Right, that’s it, I’ve had enough. I’ve sat on my hands for long enough. I’ve spent months looking at conversations and threads on the internet about Jeremy Corbyn, about how he’s not a leader, about how all his supporters are lunatics, about how he’s the messiah and about why he’s unelectable. I still have no idea about what is truth and what is fiction from both sides of this really rather tedious debate.
In 20 days, Jeremy Corbyn will more than likely still be The Labour Party’s democratically elected leader. I like him, not because I think he’s a great public speaker or because he has all the answers I’m looking for.
Over the last ten years or so I’ve been to meetings. Committee meetings, business lunches, board meetings, political meetings, community meetings. Loads of them. At committee and community meetings, quite often there will be one guy that gets really picky, anal if you will. He’ll talk about really boring things, he’ll go off topic and get all fired up and outraged by stuff. At super important business meetings, you’ll quite often get one guy that comes in and knows his shit. He’ll listen to you, call you by your first name even, he is the man that tells you he’ll get stuff done. You shake hands, everything is great, you feel relieved and then the next day you get an email saying you’re fired.
I know which guy I’d rather have my back. Especially if it means life or death. So, in essence that is where I stand on Jeremy Corbyn. He’s the man that has an allotment, is out-raged by things, stumbles over his words sometimes and gets really narked about things like privatisation of public services and lack of affordable housing. No biggie. The other guy – in fact all of the other guys as far as I can see would smile and nod as you beg ‘Please sir, can I have some more?’ and then carry on about their day. But has there been some kind of poll about it, I hear Owen Smith say? No. But I have eyes and ears, and so do lots of other people, and whats more we have the means to communicate with each other, beyond the realms of the Daily Mail and The Guardian (Oh and while we’re here, what the actual fuck, The Guardian? We thought we knew you.)
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, I am sick of hearing about all of this stuff, even writing about it is hard work. I like the guy, he’s fine, and so do loads of other people, increasingly. But this ‘movement’, this period in our history, these stirrings have categorically NOTHING TO DO WITH JEREMY. He just happens to be along for the ride, he’s brought his bike and is probably more surprised than anyone to be here.
I’m in my late 30’s. My parents came of age in the 60’s. When I was growing up my Dad would talk of revolution and Jimi Hendrix whilst simultaneously working for a bad-arse-fuck-the-little-guy computer company. He spent his youth on the Kings Road, selling the Socialist Worker and fighting racism with punk. My mum was a psychiatric nurse and a feminist, a strong northern lass who moved south. In the 80’s they did good, bought a house, got a car, moved to the home counties, life rumbled on. As the 80’s turned into the 90’s, ‘things could only get better’ according to Tony Blair. So, as my brother and I left school and looked to the wider world, for this better Britain that we were promised, it came as somewhat of a shock to find that it was all total bollocks. The path our parents had taken was no longer there. It had all been dug up, sold off and had a car park built on it.
We coped, we rented overpriced shit-holes from unscrupulous student letting agents. We worked shit jobs in call centres with no rights, minimum wage in shops, agency care assistants. Friends that were academic and probably much more sensible did the uni thing, bought houses around us and did things properly. Scrimping and saving tens of thousands to afford a deposit for a mortgage they would later not be able to pay. As the banking crisis happened, redundancy loomed like a tidal wave, sweeping aside years of hard work, all the saving and sacrifice, for nothing. There was no safety net. There was no bail out. Just nothing.
As the Tories came to power they said that years of hard work and sacrifice would get us all out of this mess, we’d have to save our pennies, tighten our belts and batten down the hatches. Sit tight people of Britain, lets do this!
So here we are, many years later. Our belts so tight we can’t breath, the pennies are gone and we have shoes to buy for our kids. There’s a hole in the roof and bailiffs at the door. We are not those people you read about. We aren’t smoking 60 fags a day and living off flat screens and Jeremy Kyle. We are you. We are writers and authors, artists, bankers, nurses, cleaners, shop assistants, mental health workers, mothers, fathers, the disabled, teachers and social workers.
