A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left. Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.
Christine Shawcroft lost last night's parliamentary selection in Nottingham South. Proof once again that in supposedly "left" CLPs the usual story is of a very small activist base, and that once you consult the whole membership you get a sensible result.
posted by Luke Akehurst at 9:48 am
Labour Party activist since 1988 - firmly on the moderate wing of the party. Member of Labour’s NEC 2010-2012 and since 2020. National Secretary of Labour Students 1995-6. Parliamentary candidate for Aldershot (2001) and Castle Point (2005). Hackney Councillor (Chatham Ward) 2002-2014, Labour Group Chief Whip 2002-09, Chair of Health Scrutiny 2010-2014. Supporter of Europe, NATO/nuclear deterrence, Israel, electoral reform. Guardian reader. Dad. Oxford resident. Unite union member. Employment history as a Labour Party Organiser, Local Government Political Assistant, Director at a Public Affairs company. All views expressed in a personal capacity. The rest will become evident from reading the blog.
19 Comments:
Not necessarily. I think people choose candidates for all sorts of reasons and political stance is only one of them. Not all of Stephen Twigg's supporters in West Derby are similar to him politically, and constituencies sometimes choose people on the grounds of their local record.
Mind you, I am surprised that any left-wing candidates are getting chosen since so many left wingers have left the party in any case.
I don't know anything at all about the candidate chosen, but I sometimes think it would be a good idea to ban all selections of union apparatchiks and lawyers!
More broadly, I have been 'moved constituencies' next time, and whilst I will be in a safe Labour seat, I wouldn't ever consider voting for the sitting MP. Hopefully he will step down! But I don't think that many voters look at candidates that closely
10:10 am, March 14, 2008
Luke, you are almost right. Most of the activists in Nottingham South supported Lilian with second preference votes when Katrina Bull, their preferred candidate fell away.
All Christine's votes came from Alan Simpson's lovies who are all as active as Alan when it comes to campaigning...
10:19 am, March 14, 2008
"you get a sensible result."
they selected someone near Compass (or at least she blogged she would join Compass group of MPs if elected)..I thought you didn't like them either
11:05 am, March 14, 2008
Get in!
11:51 am, March 14, 2008
Yeah people with Luke's type of uber-Blairite politics aren't doing massively well in internal elections these days (remind us again where Hazel Blears finished in the DL election). And it wasn't as if Shawcroft was thrashed - she finished well ahead of the most Blairite candidate.
This was a close result, and candidates who win close results would be best advised to take heed of the breadth of party opinion (including that of the Left) in the way they then conduct themselves.
11:59 am, March 14, 2008
But a centre-left Compass candidate did win, didn't they Luke, with the Blairite far behind. What does that tell you?
12:23 pm, March 14, 2008
Don't upset Luke's hands-over-the-ears "wooh-ooh-ooh can't hear you, it's still 1997 in my head" mantra now will you
12:31 pm, March 14, 2008
I have no idea who the other two candidates were. The fact that local members stopped one of the key national personalities on the Hard Left, who had been working that seat for several years, from getting into Parliament, is good enough for me.
12:38 pm, March 14, 2008
Shawcroft was her usual flakey self at the selection meeting last night and Lilian Greenwood took the selection. My friend only moved to the CLP a couple of years ago and had never met Christine before. He kept notes on all the candidates performances and for Christine wrote
'speech - largely irrelevant lacking detail, complacent, casual attitude almost flippant', then at the end he wrote 'lazy and disorganised contribution'.
One could add the same of her run up campaign to the selection meeting - didn't knock on my door once or phone, just a couple of leaflets (mostly covered in endorsements)and two letters from the sitting MP effectively stating he wanted a 'mini-me'.
12:47 pm, March 14, 2008
Well, just to clarify Luke. Katrina Bull was I understand the Number One choice of the New Labour right and being championed by John Heppell. Greenwood is Compass-inclined. Not the result I wanted. But better than the one you did.
12:49 pm, March 14, 2008
Susan - as I said on your own blog. You don't know Katrina Bull, have no idea of her views, which I would describe as center left (against Nuclear Energy/Academies etc)
Why would you smear someone because they know another Nottingham MP?
12:58 pm, March 14, 2008
What odds that Christine will never be seen in Nottingham South again?
