I wanted to write a blog on the folly of our MPs but on the train home last night after a long day at university I just had not got the energy.
In summary, more than 400 MPs voted last night for three things.
The first was the shortest economic suicide note in our history.
The second was the suicide note for our parliamentary democracy.
The third was a suicide note for the UK: I simply cannot see it surviving this.
Was it surprising I found it hard to raise any enthusiasm?
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Absolutely, Richard. I posted this on my Facebook feed just now:
“[The result was] not a surprise given what we’d heard in the lead-up to the vote, but two things stand out to me: (1) the pro-European Heathite Tory wing, dominant in the Conservative party in the early 1970s, now consists of *one* MP – Kenneth Clarke; (2) about 75% of Labour MPs have voted for a course of action that will most likely impoverish the UK (or what’s left of it after Scotland votes to leave) with the result that the Tory govt will cut benefits and public services even further, killing off some of the most vulnerable people in the UK – many of whom are these Labour MPs’ constituents. And also we are on a course to become simply a trading outpost of Donald Trump’s Fascist Dictatorship of America (FDA). Not the finest day in the Labour Party’s history, I have to say.”
Senior civil servants will of course love the FDA acronym!
best
Howard
Howard
I completely agree
Best
Richard
We can bleat all we like about our prospects as a nation but they come from the failure of our economic and political system to deliver a fair share of the rewards of globalism to all. The wheel has turned and there is no going back to the comfortable inequality of the last 30 years. The best route forward is to offer and deliver hope to those who have little now.
I agree
The question is how?
You have in the past provided almost a manifesto of policy prescriptions concerning taxation matters which has been added to in order to broaden its range with other business and competition goals; we at Equality North West, alongside many other interest groups, have made that list even more weighty and widely-applicable by coming up with economic, monetary, treasury and local government prescriptions on all sorts of matters and issues from third runway projects to care sector re-invigoration. The policy goals and tactics on all things from wages and competitiveness to regional inequalities and technology are not absent, they already exist.
But this will not give hope to those who need it and does not address the gaping chasm of inequality that exists now. For that we need to come up with something different. I suggest a Kennedy-esque bold statement of intent. This will allow everyone to judge whether each individual, group or department and minister is for it or agin it; will be a demarcation line in time between before and after it was said; and will enable a stark judgment to be made in the future of which side you were on. Either you helped it come about or you were part of the problem.
Something like;
“Within 10 years we will build a country that treats all its people fairly. Which guarantees lifelong learning and working opportunities to everyone who wants them. Which mixes state provision with private enterprise within a rule of justice and laws. And which ensures that fairness of opportunity not privilege determines the outcomes of your life. With no-one left behind. We will begin now.”
I like it
A link to your Equality North West stuff?
Not everyone has benefited from globalisation. But what we’re now being told we voted for in Brexit is more unfettered globalisation. Things are only going to get worse.
How do the vast majority of countries not in the EU survive?
Many don’t
Haven’t you noticed?
Richard I agree. Keep strong. We need alternative voices
Completely agree Richard. It would appear all those remainer tories have been to Stepford recently. I feel sick as Diane Abbott this morning. Ah well at least a rabbit is beckoning me…
I have to say that I was ruminating about this over breakfast this morning.
In this neo-liberal age, how often have we seen this happen? How often have we seen Parliament make such fateful decisions with many of us looking on shaking our heads.
As for the voters – never mind ‘the people have spoken’ it’s more like ‘the people are broken’.
Having been raced to the bottom by neo-lib Tories, New Labour and the Lib-Dems, the people are desperate – so desperate that they will throw their lot in with Farage and even Trump even though these ‘apostles of truth’ are just as neo-liberal as anyone else if not more so.
We might be able to take succour from the fact that the 2008 crash signified the beginning of the end of this period but the end will be painfully drawn out but hopefully we will see our days renewed in some form or other. That is all I can take out of this to be honest.
Time is the revelator unfortunately as Gillian Welch sings – it’s almost as if she singing about neo-liberalism and even UKIP:
‘ Darling remember when you come to me
I’m a pretender; I’m not what I’m suppose to be
But who could know if I’m a traitor?
Time’s the revelator, the revelator
They caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.
The fortune lady came along, she walked beside
But every word seemed to date her
Time’s the revelator, the revelator
Up in the morning, up and on the ride
Drive into Corning, and all the spindles whine
And everyday is getting straighter
Time’s the revelator, the revelator
Leaving the valley, fucking out of sight
I’ll go back to Cali where I can sleep out every night
And watch the waves and move the fader
Times’ the revelator, the revelator
Queen of fakes and imitators
Time’s the revelator’
Time (The Revelator) 2001
I know the deal is done but arguing a point via twitter is just like click bait. I know your against it and you believe in what you say but there is no argument either way just statements. Where was the arguments?
I am not sure what you are asking
I am fed up at the carping on the left about our representatives. It would be seriously stupid to declare yourself as having contempt for democratic votes. I understand the MPs voting in accordance with overwhelming votes in their own constituencies, but it would be a travesty if Parliament did not respect the 52% vote to Leave.
We should be talking about the Tories, and lobbying them about the amendments.
Most Tories MPs supported Remain, and many issued dire warnings about leaving the single market.
Even if 95% of Leave voters wanted to exit the single market there would still be a majority of referendum voters wanting to stay in.
So why can’t sufficient Tories support the Labour amendment on the single market?
The Libdem amendment on having a referendum on the outcome of negotiations is probably showing the hand too early, but makes more sense than just opposing the bill.
Tories claim to revere the UK Parliament so why can’t they vote for the Labour amendment for a Parliamentary vote on the results of the negotiation?
See my blog just written
The tories bill was not voted through – only the 2nd reading was voted through, to committee and report stages – there is still the 3rd reading at which the bill can still be voted against or even voted down. This is the procedure – it is not (yet) the end of the world
And there is the Lords
But I can’t see it being beaten