We aren’t all trotskyist trolls or lunatics either. We are not the cult of Corbyn, he has had very little to do with any of this. He’s just the first person in a really fucking long time that hasn’t lied to us, he hasn’t patted us on the head and told us to be good and do as we’re told. He’s pissed and so are we. Party of protest? You’re fucking right it’s a protest! We aren’t the unwashed on a jaunt out on a rally. We are everyone, we are the people that tightened our belts, the people that are all in this together. Do you know what happens when people don’t speak up or protest, nothing. Nothing happens.
This isn’t reality TV, the consequences and outcomes are life or death for thousands of people. As I sit here, currently ill and unable to walk properly, propped up by insanely expensive medication, alive because of the NHS, I can’t help think of the looming junior doctors strike.
These people aren’t idiots, they are doctors, with loads of degrees, working on the front line of Tory Britain. Patching us up and sending us back into the world. What we need now is not person in a sharp suit, a slick PR campaign and a glistening smile. We need someone who will weather the storm with us, along side us, we need more than one person to stand up and say no. That is what this is about. More than one person.
These endless articles and rants about Jeremy Corbyn are dull. Is it just me that is a bit stunned at how some people just aren’t getting it? Will the Labour Party implode on itself if Jeremy wins? Maybe. The established way of doing things, the press releases and conferences, the leaked emails and twitter arguments, the dick swinging, it has to stop. These people are employed by us to make our lives collectively better.
I’m no Corbynista, I don’t have a Corbyn T shirt, and emails that start ‘Hi Comrade’ make me want to vomit. I get it, it’s weird and uncomfortable . The language of the left is putting people off, people that actually really need us to fight their corner, so stop that please. We do all need to think about the end game, Jeremy is going to win in less than 3 weeks, if we are going to make this work we have to all come at this and be honest about stuff. The media is a powerful thing, we can’t change that, some in the Labour Party are going to be royally pissed, we can’t change that either. Everything is pretty much entrenched, if we continue on the offensive people will dig in harder, the media, the party and the people. Stop with the Che Corbyn crap, I’m a leftie – but that’s just weird. The rest of the world outside our bubble thinks its weird. We all need to shut up about Corbyn, he has our support, that’s enough. Lets all start talking about what we are going to actually DO, every one of us.
None of this means I have no doubts. I do. I can’t simply brush aside the accusations from quite a few MP’s about how things are currently working, or not working under this new kind of politics. The dismantling of the Roman Empire took several hundred years, and by that I’m not advocating the full on destruction of civilisation. Things have got bad haven’t they though? Like, Philip Green on a yacht with peoples pension money bad. Like, went to war illegally, thousands of people dead, says sorry, every thing is fine again, bad. Politicians have been playing this same game for decades now, they don’t know they are the baddies you know? It’s gonna take a little bit of time, a bit of patience, and someone who’s not only fundamentally decent, but someone who can play the long game for a bit. People will lose their shit, just watch.
Go do your meetings, talking is good, protesting and getting angry is good, but doing is better. Be better, show people rather than shouting at people. Whatever your skill in life is, use it. Social media is there, use it for good not for confirming the rhetoric that has been written for us.
In short, this isn’t about Corbyn, it’s about change. It isn’t about taking down corporations and dismantling capitalism, or even about taking the fight to the Tories, it is far, far bigger than any of that. It’s about the politics of hope. It’s about building a positive, inclusive society. If you’re the kind of person that still has hope left, you’ll be able to see past the spin and the venom and will understand. If you are already battered and jaded, beaten down by years of lies it will be hard to see. I think it’s possible, I’ve seen it, there is still good out there, you just have to grab hold of it tightly and fight for it.
dianjo said:
I think Kate’s piece is really great and am going to use it to help promote a Red Labour meeting locally. (If you don’t know about Red Labour – check out REd LAbour 2016 on Facebook. There’s another Red Labour which was stolen from us. Long story… Explained at the top of our page)
My only disagreement with Kate is about ‘Hi Comrades’ I think I used to feel the same about it, but I now think we should encourage the use of the term to distinguish ourselves from those who… well those who are just not comradely! It’s a good word. Let’s reclaim it!
