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Biggest political hypocrite 2016

(234 Posts)
durhamjen Wed 28-Dec-16 00:14:19

These are some nominations.
Who would you choose from the list?

i1.wp.com/voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/161226-political-hypocrite-nominations.png?w=529

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 17:52:42

Those who left the shadow cabinet did so because he was making a hash of leadership, Benn stuck it out and got sacked . He is a weak leader and placing the blame on others is accepting any excuse rather than face the truth. I had to face the truth and I voted and campaigned for him.

Iam64 Mon 02-Jan-17 18:48:14

Oh dear, I see only anniebach is credited with being a socialist who sees Corbyn as a hypocrite.

I hope I fit annie's description of a socialist, that is someone left/middle labour party. I see Diane Abbot as a complete hypocrite, followed by Emily thorn bury. I accept the JC has stood by principle's he's had for years but i agree with everything anniebach has said about him. I do not accept that the fact he couldn't form a balanced shadow cabinet was because he was shafted by parliamentary colleagues. His colleagues had worked with him for over 30 years and had a right to express their concern he'd never win an election. I know party membership has grown, but that doesn't mean i have to support a man i neither trust nor admire.

rosesarered Mon 02-Jan-17 18:54:40

Well, now you are credited with sense too Iam64 grin cheers! ?

trisher Mon 02-Jan-17 19:04:21

Sorry Anniebach the centre right of the Labour Party are not socialists - the dictionary definition of socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
The centre right in the Labour Party does not advocate any such policy.

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 19:45:07

No apology needed trisher but thank you. I disagree , why join the Labour party if no socialist values?

nightowl Mon 02-Jan-17 19:48:55

Perhaps Jeremy Corbyn's colleagues who had worked with him for years and knew his views well should not have nominated/ voted for him if they disagreed with his views and did not truly support him. The fact is they never expected him to win the leadership contest, a bit like David Cameron never expected that a majority would vote to leave the EU. And like DC, they couldn't wait to distance themselves from the results of their actions and to protect their own necks. Maybe not hypocrites, but certainly not honourable.

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 19:55:37

Some sadly voted for him because they felt pity that be coundn't get the numbers he needed to stand, think he managed 35,

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 20:03:04

I think Cirbyn has a big problem , he gets shot if wife no 2 because she disobeyed him over choice of school.

He left his studies at a college because he disagreed with his tutors course

He invited the IRA to Westminster just weeks after the Brighton bombing, this was so insensitive .

This is not a man of honour it's a man who believes his way is the only way and he can do no wrong

daphnedill Mon 02-Jan-17 20:03:09

My son is currently in his first year at uni studying politics. When I asked him what he thought of the course, one of his responses was that he hadn't realised quite how many definitions of political concepts, including socialism, there are. His conclusio0n was that it was...errmmm...interesting. hmm He's also been to meetings of the biggest parties and said the Labour one was the most frustrating because they spent most of the time arguing about the definition of socialism.

The UK has never had a successful truly socialist party comparable with the socialist parties in mainland Europe or other parts of the world. The Labour Party has always represented a broad range of ideological interests. Somebody said "Socialism in Britain owed more to Methodism than Marx".

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 20:10:25

Daphne, sorry your Methodism quote did amuse me. My g grandfather was a baptist Minister - not Methodist ?- and reading his journals of his work with Keir Hardie , you could be right

trisher Mon 02-Jan-17 21:15:34

There are people in the party Anniebach who pretend to be socialists but are not and some who don't even pretend. Real socialists would be advocating the return of a nationalised rail network and would not have introduced privatisation into the NHS.

daphnedill Mon 02-Jan-17 21:18:04

I don't know whether it's really true, but a high percentage of people associated with Labour have been Scots or Welsh and have been associated with the values of the non-conformist churches.

Concern for the poor can be traced back to John Wesley, who of course lived long before the Labour Party was founded. However, some of the working people Methodists encouraged went on to become trade union leaders and they did become involved in the formation of the early Labour Party.

daphnedill Mon 02-Jan-17 21:19:55

trisher, The Labour Party has never been a party made of true socialists, if support for Clause IV is the only definition.

daphnedill Mon 02-Jan-17 21:22:44

I'm not even going to pretend to be a socialist, because I think capitalism has a place in a mixed economy. Nevertless, I would vote Labour if I thought that it had coherent policies which would result in a fairer society. Labour will never win an election if it dismisses people with views like mine.

Iam64 Mon 02-Jan-17 22:19:17

You definitely aren't a hypocrite then daphnedill ? I said earlier I thought I may fit Annie's broad definition of a socialist, I even agree with trisher on the issues of nationalising the railways and not privatising the NHS. I suspect despite his, I'd be seen as a back stabbing right winger because of my views on Corbyn. As for the issue of labour MP's nominating, voting for etc, I don't believe 270 or so we're in the first category.

