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Written by Austin Mitchell
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16 April 2007 |
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Coming down the coast from Whitby in the Inspection vessel we drew up to three blokes fishing from an open boat. They held up their hands in surrender. “3 thought we were in Iraqi waters. Honest”.
The Blairite opposition to Gordon`s succession is anti-Labour in that it believes that what Labour-Party and unions – want is very different to what “Middle England” – aka “voters who have ambition and aspiration” want.
Balls. If that were true we`ve wasted ten years trying to bring the country to altruism.
In fact it was already there. Our people – Labour people – are the essence of the real people. They care. They want a more equal society, more redistribution and an end to flaunting wealth. They care. They don`t like poverty, unfairness or deprivation. They don`t like big business, excessive pay, business crookery, exploiting utilities or business lies.
They share our instincts because we are the people and they are us.
We shouldn`t be ashamed of being Labour. Or British. We are the nation now. isn`t. Blairism wasn`t.
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My soundings among Grimsby Party members – not total or extensive – tell me that Party members want a leadership contest. They want a choice. They want a debate on the issues. They want the new Leader legitimised.
They`re right. But how do we get it?
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Aintcha sick of all the media Brownbashing, carping at his character, portraying him as some sullen, secretive, Stalinist. It`s done to damage the People`s Gordon in the hope that it will produce an election contest and it`s total crap. It`s not quite as tasteless as the creeps chorus from careerists clamouring for jobs. But it`s sickening that so much of the tattle-tale this character assassination is based on comes from colleagues.
Believe it or not leaders are human. All have different characters. The only real accusation against Gordon is that he`s not Tony. Thank heavens. Been there done that. Now it`s time for someone more sincere, less frenetic and reactive, without the same thespian abilities but much more thoughtful. Just be Gordon. |