Solidarity!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Morgan said:
The problem with Hi Comtades is that at best it strikes people as slightly ridiculous because nobody actually addresses each other in that way but at worst it hard back to a more militant, communist driven agenda which might well be closer to my ideals than middle of the road New Labour will ever be, but it simply puts people off identifying with the policies of the left and then from voting for Labour in an election. I love all the philosophical debate but I want an elected Labour government with Jeremy in the cabinet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Neal Romanek said:
Yes. “Comrade” just sounds like you’re doing some kind of political cosplay. Hard to take seriously.
LikeLike
msmono said:
Hi Comrades/folks/people/guys/whatevs
I read this as a warm and passionate post and I’m glad to be on the same side as you Kate. I am one of those Trot, Corbyn t.shirt wearing, lunatics referred to but would you believe, I work hard, care for my friends, look after my neighbours and am generally a pretty upstanding citizen. The t.shirt serves the purpose of saying to my wider community that despite what the papers say here I am a 56 year old normalish, looking, stylish woman supporting Corbyn. Shame a few more aren’t wearing them as it’s provoked some interesting encounters none of which were hostile. I’m a bit fed up with being told that ‘people don’ t like ‘x’ or ‘y’. Which people don’t like it and how do we know this? I’m not cult-o-Corby though. I’ll back anyone who shares those values/policies and I think it’s much more about the wider team and that WE make the democracy, not one or a few elected MP’s. I like elements of this blog post but there is a degree of telling others not to shout whilst shouting yourself. I stand with you though sister – if I’m allowed to use that term? 😉
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
🙂 You’re allowed to say whatever you like! I’m actually fine with it, was kind of weird at first though. I guess my point in broader terms is that lots and lots of people aren’t fine with it, words and language are powerful and emotive. We’re uphill currently, stuff is building, yes, but we have a long way to go. We do have to think about the long game, the bigger picture and how we say things. You can batter someone over the head with truth and things that to us seem obvious, but we are a divided country, torn apart by decades of unfairness and lies on all fronts. We have to get smart, get our act together collectively and understand why people feel the way they do. The comrade thing is ammunition, and not everyone is in the bubble so don’t get the irony of Che Corbyn. These are weird times, we have to change the game entirely not play the one set out for us. Much love, hugs, solidarity and above all hope 🙂 keep in touch x
LikeLike
msmono said:
Oh yeah – i think some of the t-shirts are supposed to be ironic!
LikeLiked by 2 people
kateprothero said:
Oh and if it came across as me telling people not to shout that wasn’t my intention at all, I just think that shouting at the wrong people for the wrong reasons doesn’t help. This blog is about a broad range of people that I’ve encountered on both ‘sides’, there seems to be a lot of witch hunting going on, I’ve spent the last couple of days being tagged in some pretty weird and troubling threads on twitter from pro-corbyn people. That absolutely has to stop.
LikeLike
Judi said:
But Corbyn has lied. His allotment-digging, bike-riding, crumpled persona is exaggerated. He’s schemed and plotted against Labour leaders, befriended terrorists and supported revolutionary socialism from the back benched for 32 years while achieving nothing in parliament. He really doesn’t deserve anyone’s vote.
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
If thats what you believe thats fine. Personally I don’t think he’s lied or befriended terrorists, everything I’ve read and researched says otherwise. Essentially neither of us know the man or what motivates him, so specualting on him as a person is kind of irrelevant, for me anyway. If this is all spin, whoever has been responsible for it has done a good job, therefore making the whole incompetence argument kind of redundant (who would keep that act up for 32 years?) If it isn’t and he is actually the crumpled Socialist you speak of, that speaks to me, but above all his political views are most similar to mine. I’m not a revolutionary, just want my kids to be able to get a job when they leave school. Wanting more for our children than we had isn’t about money or a house or a bigger tv, for me it’s about wanting more tolerance and equal opportunities. I’m not trying to persuade anyone. Everyone’s conscience should dictate who they vote for and who they think will do better, for all in society, not just themselves. This thing that’s happening, whatever it is, isn’t about Jeremy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Llanstadwellboy said:
I am not sure what he has lied about, but if we took that stance then nobody would ever vote. Define terrorist, someone who causes terror or someone who causes terror that isn’t economically useful to us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
kateprothero said:
Also just to be pedantic, why would anyone lie about having a bike or an allotment? Does he also secretly wear a tie when people aren’t looking?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Llanstadwellboy said:
Tied in a double Windsor knot!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
kateprothero said:
Quick, someone alert The Daily Mail!! Corbyn in Windsor knot fiasco.
