Harriet Harman is denying that 10 junior ministers are plotting Machiavellian like to depose of Gordon Brown. But Harman maintains that she still has loyalty in him.
Again, how remote from reality are these people with their heads stuck in concrete existing in this Westminster bubble.
And now we have the “dream ticket” of Miliband/Johnson being touted. Dream ticket? More like nightmare. Change of leadership won’t change the direction of NL with its determination to follow the dream ticket of neo-liberalism.
So what of the Left? There has been a letter circulated for a possible challenge by John McDonnell MP. Indeed there is much I agree with in the letter regarding the undemocratic way that led to Brown’s coronation along with no political debate. It was like some royal succession.
And to further advance democracy in relation to leadership challenges then Calder Valley’s resolution to LP conference seeks to reduce the current margin from 12.5% to 7%. Obviously LP members who are interested in genuine, democratic and open debate should support this resolution.
And the Left should be concentrating on the 2 up and coming events. LP conference and Convention of the Left. Engaging with people inside and outside the LP is vital. It will be fascinating to see how Brown et al will control the process of LP conference and how stage managed with its choreographed speeches will it be. Will there be flickers of dissent, plotting?
There are wider implications and questions we need to ask ourselves. How will the Left define itself in the coming months? Regarding the potential challenge by McDonnell (he hasn’t denied it) I think we need more discussion on the Left about this (I don’t think this counterposes support for John McD.). My own opinion, tactically, we need to involve the whole of the Left in this decision making. We still have time for a debate and that too will build up our politics and develop our strategies.
If McDonnell stands I will support him. Our objective, like the previous John4Leader campaign, is to highlight, and to challenge the NL establishment along with their moribund right-wing dead policies. We also have to show that there is a left alternative to NL. We have a chance to vocalise our opposition and to put forward a platform that is against neo-liberalism.
As they say, carpe diem…Because this is possibly the Left’s last best chance before a Tory avalanche.
NB: A Blairite speaks…………
Posted by harpymarx 
