grandad it was pretty clear throughout the run up to the election that the Tories were going to win, but that doesn’t mean that I was not knocked for six by it.
At the same time it had been clear for some time that mum was dying and as she was at home and we were her main carers I decided the morning after the election that I needed to put my disappointment to one side and concentrate on what was important.
GN contrary to how it may seem at times is not terribly important to me. I like the challenge of the debate and it keeps my mind active.
I have supported Labour since before I could vote and I come from a solid labour voting family, from my grandparents and when Labour was first formed to present day.
I have been more or less enthusiastic about each Labour leader as they have come along, but I am above all a democrat and will always give each leader my support until he/she no longer broadly represents me.
My aim is always a labour government because I consider that it is the only political party that is broadly in line with my world view.
But and this is where we will probably part company. I am not a socialist I am firmly in the social democratic camp. I always have been. I believe strongly in a mixed economy and my role models are the Scandinavian countries. Frankly I consider that we have never had a socialist leader, but I know people will disagree with that.
Mum died on 13 th January, and after a while I was ready to take up GN again.
With regard to Corbyn. Yes undoubtedly a man who was poorly served by many in his party. I am of the opinion always that as a Democratic Party it’s members must always give support to its leader but undoubtedly I an naive in this opinion. What is far more important to me is that we get a labour government. We owe it to the poor, the NHS, the economy and for fairness. The fight for a labour government is bigger than any internal disagreement, and so much time and energy appears to me to be wasted. I really can’t be doing with it.
In my view there isn’t a single politician who isn’t indispensable and that includes Corbyn and Starmer.
In time the issue that seems to be so important to so many at the moment will be history, but the poor will still be with us and the fight for a fairer society will still need to be fought.