Labourhome - Stories by free radical http://www.labourhome.org/ Back to the roots... en-us Copyright 2007 - LabourHome.org Fri May 16 20:56:30 2008 Labourhome Labourhome Labourhome http://www.labourhome.org/favicon.ico http://www.labourhome.org/ [Blogs] Nick Robinson - is he biased? http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/5/16/101953/967 Nick Robinson's report on Gordon Brown (BBC 1, 10 O'Clock News, Wednesday May 14th) appeared to be a straightforward piece of character assassination rather than reputable journalism. It opened with a close up of bitten fingernails with words along the lines of - these are the hands of the man who is running the country. No, really? Pan out from the hands to reveal Gordon Brown.

The BBC's political editor, and former chair of the Young Conservatives, (No really? http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/sep/05/broadcasting.mondaymediasection) goes on to say that the government has made a number of policy announcements - these flash up on the screen rapidly over one another (i.e. viewers, there are just too many announcements). There is then some actual opinionated reporting (the current affairs bit). And at the end of the piece we return to a close up of tired eyes, which are Gordon Brown's.

Now, whatever you think of Gordon Brown, this kind of reporting is, in my opinion, a disgrace. And unfortunately it typifies a growing trend of subjective, arrogant, superior, patronising and cynical reporting that is deeply corrosive of our democracy. To depoliticise the debate in this way and replace it with opinion is a descent into the standards of the gutter press.

Don't worry about the tiresome details of politics, let's just concentrate on some gossip. And don't worry about thinking - we can do that for you...


Advertise on this site with MessageSpace ]]> 2008-05-16T10:19:53-05:00 [Blogs] Livingstone calls on Labour to learn lessons from London http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/5/9/93924/60071 In a thoughtful article in today's Guardian (9 May), Ken Livingstone calls on Labour to learn the lessons from last week's elections in London.
To my mind, a key part of Ken Livingstone's article is the following passage:

"Following May 1 some people are posing the choice as between moving "to the left" or "to the right". This is not the right question. Labour must place itself at the centre of a progressive alliance that can solve the problems facing the country."

This view makes a lot of sense. Our task now is to reconstruct the progressive coalition that Livingstone managed in London so well.

Meanwhile, over at the Economist, Bagehot suggests that the current Conservative party is New Labour's final triumph - "Eleven years of New Labour has made compassion compulsory."

Perhaps there is a grain of truth in this, just as there was more than a grain of truth in the notion that New Labour represented the final triumph of Thatcherism. And in shifting leftward once might say that the Tories have displaced Labour from that centre-right ground.

But, note what Livingstone says - the choice is not simply about moving Labour to the Left or the Right, but about placing itself at the centre of a progressive alliance. So, do the terms 'left' and 'right' still have a validity? I think they do, but the Labour coalition must include people of the left and the centre of politics, otherwise it will not work. And we should be guided, as Livingstone suggests, by what needs to be done.

This is not necessarily about embracing neo-liberal orthodoxy. Livingstone's policies have always been, in many respects, identified with the left, but he has also embraced progress, environmental issues, and the kind of 21st century cosmopolitan culture that London reflects so well.

In addition, issues of liberty do not sit simply on a left-right axis. I believe that the Tories are very astute in capturing the mood of our times and (regardless of what their real agenda might be) trumpeting civil liberties. Labour has yet to learn that lesson, but there is still time. Let's start placing ourselves at the centre of that progressive alliance.

Advertise on this site with MessageSpace ]]> 2008-05-09T09:39:24-05:00 [Blogs] 42 days... the next problem http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/5/3/54131/09346 At times like these we do not need further self-inflicted wounds, but the 42 days legislation promises to be just that. Firstly, let me say I am totally opposed to extending the period of detention without charge to 42 days - in fact the current period of 28 days is indefensible in a democracy, despite the undoubted threats we face. As Benjamin Franklin said "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - which sums it up very neatly.

But, tactically our leader's insistence upon pursuing this policy in the teeth of the opposition of parliament look as though it will either:
a) inflict unnecessary and illiberal legislation upon us,
or, more likely
b) inflict a further humiliating defeat upon the government.

David Cameron was able to attack Gordon Brown in the House on Thursday, accusing him of posturing in appearing "tough on terror." Cameron's views echo a YouGov poll published by Liberty back in March which found that "54 percent of people believe the Government’s motivation for the proposals is to “look tough on terror.”"  It was a dismal experience indeed having to agree with Cameron, for all his seeming vacuity and opportunism.

Our leaders have only a short-time to find a face-saving way out of this potential calamity. At the moment they run the presentational risk of enjoying the worst of all worlds - appearing both illiberal and weak at the same time.

Please think again Prime Minister.
Advertise on this site with MessageSpace ]]> 2008-05-03T05:41:31-05:00 [Blogs] Zimbabwe arms shipment: let's hear it for the dockers of Durban! http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/4/19/1238/72957 The interruption of the supply of a shipment of Chinese Arms to Zimbabwe by Durban dock workers is a reminder of the power of trade unionists' solidarity action.
In the ongoing tragedy of Zimbabwe's slide into tyranny and chaos one heartwarming turn of events stands out this week. The action of dockworkers in the South African port of Durban who refused to unload a shipment of arms from China at least delayed their transport to Mugabe's regime, as reported in the New York Times ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/world/africa/19zimbabwe.html?ref=africa ) and elsewhere.

According to the Celia Dugger in the New York Times an application to the South African High Courts by Rubin Phillip, Archbishop of KwaZulu-Natal, and Gerald Patrick Kearney to halt the transport of the shipment was also succesful but the ship weighed anchor before the notice could be served and was reported to be heading for the port of Maputo in Mozambique.

In the West these are cynical times perhaps, but the stand taken by ordinary people, like the dockers of Durban, against injustice, and in support of fellow trade unionists in Zimbabwe is peculiarly moving, and contrasts sharply with the timid approach to Zimbabwe of the South African government. So, workers' solidarity is still alive and well - thank goodness.
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