1:49 pm, March 14, 2008
"once you consult the whole membership you get a sensible result" - sometimes true, and if not, you can easily just change the rules/nullify the selection process/get Clare Short to make a conference speech, eh...
7:31 pm, March 14, 2008
Another Compass MP. Brilliant news!
8:07 pm, March 14, 2008
Well obviously I was supporting Christine so am disappointed - but congratulations to Lillian; hope she gets in and makes an excellent MP. Commiserations to Katrina Bull as well.
I hope Christine finds another seat (I don't know whether or not she's 'in the market'). She would be a superb addition to the PLP.
Anyway, I have can take some small consolation from the fact that it wasn't right-wing members, smear campaigns or even just the way these things sometimes go that denied the selection to Christine, it was Luke's relationship with the Almighty!
10:38 am, March 15, 2008
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars. Transfered FROM US TO THEM. Over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They just keep getting richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductible crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. So don’t fall for any of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductible contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool.. WAKE UP PEOPLE. THEIR GOAL IS TO WIN THE GAME. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. High energy prices. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. The multi-million dollar endorsement. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea. Prozac, Zanex, Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, couch potatoe, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of the above shrink the middle class, concentrate the world’s wealth and resources, create a dominoe effect of socio-economic problems, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for any of their ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP. In many cases, the 'charitable' contribution is almost entirely offset.. Not to mention the opportunity to plug their name, image, product, and 'good will' all at once. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These filthy pigs even have the nerve to throw a fit and spin up a misleading defense with regard to 'tax revenue'. ITS A SHAM. THEY SCREWED UP THE EQUATION TO BEGIN WITH. ITS THEIR OWN DAMN FAULT. If the middle and lower classes had a greater share of the pie, they could easily cover a greater share of the federal tax revenue. They are held down in many ways because of greed. Wages remain stagnant for millions because the executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, and entrepreneurs, are paid millions. They over-sell, over-charge, under-pay, outsource, cut jobs, and benefits to increase their bottom line. As their profits rise, so do the stock values. Which are owned primarily by the richest 5%. As more United States wealth rises to the top, the middle and lower classes inevitably suffer. This reduces the potential tax reveue drawn from those brackets. At the same time, it wreaks havok on middle and lower class communities and increases the need for financial aid. Not to mention the spike in crime because of it. There is a dominoe effect to consider. So when people forgive the rich for all of the above and then praise them for paying a greater share of the FEDERAL income taxes, its like nails on a chalk board. If these filthy pigs want to be over-paid, then they should be over-taxed as well. Remember: The richest 1% STILL own 1/2 of all United States wealth EVEN AFTER taxes, charity, and PR CRAP. A similar rule applies worldwide. There is nothing anyone can say to justify that. Anyway, there is usually a higher state and local burden on the middle and lower classes. They get little or nothing without a local tax increase. Otherwise, the red inks flows. Service cuts and lay-offs follow. Again, because of the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth in this country. I can not accept any theory that our economy would suffer in any way with a more reasonable distribution of wealth. Afterall, it was more reasonable 30 years ago. Before Reaganomics came along. Before GREED became such an epidemic. Before we had an army of over-paid executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and sold-out politicians to kiss their asses. As a nation, we were in much better shape. Lower crime rate, more widespread prosperity, stable job market, free and clear assets, lower deficit, ect. Our economy as a whole was much more stable and prosperous for the majority. WITHOUT LOANS FROM CHINA. Now, we have a more obscene distribution of bottom line wealth than ever before. We have a sold-out government, crumbling infrastructure, energy crisis, home forclosure epidemic, 13 figure national deficit, and 12 figure annual shortfall. The cost of living is higher than ever before. Most people can't even afford basic health care. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED. I really don't blame the 2nd -5th percentiles. No economy could ever function without some reasonable scale of personal wealth and income. But it can't be allowed to run wild like a mad dog. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. UNBRIDLED CAPITALISM ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH MAKES WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, they will jump to small minded conclusions about 'jealousy', 'envy', or 'socialism'. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
8:29 pm, March 15, 2008
or it just because the "whole membership" contains a lot of cunts like Luke?
7:59 pm, March 16, 2008
I wonder what sort of 'sensible result' the voters will determine at the next general election. Bet it's not one Luke would like!
2:33 pm, March 17, 2008
And Lillian is an active Compass member which will no doubt impress you greatly.
3:47 pm, March 23, 2008
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