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Written by Austin Mitchell
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06 February 2007 |
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What a mess! Israel`s President is under indictment for rape, its Prime Minister for corruption. We`re worse.
Generals mutiny `cos they`ve no brass. Judges rebel `cos they can`t send folk to prison. Ministers picket against health cuts. Cabinet rebels on Catholic adoptions. The Party divides between “go nows” “hang ons” and “stay forevers”. And the media pack is moving in for the kill on Tony, lampooning Prezza and trying to destroy Gordon before he`s even got the job.
Who`d have thought in 1997 that it would come to this? Not I.
The baying of the wolves hounding Blair, the swishing sound of rats` tails leaving the sinking ship and the contemptuous clamour of the crowd determined to dump on our hapless ex-hero, are national disgrace.
They built him up too far in the good days. Now they do him down disgracefully in the bad. But if anyone`s to blame it`s them. They`re over-compensating now for their excessive adoration in the past by taking it out on Tony. Not themselves.
Leave the lad alone. Respect his achievements. He`ll go in June. Gordon will take over and we`ll get a new sense of direction by touches on the tiller, and serious consideration, not the lurches of Talk Back Radio turned into a system of government. Be patient. Headless chickens are for Bernard Mathews. Not Labour.
We`d be better kicking Lords reform into the long grass than going for Jack Straw`s proposals in this Parliament.
He`ll find it difficult to stop at 50% elected in his hybrid House.
Since the decisive voice will be the Commons, the Lords might resist by screwing up the legislative timetable.
Will the excess number of life peers want to be bought out?
Why should elected people be called Lords (Pro-Tem)? Why not buy all the titles back too and call them Senators?
Thirty percent of party nominations is far too high. Why risk it? Accidentally we`ve stumbled into having an effective second chamber. If it ain`t broke don`t fix it. Yet.
Sad news of the death of Fiona Jones, MP for Newark 1997-2001. She was a plucky Scouser who didn`t fit easily into the Blair babe mould into which the media tried to push anyone in skirts |
