Labour Tactics

[Colr]

What do you think of Labour's tactics in nantwich of painting the Tories as Toffs?

BBC NEWS | Politics | New Labour principles 'abandoned'

Don't know how it will play in the ground but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth - its inverted snobbery.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Colr

What do you think of Labour's tactics in nantwich of painting the Tories as Toffs?

BBC NEWS | Politics | New Labour principles 'abandoned'

Don't know how it will play in the ground but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth - its inverted snobbery.

Why on earth is it not justifiable to do so? Given that the tories current leadership are a fiefdom of Eton and privileged upbringing it's not unreasonable to mention it. Personally if I was running a political party, I would be attacking my opponents as almost to a man being out of touch with the most pressing concerns for the majority of people since they have usually spent most of their life in nothing other than politics. As the British political parties have became less and less mass movements, the candidates have became more and more identikit as political operatives who have done internships with other politicians, had jobs as policy advisers etc, and then eventually became elected. That's not a wide enough base of expertise to be working from. Someone like Denis Skinner who was a miner are very conspicious by their absence in Westminster, and there are less and less exceptions to this.

You can call it class warfare, but mentioning that your opponents are in actual fact people with a background who the majority will not be able to relate to is not unreasonable imo. I also can't seem to remember this sort of moral outrage by the tories when Labour Party candidates were drawn from union officials and characterised as being more loyal to their comrades in the unions than the country. In fact, the tories won a couple of elections hammering this sort of message home.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by wee 162

Why on earth is it not justifiable to do so? Given that the tories current leadership are a fiefdom of Eton and privileged upbringing it's not unreasonable to mention it. Personally if I was running a political party, I would be attacking my opponents as almost to a man being out of touch with the most pressing concerns for the majority of people since they have usually spent most of their life in nothing other than politics. As the British political parties have became less and less mass movements, the candidates have became more and more identikit as political operatives who have done internships with other politicians, had jobs as policy advisers etc, and then eventually became elected. That's not a wide enough base of expertise to be working from. Someone like Denis Skinner who was a miner are very conspicious by their absence in Westminster, and there are less and less exceptions to this.

You can call it class warfare, but mentioning that your opponents are in actual fact people with a background who the majority will not be able to relate to is not unreasonable imo. I also can't seem to remember this sort of moral outrage by the tories when Labour Party candidates were drawn from union officials and characterised as being more loyal to their comrades in the unions than the country. In fact, the tories won a couple of elections hammering this sort of message home.

Just as valid to attack someone for being working class, or an immigrantr. Its identity politics and its a load of bollocks.

I'm concerned about the development of a politic class as well but I think you need people from all walks to make an effective parliament - there's hardly anyone from a military background for example.

This is just the flip side of snobbery.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Colr

Just as valid to attack someone for being working class, or an immigrantr. Its identity politics and its a load of bollocks.

I'm concerned about the development of a politic class as well but I think you need people from all walks to make an effective parliament - there's hardly anyone from a military background for example.

This is just the flip side of snobbery.

How many working class folk are in parliament? How many immigrants? It's a bit more valid to criticise a cabal of Eton boys running a party than some imaginary thing which doesn't exist.

And yes, there is hardly anyone of a military background in parliament, but then again there is hardly any academics or people from a scientific background either.

I agree with you that parliament would be far more effective if it was more diverse, but I then can't see how criticising a party which is the antithesis of that isn't valid (other than the people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones given that the Parliamentary Labour Party is made out of advisors, spin doctors, and is pretty close to being exclusively middle class).

[Colr]

Originally Posted by wee 162

How many working class folk are in parliament? How many immigrants? It's a bit more valid to criticise a cabal of Eton boys running a party than some imaginary thing which doesn't exist.

And yes, there is hardly anyone of a military background in parliament, but then again there is hardly any academics or people from a scientific background either.