LikeLike
Llanstadwellboy said:
Knot not knotastic!! Royal Family defiled! Duke of Windsor takes out injunction!
LikeLiked by 1 person
edwardpb said:
Jeremy Corbyn, on film for everyone to see, referred to Hamas and Hezbollah as his friends. Let’s just remember that these are both terrorist organisations that blow up innocent people and have zero interest in negotiation. Here’s a nice little quote from the Hamas charter:
‘The prophet, prayer and peace be upon him, said: ‘The time will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews (and kill them); until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim! there is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him!’
If knowing this you can still pretend he doesn’t befriend terrorists I will be very impressed/disappointed.
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
This is a different discussion, but I’ll bite.
I don’t agree that he is a terrorist sympathiser. If you are basing your opinion that he is on the fact that he has negotiated and talked to terrorists and used persuasive language (I wasn’t there or in the room during these conversations, so I have no idea) there would be lots of politicians that could be accused of the same. Two things in life have stuck with me 1. One mans war is another mans freedom fight. 2. Peace can be achieved with the open hand of friendship, rather than a clenched fist.
We can all have different opinions on everything in life, its OK to disagree. Wouldn’t life be dull if we all though the same things? Such a shame that we focus so much on differences rather than similarities.
LikeLike
Fibro confused said:
He has said he shouldn’t have used the term friends, in hindsight it came over wrong.
When you are playing a diplomatic role, trying to get people round the table to bring about a peaceful settlement, you don’t say right you murdering terrorist bastards lets talk, you offer an olive branch a way of getting them to trust you and the process your offering, yep he has used what can be seen as inappropriate words, he on occasion still does. Finding peace among terrorist groups is not easy and take a lot of stomach to overlook the atrocious things that they’ve done and that some still do. Id rather a few wrong words whilst working towards peace than ignoring the issue and sending bombs to solve it instead, we all know how well that works out now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Edward Bains said:
I’m gonna quote another line from the Hamas charter:
‘Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement… There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through jihad.’
These people have no interest in negotiating. Stop pretending.
And regardless, you don’t negotiate with terrorists anymore than we would have negotiated with the Nazis (that other famous group that liked murdering Jews).
‘One man’s war is another man’s freedom fight’ – I find this attitude appalling. Aside from the fact that Hamas advocate an Islamist theocracy (and so are certainly not fighting for anything you would consider ‘freedom’), this is essentially justifying the murder of civilians.
Yes, you’re right we can all have differences of opinions in life. But I presume you don’t consider genocidal fascism a legitimate opinion.
I also find it bizarre that people think Jeremy Corbyn is somehow involved in any way with the Palestinian peace process or in any position to be ‘negotiating’ peace whatsoever.
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
These are two different and complicated discussions. What has Hamas got to do with who leads the British Labour party? Owen Smith wants to negotiate with IS by the way, he also said that a couple of weeks ago. Somehow I don’t think you’re a Labour supporter, so that wont be relevent to you I’m guessing. What do think is the solution in Palestine? I have no idea, I wish I did, I wish anyone did. This piece I wrote isn’t about Hamas, I am not experienced or qualified to write about that at all. There are members of my family that died at Auschwitz, I have lots of jewish friends, I live in a jewish part of Leeds. I also have Palestinian friends, who’s families are dead. That is what I know about. I’ve heard the rhetoric from both sides, its all manner of wrong. Somehow I dont think we’re going to solve this by patronising each other on a thread on a random blog on the internet though. If you want to crack on though, be my guest. We don’t know each other, so I don’t think that making assumptions about people you don’t know on the internet, is particularly helpful. If you want that kind of thing, and need to interact with people in that way, cool – I’m totally the wrong person to do that with though.
