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The Mitchell Diary: The Golden Years |
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Written by Austin Mitchell
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17 July 2007 |
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Campbell Diary A satisfied customer writes: “Great stuff. Honest. Interesting. Tells it like it was in a government where PR has replaced principles. Written by the man who made the mould for the jelly.
Cert F.U, (journalists only under parentel supervision – if the bastards have one).
It’s a good read. Nothing here of the compromises, dirty tricks, fixes and principle - dilution of real Labour Governments. This had sold out its principles before it won. It was concerned to look good and unsocialist. Campbell illustrates the frenetic dealings of a high tension government always on the verge of nervous breakdowns, trying to present a dynamic image to the media and the party, but less able to fool the first than the second. Ego management replaced team management. Initiatives replaced coherent policy. Self regard replaced duty, presidentialism replaced Parliament. Everything in a little bunch of macho boys perpetually on the verge of nervous breakdowns, hysterics, suicide, tears or madness. It all bears out Mitchell’s rule: Six years and out for PM. Eight for ministers.
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I’ve talked about Gordon’s reshuffle to several outs and some who haven’t done as well as expected. They’re all amazingly philosophical “saw it coming” “had a good run” “who said politics was fair?”. No indication that they were seething masses of resentment. As they should be.
They don’t have the broader lament “I could have been a player”. They had been. Third Division North.
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Mad Economics In Germany massive investment, public and private, goes into modernising production industry and absorbing the East. Here where credit creation is privatised, an even more massive outpouring has gone into asset inflation and house prices. To check this the Bank of England then puts up interest rates and we all get punished for the sins of the banks. Manufacturing suffers (again). Before Ed Balls knows it we’re back with the old folly of screwing the economy as a way of managing it.
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To Gordon (Highly Confidential) October Election. Go for it. Preparations are well under way. I’ve got 18 photos of me and a briefing for election pamphlets and Labour has the following benefits:
1) We’ve got a Brown bounce.
2) The Tories are in a mess.
3) Governments always do better in autumn. People back from holidays feel better.
4) The banks won’t have been able to screw us much more but will certainly do so later
5) The promise of new housing is more popular than the delivery which will be slow and, in the south, resented.
6) The looming problems won’t have developed.
7) The High Street is in trouble as spending slows.
8) Ed Milliband is writing the manifesto.
9) We’ll win
10) Er’ – that’s it`
Go. Go. Go. A quick rhapsodic conference. Then to the country.
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Boris is to be the Johnson candidate for the Mayor of London. It will be marvellous to have a candidate who’s fun, smart, witty and a great debator and now there’s Boris too! |
