesn't agree with the most vocal lefties on here is branded as right wing and it is assumed they "couldn't care less" about issues affecting those in poverty.

I'm willing to bet, for instance, that I've been branded one such. People seem to be forgetting that there is quite a range of left-wing thought and that it's possible to disagree with Jeremy Corbyn and still support left wing ideas.

With us or agin us mentality. Black and white and no in betweens mentality. It gets annoying. And I think that's what was meant when someone said they felt "hounded off" political threads.

So can someone explain to me what the government is currently doing to make this country a better place for those who live in it.

Can someone explain how those on the right who supported the Tories are standing up for those affected by poverty?

By the way, there are a lot of right wing marches - not very edifying. I'd rather see left wing than right wing marches. Is there anyone on here who will admit to having been on a right wing march?

Aren't Libdems in between, bags? Look what happened to them.

Some Labour supporters are in between too, dj, as you know. Corbyn did not get 100% of the votes.

One can accept him as the democratically elected leader without agreeing with everything he stands for.

Just as plenty of people "went off" Tony Blair while remaining Labour supporters.

Ana, I marched against Blairs government and was a paid up member of the Labour Party , many labour supporters did

Has anyone found out what Jeremy Corbyn thinks of Martin Amis (if he thinks of him at all, which I very much doubt, why would anyone).

I think he is probably much too busy to concern himself now he has got over the surprise.

Didn't durhamjen post a link giving Corbyn's reaction? Part of which was that 'tories are over-educated and under-learned' or some such twaddle...?

“I want to live in a society where there is decency, where there are human rights, where there is opportunity for everyone. I believe this country is going in the wrong direction."
...something else he said in the article, just to balance things a bit.

“I want to live in a society where there is decency, where there are human rights, where there is opportunity for everyone. I believe this country is going in the wrong direction."
Well, he has a nerve - doesn't he live in America?

No, Corbyn does not live in America.

He actually criticised the Tory front bench. It was the Mirror that gave that headline, as you would have realised if you had read the article.

"Now, at an event at Leeds University, Corbyn hits back at a Tory front bench who went to Eton and Oxford. “They are over-educated and under-learned,” he says."

rose! Wrong bloke...

No, Corbyn does not live in America

Oh silly me, I thought we were talking about Amis!

Thanks Ana

Tegan was referring to what Corbyn said in his article, not to what Amis said, *rosequartz".

I really find it difficult to believe that there are many compassionate Conservatives. If there were, they would not be supporting a government that cut inheritance tax when only a tiny proportion of estates were liable for it in the first place, and that cut the higher rate of income tax, whilst taking away financial lifelines for the very poorest families. So far as Conservative MPs are concerned, I believe there are a few exceptions but not many - and most of those who have expressed concern are in less wealthy, marginal seats that they may well lose in the next election.

Perhaps it is true that some voters believe the Conservatives will in the long run benefit the country but I wonder how many of them or their families are suffering these terrible cuts. It is easier to go along with the idea that hard decisions have to be made, supposedly in order to create more economic stability, when you do not suffer the effects of those decisions.

Mentioning inheritance tax, I heard today that Thatcher's family gave the country a load of her letters in lieu of inheritance tax.
Caring Tories?