LikeLike
Morgan said:
“And regardless, you don’t negotiate with terrorists” , so we didn’t eventually have to negotiate with the IRA to end the violence in Northern Ireland? We didn’t negotiate with David Ben Gurion to extricate ourselves from Palestine? We’re not negotiating now with the Taliban? In the end , all conflicts end in negotiation with groups often declared as terrorists unless you drop a nuclear bomb on them and force them to give up by attrition if that’s what you’re suggesting ?
LikeLike
Edward Bains said:
I was responding to your earlier comments about him not being a befriender of terrorists, which I disagree with, hence why I brought up Hamas. These kind of connections he has are not something the British public will look kindly on when it comes to a general election, and furthermore are not what a decent leader (and person) should have. I have no idea what the solution is for Palestine (like you said, probably no one does), but there are far more peaceful and liberal groups within that conflict that people can support. Hamas, Hezbollah etc are not the only options.
I am actually a Labour member, and yes it was a stupid comment by Smith, who is not exactly a perfect candidate but I believe he’s better (I voted for him).
Again apologies if I sounded patronizing or presumptuous, I can be a bit over-emotive on this issue.
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
It’s all good, we can all be passionate about things we believe in, am glad that you are, it’s what get things done. I should read up on the Hamas and Hezbollah support, and what his involvement was/is, ‘cos I don’t actually know. I saw some footage from a conference where he addressed everyone in the room as ‘friends’, but not sure what else. I know about him inviting members of the IRA to Parliament to have discussions in the 80’s after the Brighton bombing. I guess where I stand on this super complicated set of issues is that I have never lived in a divided country, I’ve never lived in a war zone, I don’t know what it’s like to live with those set of circumstances and I don’t know what I would do or how I would react if I did. Also, what possible motive would JC have for supporting people hell bent on endless conflict, when his track record is quite the opposite. I don’t deal in absolutes, the nuances and complexities of achieving peace in a world where war is financially beneficial, are things I don’t know about. I can’t possibly understand unless I am there among grubbiness and power games. I will read up on this, but it is very hard to find a balanced view – it’s all a little Orwellian, everyone has an agenda, even The Independent. 🙂 No need to apologise, debate is good, it’s how things get done.
LikeLike
Fibro confused said:
And yet the people of Islington north his constituency keep voting him in every 4-5 years since 1983 and like wise Haringey people voted him on to the council in 1974 which he served till he entered parliament, I wonder why hmmm
LikeLike
Morgan said:
Your comments seem to exactly illustrate the problem with media driven politics. You are either taking your ‘facts ‘ directly from media reports you have read or you are simply making it up from ‘things you have heard’. How can you possibly know he has plotted and schemed? Do you know the man? Are you suggesting that he has assiduously cultivated his image by deliberately going for a crumpled, bike riding, bearded lefty look? Seriously?
LikeLiked by 1 person
David said:
Don’t usually contribute to comments, and I suppose I should add I’m not totally sold on Corbyn, but I really do want to take issue with the often repeated idea that Corbyn has achieved absolutely nothing. Labour MPs have pointed out again and again that Corbyn has never held a ministerial post – and has therefore changed nothing, for all his idealism. I disagree. The point is we had a choice of five candidates none of whom were obvious leadership material, and Labour members (including myself) voted for the one candidate who had the experience and expertise required in order to fulfil the first and most important task to hand. Rebuilding Labour as a grass-roots movement. Reengaging those who felt abandoned by the Labour Movement in the Blair Years and had begun to drift elsewhere. Corbyn was eminently qualified for that, having been the Labour MP behind the biggest grass-roots political movement this country has seen for decades: the anti-war movement. I voted for Corbyn because I believed he could turn the Labour Party into a mass-movement again. And he’s done precisely that. No one, I seem to remember, thought Corbyn would stay on right up to the election. I remember Diane Watt saying as much. The idea was that he’d get the party in order – and stand aside. I was hoping we’d then get a younger more vigorous candidate who broadly shared Corbyn’s political views and was able to tap into the support Corbyn had built up. That’s not been permitted to happen – and it’s not happened because certain MPs would rather see the Party collapse than move on. If they force Corbyn out everything he’s done – and that he was voted in to achieve having proven himself in the past – will have counted for nothing. In fact, it’s hard to see how Corbyn *can* go at all now given what’s happened. Whatever happens after he steps down will just reopen this civil war they’ve opened up. Perhaps the only way out now is for Corbyn to nominate a successor once he wins this contest (which he will) when the next assassination attempt begins (which it certainly will: I understand there’s been talk of another in just over a year). Once Corbyn’s successor wins that contest (the most probable outcome given the composition of the membership), the Parliamentary Party will be able to get back on-side while saving face (which is all they seem to care about), and the Labour movement can get on with changing the country for the better. In the meantime, I do hope the leadership finally start permitting the sort of deselections rebel MPs have been insisting Corbyn was after all along. The behaviour of the Parliamentary Party has been an utter disgrace, and the very worst of the offenders within this inept Fifth Column for the Murdoch press should be thrown out before they can do any further damage. Perhaps their readmission to the party once Corbyn’s successor is in place might then serve as the olive-branch we’ll need to patch things up. At the moment there’s no scope for such reciprocity – all the injuries have been inflicted by the one side.
