Where in this manifesto is the commitment to cut the winter fuel allowance and disability payments?
Truth exists, someone said. It's lies that are invented. This is not a distinction that would be recognised by Keir Starmer, although I suspect he would be happy with Francis Bacon's gloss on John's original context. As Bacon points out, the question reported in the gospel is not an enquiry, but a dismissal of the question itself. It is a reluctance, a refusal, even to engage with the idea of truth.
I raise this because the airwaves have been polluted by Labour yes-persons - it was Jess Phillips this morning - claiming that the suspension of four ‘rebel’ MPs was justified.
The justification - and there is a degree of irony involved when one hears it said by Ms Phillips - is as follows: “We all stood for election on a manifesto as part of a team. If we vote against that manifesto, we get what we deserve”.
Well, yes. Except that the votes were against policies which were never in the manifesto.
It is a lie. But Starmer and McSweeney continue to send spokespersons out on the media round to claim that the suspended members had voted against Labour Party policy. Our media, of course, has not read the manifesto or is not minded to push back against the lies.
“Nil admirari.” Let nothing surprise you.
It was the family motto of 25 year old John Wildman who, in 1647, presented the first Leveller manifesto to the grandees.
All my political life, I have voted “Labour with no illusions”. Nothing that a Labour government does surprises me.
Until this government. And here's why I should have known better.
I raise this because the airwaves have been polluted by Labour yes-persons - it was Jess Phillips this morning - claiming that the suspension of four ‘rebel’ MPs was justified.
The justification - and there is a degree of irony involved when one hears it said by Ms Phillips - is as follows: “We all stood for election on a manifesto as part of a team. If we vote against that manifesto, we get what we deserve”.
Well, yes. Except that the votes were against policies which were never in the manifesto.
It is a lie. But Starmer and McSweeney continue to send spokespersons out on the media round to claim that the suspended members had voted against Labour Party policy. Our media, of course, has not read the manifesto or is not minded to push back against the lies.
“Nil admirari.” Let nothing surprise you.
It was the family motto of 25 year old John Wildman who, in 1647, presented the first Leveller manifesto to the grandees.
All my political life, I have voted “Labour with no illusions”. Nothing that a Labour government does surprises me.
Until this government. And here's why I should have known better.
I should have realised. I should have got the hell out earler. I should have listened to Starmer and realised that he was lying through his teeth but to a script.
Labour is finished. So are the MPs who stay, haunted by their imposed justifications for policies they know are disgraceful.
There is a new party coming this way soon. I'm getting on that bus as soon as.
Today from the everysmith vaults: In the next three months I have tickets for Shostakovich at Symphony Hall, Birmingham; Mahler and Schubert in Oxford, and Bob Dylan at the CBS Arena - "Who is the best player you ever saw at Coventry?". Playing right now, as I type, is Chopin Scherzo #2.
Labour is finished. So are the MPs who stay, haunted by their imposed justifications for policies they know are disgraceful.
There is a new party coming this way soon. I'm getting on that bus as soon as.
Today from the everysmith vaults: In the next three months I have tickets for Shostakovich at Symphony Hall, Birmingham; Mahler and Schubert in Oxford, and Bob Dylan at the CBS Arena - "Who is the best player you ever saw at Coventry?". Playing right now, as I type, is Chopin Scherzo #2.
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