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 22:40:33

Then I ask again trisher, if as you claim some are pretend socialists why do they join the Labour Party? I understand now Corbyn has raised the ugly head of militancy again some are going to think those who are not far left are not socialists, not true .

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 22:45:35

Daphne , you are spot on with possible reason Wales and Scotland have untill recently been strong labour , I know it is true in my very large extended family , we are all decendents of Baptists . I have never been able to seperate my faith from my political beliefs

daphnedill Mon 02-Jan-17 23:12:35

Any A level Economics student would tell you that privatising the railways was doomed. Railways are a vital component in a country's infrastructure and cannot obey market forces for all sorts of reasons.

I feel the same about the NHS. Good health is vital to a successful democracy and place where people want to invest - but those are capitalist reasons. People invest in the UK, because they know it's a stable country with reasonable infrastructure and healthy, educated citizens.

There is, of course, the more emotional argument. We have all paid into a National Insurance scheme to some extent. We have foregone some of our income for a healthcare system to serve us when needed. I am totally appalled about some of the people who are now profiting from the money we have paid in. Nevertheless, I'm not against the NHS contracting private providers when necessary. My father had his cataracts removed by a private eye hospital, because the NHS couldn't cope and I'm not objecting. My big gripe is that the so-called 'internal market' is costing over £3billion a year in admin and legal costs - this is money which should be going to improved patient care.

I couldn't give a stuff if I'm not a 'true socialist'. My priority is that people receive the most they can from the country's resources in the most equitable way. I don't really care if that comes from capitalism or socialism - my personal belief is that a mixed, pragmatic system is best.

durhamjen Mon 02-Jan-17 23:32:27

This is Jeremy Corbyn being hypocritical, is it?

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/homelessness-ethnic-minorities-rise-conservative-tory-government-theresa-may-david-cameron-welfare-a7502126.html

I think you will find it's how he gets votes.
He calls himself a democratic socialist. That's what I think he is.

Anniebach Mon 02-Jan-17 23:34:00

I understand Daphne. For me I want a labour government , I want the homeless and hungry helped , to do so labour has to appeal across the country and the country will not want a far left government . I could go on about my socialist principles and stand with the fsr left whilst thr vunerable suffer for years, I will not, refusing to accept that the country has moved on eill not give a labour government , so much easier when you have a roof over your head and food in the fridge

Anniebach Tue 03-Jan-17 10:18:59

The Fabian Society has forecast loss of 150 seats for labour at next election, never mind we still have Corbyn to worship

daphnedill Tue 03-Jan-17 17:14:07

But he's not getting votes, dj. The Labour Party is haemorrhaging support in the constituencies which matter. Try looking at lists of Labour-held seats during the Blair years and see how many have turned solid Conservative and that's without considering Scotland. Labour don't stand a hope in hell without winning most of those seats back. There are even indications that Labour will lose its gains from the LibDems in places such as Cambridge and Manchester Withington back to the LDs. Concern about homelessness in the BAME community is very worthy, but it's hardly a vote winner. In fact, you'll probably find that some people really couldn't care less and some who'd tell them to go back to their own country. Corbyn & Co need to stop behaving as though they're at a 1970s student debate and come up with some real strategies.

Ankers Tue 03-Jan-17 17:26:43

To those of a far left persuasion, ideology trumps everything.
Anything else is a bonus.

Anniebach Tue 03-Jan-17 17:26:43

Momentum are campaigning for McClusky, they claim Corbyns position depends on McClusky winning the UNITE battle .

Strange ,i thought it was the devoted corbynites who won him the leadership

The Tories have published a list of the fifty labour MP's most likely to lose their seats st the next election

Good post Daphne

durhamjen Tue 03-Jan-17 17:31:29

It wasn't the Fabian Society. It was the general secretary of the Fabian Society in a personal capacity.
The Fabian Society never gives a view.

'Fabian Society analysis paper
Stuck
How Labour is too weak to win, and too strong to die
Author: Andrew Harrop, General Secretary, Fabian Society
Date: 3rd January 2017
Facing the Future is the Fabian Society’s programme on Labour’s renewal. It brings together a broad range of voices to challenge the Labour Party to do better for the people who need it most.
Through events, publications and research, we are ensuring that Labour has the fundamental debate that it needs on its purpose, organisation and ideas. Labour must make itself relevant for the 2020s and broaden its appeal to people who rejected it in 2015.
This paper, like all publications of the Fabian Society, represents not the collective views of the Society but only the views of the author.'