LikeLiked by 1 person
opubo said:
quite a load of bollocks sir/madam.
LikeLike
John said:
Corbin simply copies the words and ideas of others. Then reads a script as what he says doesn’t come naturally. He says it’s not about him because he doesn’t want to be in government……too much like hard work and the buck stops with you…..can’t have that! No, much better just to continually disagree for disagreements sake! It’s not big, it’s not clever, and no ones impressed. Armchair critic…..enjoying the expenses it takes to travel the country on rally’s preaching to the converted. It is about Corbyn, he is the ambassador of whatever outdated, ill informed and globally inexperienced sound bites. 500,000 members sounds a lot to the provincially minded, however, it’s a tiny number in the scheme of things thank goodness. Ever heard of quality not quantity? No? Read a book.
LikeLike
Llanstadwellboyo said:
Are you sure you haven’t got May and Corbyn mixed up?
LikeLike
Andy Jenkinson said:
Would you like to present some evidence?
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
Thank you for your comment John and for reading my waffle! Am not entirely sure what points you’re making though. Am happy to discuss with you and take on board anything you say, am open to different ideas, my current views aren’t fixed. Also, any particular books you would recommend? 🙂
LikeLike
Fibro confused said:
Hi John, Jeremy Corbyn can’t claim expenses for the leadership campaign, expenses can only be claimed for work relating to MP’s duties in parliament including living & travel expenses for there work in their constituencies, as it happens Jeremy has repeatedly claimed the lowest, before taking on the leadership which increases office staff etc his last claim personally was £8.50 for a printer cartridge and the rest was for his constituency office & staff.
He has notes for his rallies, speeches are written for more formal occasions like when the press will be present, he isn’t a natural born speaker but that’s part of his character people like me like about him, I’m fed up of the actors that we get from all sides. He’s a normal chap who enjoys his allotment even better 🙂
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
If we say this often enough and in the right papers, I wonder if it will become fact. ‘Corbyn lies about this year’s gooseberry crop in allotment shame’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: I’ve Had Enough Of Hearing About Jeremy Corbyn. | Bornstroppy's Blog
AT42 said:
Don’t Hi comrade or Che Corbyn crap, haven’t seen much of either. 😉
But you are right there has to be change we need a society that offers a decent life to everyone, not just the rich and powerful.
No more food bank dependency, no more homelessness and no more zero hours contracts.
A decent job with decent pay, a secure home and a fully funded unprivatised NHS. Social care and home visits by doctors for those that need them
End student loans, free University Education for all with a decent maintenance grant.
Renationalised railways and decent public transport I rural areas as well as in the town’s.
Education under Local Authority control.
Will that do as a start?
We did all that (and more) in 1945, I grew up in that world. I saw it, it’s possible. Don’t let them say it isn’t.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Angel Scotter said:
We don’t want a Leader. We want a representative.
LikeLike
opubo said:
Reblogged this on Opubo's Blog and commented:
I’ll only add (please read the article first) that Mr Corbyn always stresses that this has never been about him. He never even expected to win in 2015.
