tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post1098872497729457115..comments2023-10-21T16:25:58.899+01:00Comments on Three Score Years And Ten: Beyond Our KenHarry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-84879245067337295572007-05-27T14:56:00.000+01:002007-05-27T14:56:00.000+01:00Grimupnorth.In order;my priorities that weekend ar...Grimupnorth.<BR/><BR/>In order;my priorities that weekend are (a) our daughter's birthday, (b) a discussion week-end by Independent Labour Publications (the old ILP's modern title), (c) a Labour Party discussion meeting I have organised for my local branch and (d) Compass. I am making amends for missing the ILP by a submission I will eventually post as a blog item. Whilst I have to see that the local Labour meeting is organised to run smoothly without me. So Compass will be entirely missed out. As Leftish (and open) New Labour they provide some useful links - as long as no-one has illusions about them.<BR/><BR/>Best of luck.Harry Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01833380054575757928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-42690274238145483742007-05-22T19:19:00.000+01:002007-05-22T19:19:00.000+01:00Harry, having got over my initial upset I am goi...Harry, having got over my initial upset I am going to the Compass conference onJune 9 where you'll be glad to learn the LRC is having a seminar and a stall. Brown is obviously determined to finish the job Blair started by destroying the Left. Wish us luck!susan presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14184296742644071259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-81233437267487958242007-05-22T17:22:00.000+01:002007-05-22T17:22:00.000+01:00Matt BuckThanksMatt Buck<BR/><BR/>ThanksHarry Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01833380054575757928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-76655560397281154012007-05-22T14:27:00.000+01:002007-05-22T14:27:00.000+01:00Harry, I found your blog via Mark Crail's myTimema...Harry, I found your blog via Mark Crail's myTimemachine - and I'm glad I have. Pleaes forgive the comment spam, but I'd like to point you in the direction of this site, if you ahven't found it already.<BR/>http://www.tribunecartoons.comMatt Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662702921579824857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-54010094810890541722007-05-21T20:29:00.000+01:002007-05-21T20:29:00.000+01:00grimupnorth,I believe that Ken received 11 nominat...grimupnorth,<BR/><BR/>I believe that Ken received 11 nominations. It came up as I was searching the web, but I moved past it and could not find the source again. I refused to nominate Ken or anyone else for the Leadership - not even John Smith at that time. But I submitted 5 questions to the Leadership and Deputy Leadership candidates. These and the answers I received were covered in articles I wrote for the "Morning Star". So I contributed in some small way to a mini debate.<BR/><BR/>I had intended nominating Ann Clwyd for Deputy (she has a Left/Centre record and her current views on Iraq are shaped by the strong support she has given for the Kurds in Iraq, via some honourable work with CARDRI -even though I see her as wrong on the invasion). When she withdrew from the contest, I nominated John Prescott, who was also centre-left at the time. But later turned out to be Blair's ungroomed poodle. <BR/><BR/>I understand Alice's stance and hence her feelings. I think her reaction of despiration adds to my views (e.g. in my repsonse to mikael).I am much more philosophical about the situation and expect the left to be sold down the river in such matters. We need strategies that appreciate the problems we face. I am not arguing for surrender, but for tactical nous. <BR/><BR/>It is the Left which now needs the comradely debate.Harry Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01833380054575757928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-36783043713601857172007-05-21T18:00:00.000+01:002007-05-21T18:00:00.000+01:00Harry , didn't Ken Livingstone only get 11 nominat...Harry , didn't Ken Livingstone only get 11 nominations? The point was John could have done it had those who made promises delivered. That's my understanding anyway. I truly think if he thought he wasn't going to get the nominations he would have pulled out after his initial meeting with Meacher.He was utterly realistic about his chances. Most of us who supproted the campaign never thought John could win against Brown but his campaign showed he could win support and,hopefully, help us turn the Party round in the future. You are right in the sense that maybe we all expected a bit too much. There also seems to be widespread animosity to the SCG MPs - something I suppose I didn't realise. I have just had an e-mail from Alice Mahon saying she is in despair and I suppose that's what happens when you raise the stakes far beyond fringe meetings. <BR/>But don't blame John and his team. Blame the cravenness of the PLP for not realising it wastheir duty to ensure there was an election because the Party desperately needed one. This was not 1988. I remenber thinking the Livingstone/Grant ticket in 1994 was madness. And even the Tony Benn attempt in 1988.<BR/>The time was right for a "comradely debate." The tragedy is that the PLP couldn't see it.susan presshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14184296742644071259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-77731565795451000672007-05-21T12:15:00.000+01:002007-05-21T12:15:00.000+01:00Mikael,I feel that John has run as effective a cam...Mikael,<BR/><BR/>I feel that John has run as effective a campaign as is possible from his political perspective. Much better than the Benn in 1988 and Livingstone in 1992. My main differences with John's position are not so much over his socialist aims, as over the relevance of his methods.(This means I can be driven at times to back him and at other times to criticise him.)<BR/><BR/>Given the general weakness of the Left, I feel that SCG candidates seeking the Leadership is a mistaken and counter-productive move. It drives activists further into the wilderness. Many become temporarly optimistic, then when the Leadership campaign collapses they become either more depressed or more extremist then ever.<BR/><BR/>All the best,<BR/>Harry.Harry Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01833380054575757928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-70721699473248389922007-05-21T11:16:00.000+01:002007-05-21T11:16:00.000+01:00A very interesting post, Harry!Of course, I am amo...A very interesting post, Harry!<BR/><BR/>Of course, I am among those who are disappointed by how recent events have unfolded - I would have liked to see John on the ballot. Personally, I think that, had John made on to the ballot, he could have made Brown's eyes water by giving him a good "kick in the ballots" , so to speak. <BR/><BR/>Furthermore, I feel that the lack of a contest takes away not only Gordon's Brown legitimacy as Labour leader (which in my view is a position which he has not earned), but Labour's legitimacy as a Party of "the many, not the few". <BR/><BR/>As far as I see it - but, then again, you would know much better than I - the Deputy Leadership race is a non-contest; absolutely trivial in its importance to the Party.<BR/><BR/>At any rate, the John McDonnell campaign, though short-lived, will, hopefully, be the first step towards building - re-building (?)-a powerful Labour Left.<BR/><BR/>What do you think, Comrade?<BR/><BR/>Comradely,<BR/><BR/>MikaelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com