Lions and Tigers and Blair, Oh My!
Don’t ask me what this post’s title means; I just thought it sounded clever.
I’ve been getting off my metaphorical arse over the past couple of days, doing what I can to support The Big Intervention, whilst sitting on my literal arse in front of the computer. I’ve spammed my whole address book, written to my MP, and asked the rich and famous (Rory Bremner, Mark Thomas and Thom Yorke of Radiohead) for statements of support. Nobody’s replied yet, so in the meantime I thought I’d explain why I think Blair should step down…
You see, I have a dilemma. In my parliamentary constituency we have a Labour MP, who I voted for in 2001. Tony Blair still believes he was right about attacking Iraq and would presumably do it again. With Tony Blair at the head of the party, I will find it impossible to vote for Labour at the next general election. As Peter Hain pointed out recently, if enough people feel the same way I do, they “will find themselves with a rude shock and a Tory MP. They could deprive us of our majority”. Indeed, my parliamentary constituency was one of the top targets for the Conservatives at the last general election. If enough people here vote for an anti-war party at the next election, we may end up handing power to a party even more pro-war than Labour were.
Peter Hain’s comments are a most desperate and unnattractive attempt to force people into voting Labour: Agree to drink Tony Blair’s piss, or you’ll be forced to swallow Michael Howard’s shit. Sorry, but that’s the best way I canthink of to characterise the situation. Well, if we do end up with a tory government, the electorate will not be to blame; It will be the combined fault of Tony Blair, the Labour party and the first-past-the-post system (which many people thought they were voting to change in 1997, remember?).
Tony Blair is an electoral liability. He must go now, for the good of the Labour party and for the good of the country. If our MPs can’t see that, then we need to make it clear. The Big Intervention.
June 20th, 2004 at 06:24
I couldn’t find it on your first link!
So who would we get if My Mate went? The man who keeps putting exponential (almost) price rises on petrol?
June 20th, 2004 at 23:29
Well, since I don’t have a car that sounds fine.
And since I hopefully have another 50 years to go, living at the mercy of this planet’s climate, that sounds sensible!
Mix red and green and you get Brown!
June 22nd, 2004 at 16:36
The reason I cannot vote for Blair - or Labour ever again is that he is a lying twat - andd self dillusional to boot. I’ve never voted for anyone else - I’ve always voted Labour, (33 years) but all that’s now finished - for good. I come from a staunch Labour background, my Granddad, was a very close friend of George Orwell and his comtemporaries. He was Bessie Braddock’s agent, a seaman and a Socialist playwrite and actor…..
Blair has completely blown a golden chance given to him in 1997.
A change of leadership won’t solve it - the entire Labour hierachy are a load of toadying yellowbacks. The few Labour MPs’ with any sense of conviction include Frank Field, George Howarth, Harry Barnes and Dennis Skinner. Field did have a junior ministerial position, went ‘off message’ with some mild critism and was promptly sacked by the golden blair.
Iraq, Tuition fees, Foundation Hospitals, Hutton whitewash, House of Lords reform (House of Blair-clack), Hunting ban(promised in 1997 - and still waiting), Regionalised Government (the stripping down of a Country into bite sized Euro chunks), Europe, Cronyism for his old mates from the Matrix Chambers, the tartan renta-vote on Tuitition fees and Foundation Hospitals, Mandelson (forgot to mention borrowing 350 grand on his mortgage app), Vaz, Robinson, Campbell, Mandelson again (Passports for donations) Spin, Margaret Hodge, Beverley Hughes, Byers, etc, etc… Should I go on?
June 23rd, 2004 at 13:04
I question the sanity of Frank Field and Dennis Skinner, though not the work ethic.
A hunting ban is silly. Sorry.
Tony has only occupied the middle ground left behind by the Tories. What did you expect.
I of course have a personal axe to grind here, as he gives me an excuse to write my own scribblings.
June 23rd, 2004 at 16:45
Whether you think a ban on hunting is silly or not - it was in the 1997 manifesto. - But there again, tuition fees were NOT in the last electorial manifesto - and that’s got through (Thanks to the McRentavote). Still, I dare say the Bull and bear baiters, cock fighting enthusiasts, otter hunters and badger diggers thought that banning their sport was silly also…..
As regard what I expect - I thought I was voting for a man that harped on day after day about Tory ’sleeze’ - and the need to be whiter than white. He made it a cornerstone of his ‘97 electioneering (naive or what?)……… Tories, pure amateurs in the sleeze department compared to this mendacious flock of Labour MPs.
June 23rd, 2004 at 22:56
Any joy with your cyber stalking as of yet?
drop me a line :- poonsATpunkass.com
regards and thanks for the comments at my place
poons
July 2nd, 2004 at 19:35
we love you tony we do