I agree with you that parliament would be far more effective if it was more diverse, but I then can't see how criticising a party which is the antithesis of that isn't valid (other than the people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones given that the Parliamentary Labour Party is made out of advisors, spin doctors, and is pretty close to being exclusively middle class).

I would prefer them to critise his policies and approach than his background.

I would also like to see a more diverse parliament but I would not like to see people selected on the basis of their background but in their quality as representatives.

At the heart of the problem is the party system which only attracts a limited type of candidate.

[madkink]

one thing i will say, was watching a bit off cameron on bbc news earlier, he talks a good game, told someone to 'shut up you'll get your turn' which i thought was quite funny, and i actually started to listen to it at that point, the guy talks a good game, even if he is a fanny off a guy

It was a general slagging match, i think thats what got my attention, gordon browns feeble attempt to retort to cameron was priceless

[Colr]

Originally Posted by madkink

one thing i will say, was watching a bit off cameron on bbc news earlier, he talks a good game, told someone to 'shut up you'll get your turn' which i thought was quite funny, and i actually started to listen to it at that point, the guy talks a good game, even if he is a fanny off a guy

It was a general slagging match, i think thats what got my attention, gordon browns feeble attempt to retort to cameron was priceless

Eton's official school bully?

He's a prawn - I wish they had a better leader.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by wee 162

Why on earth is it not justifiable to do so? Given that the tories current leadership are a fiefdom of Eton and privileged upbringing it's not unreasonable to mention it. Personally if I was running a political party, I would be attacking my opponents as almost to a man being out of touch with the most pressing concerns for the majority of people since they have usually spent most of their life in nothing other than politics. As the British political parties have became less and less mass movements, the candidates have became more and more identikit as political operatives who have done internships with other politicians, had jobs as policy advisers etc, and then eventually became elected. That's not a wide enough base of expertise to be working from. Someone like Denis Skinner who was a miner are very conspicious by their absence in Westminster, and there are less and less exceptions to this.

You can call it class warfare, but mentioning that your opponents are in actual fact people with a background who the majority will not be able to relate to is not unreasonable imo. I also can't seem to remember this sort of moral outrage by the tories when Labour Party candidates were drawn from union officials and characterised as being more loyal to their comrades in the unions than the country. In fact, the tories won a couple of elections hammering this sort of message home.

1. Col is right this is bigotted identity politics and the left are showing there true colours; they are not in the least bit interested in diversity, as opposed to the elevation of approved client groups

2. it's fucking unbelievable brass neck given that labour continues to be run largely by private school types as it ever was.

3. I agree with you about career pols, but that's a different point; if we're stuck with them, an eton education does not seem to less useful than that provided by any other school and no doubt better than most.

4. Noone, and I repeat noone is as out of touch with the 'ordinary man on the street' than the bourgoise left who dominate nulab. well, except perhaps for the far left.

5. 'class' - a concept noone but socialists cares much about these days, is not in anyway comparable to being a union member.

face facts Al; the people are sick to the back teeth of the divisive sectarian bile of identity politics with which the left has associated itself. fucking hell - the 'he's not real london' line aimed at boris is different in what substantive way from 'he's not real british' directed at an immigrant?

the reactionary posture labour are adopting now will backfire big time. they are in a death dive and playing the dirtiest politics as a result.

there time is gone; britain has had enough of this backward, bigotted nonsense, which - sans blair to keep them in line - has brimmed over into the public eye embarrasingly quickly.

its a shame the tories are the english people's only alternative, but fuck me, if i was english i'd be 'holding my nose' as polly toynbee might say, and voting for the tories.

give me liberal toffs over authoritarian, economically ruinous toffs any day.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

its a shame the tories are the english people's only alternative, but fuck me, if i was english i'd be 'holding my nose' as polly toynbee might say, and voting for the tories.

.

You can say that but at least there are some alternative philosophies available to choose from rather than Labour and McLabour that overwhelm Scottish politics.