LikeLike
opubo said:
I’ll only add that Mr. Corbyn has always stressed that this has never been about him. He never even expected to win in 2015.
LikeLike
Ian Hodge said:
I think this piece is articulate, funny and apposite. If i was a young man, Kate, I’d fall for you, but now….
If you’d like an extra grandpa, I could be proud of you.
LikeLike
edwardpb said:
The author’s comment about the Guardian is rather revealing. In essence, you’re annoyed at a newspaper for not always writing favourably about someone you like/idolise. To put it another way, you don’t like hearing opinions that differ from your own, and you don’t want to see any evidence that might make you question your world view. Essentially, you’re living in an ‘echo-chamber’.
This comment is even more ridiculous when you consider the fact that the Guardian actually puts out a lot of pro-Corbyn articles as well.
This attitude to the media would seem funny and pathetic if it wasn’t so dangerous. It’s the exact same attitude held by Trump and his supporters that they use to discredit media scrutiny of them and their policies (and thus pretend they aren’t a total shitshow). It’s extraordinarily undemocratic when you think about it, and people attacking the vital role of the media in scrutinising our politicians are only a few steps away from those who start restricting what the media is allowed to say (authoritarianism).
I hope the author tries to keep an open mind and does not restrict herself to a diet of The Independent and, God forbid, The Canary.
LikeLike
kateprothero said:
Hi, I’m Kate, (names on the blog) Did you not read what I wrote? Am I pro-Corbyn? Not necessarily, Am I pro-change? Yes. Do I think that some of the media have been biased (including The Guardian)? Yes. As someone that has worked in the media for the last 20 years I understand the importance of a balanced and vigorous holding to account. I don’t live or work in an echo-chamber, some of my best friends are Tories you know. 😉 No one has suggested restricting anything, just pointed out some bias, which is there. I don’t read The Canary at all, or solely The Independent, but thank you very much for your advice. I think all politicians need to be criticised, including Corbyn. The media spent an entire week talking about whether he sat on the floor of a train, what kind of ticket he may or may not have bought – the same week that our Human Rights Act was being prepared to be abolished. The new Bill Of Rights is being drawn up by a government that have breached international human rights – that’s not from The Canary it’s from the UN Committee. So yeah, the fact that wasn’t on the national news every night for a week, but whether Corbyn had a seat on a train or not was, suggests a teeny bit of bias. Just my opinion, I may be wrong, feel free to believe whatever you like, I really don’t mind. I didn’t particularly write this to persuade anyone of anything, if people read it and liked my rambling, fine, if they didn’t, thats also fine. Thanks for commenting, nice to ‘meet’ you. Kate x
LikeLike
Edward Bains said:
I hope I didn’t sound too condescending in my previous comment. I’m a little hungover, my apologies. And I did see your name, I just didn’t want to sound overly familiar haha :’)
I agree that their is media bias against Corbyn, just as their is also media bias in favour of him depending on which newspaper you’re reading. But media bias is not the explanation for his numerous failings. And yes, the ‘traingate’ fiasco was a huge gift to the Tories, allowing them to bury their bad news. The entire period of his leadership has been exactly that, ensuring a government that has presided over an unending series of disasters has gotten away with it scot-free. Were he a remotely competent leader, none of these ridiculous own-goals and PR gaffes might have happened and the Tories would actually have been held to account. While we’re on the topic of Traingate – here is a clear-cut case of Corbyn lying to you, just like he lied about his support for the EU (and sabotaged the remain campaign). People need to stop pretending that he is somehow different to or better than other politicians.
Anyway thanks for your response.
LikeLike
Andrew Jenkinson said:
In common with most national newspapers the Guardian printed the LIE that Angela Eagle’s Constituency Office window was broken by a brick whereas it was a pane in the window of a stairwell elsewhere in the building. They refused to print a correction. Why would they do that if the Guardian employed reporters who accurately reported on stories or a management which was not politically biased?
LikeLike
OneMichaelBrown said:
LikeLike
uapsnu said:
If Theresa May was policewoman …she’d be out of a job.
LikeLike