| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... 13:58 - May 9 with 117590 views | hubble |
..posted by a good friend of mine on Facebook, thought I'd share it on here. He's a former professional footballer (briefly for Birmingham City) and a former copper, working mainly out of Camden police station. He grew up in Kilburn/Queens Park. He's now a writer (among other things).
Worth a read I think, hope you enjoy, whether you agree with him or not, even when he veers off-topic...
"Thoughts of the Week (part 1)
Let’s start with a subheading. ‘Dear, oh dear Diane Abbot!’
In the upcoming General Election campaign and apart from the ‘Leader’ (no, not Gary Glitter) no one is more important for the Labour Party campaign than the Shadow Home Secretary. Why’s this? You ask.
The reason is obvious: Theresa May —the strong woman, Ms subtle, but steely - was the former Home Secretary. A position which she used to inflict near terminal ravages of the nation’s police forces. Under her auspices we saw numbers cut, benefits cut and police stations closed willy-nilly to cash in, short-term, on the booming (especially in London) property market.
The short-sightedness of this policy is astounding. No matter the so-called austerity budget (which only seems to apply to the working classes, while the privileged elite continue to live the life of Riley) the question must be asked as to what will happen when there’s some serious social unrest — and you can feel it stirring. Remember 2011 when the riots broke out? We had anarchy and nihilism on the streets and the police force didn’t cope with it at all. Instead we had a grand mopping up campaign. Suddenly all those poor silly students who had been demonised as hard-core criminals after they smashed the windows of the Tory HQ — and received ridiculously harsh prison sentences for what were in the main first offences - were kicked out of the pokey and replaced by the new batch of rioters. The Criminal Justice system ground to a halt, the prison’s overflowed. The courts were as ram-jam packed as a back-in-the-day David Rodigan dance. In response what did the great Theresa May do? She further decimated the police force. She did the same to the prison service. The vaunted Border Force, our first defence, is comically short of manpower and morale as they attempt to hire staff on Mickey-Mouse contracts. Labour should be slaughtering Theresa May on what she’s done. Instead we got that car crash of an interview on LBC.
To be honest I resisted calls to listen to it for a time. Some of my more right-leaning pals were raving about it, but I thought they were overreacting due to a general contempt for the Hackney MP. I was wrong. When I actually got round to listening to it I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was stunningly incompetent, mind-blowingly nonsensical, embarrassing and shocking. Is this the Shadow Home Secretary who’s going to lead the challenge to Theresa May’s record? She should have stood down immediately and if not the great leader should have forced her hand, no matter past rendezvous in the sack. Of course it didn’t happen and Labour under Jeremy Corbyn has no hope in this election. What a shame it all is because there are loads of issues that they should be taking the government to task on. Just look at that bumbling Tommy Cooper impersonator of a Foreign Secretary, a million miles removed from a serious statesman: Mr Retraction — an embarrassment to the nation.
I’m voting Labour in the coming election, but not for Jeremy, more for the thought of the millions of people who are going to suffer under the coming five years of Tory rule: the working men and women who haven’t seen their wages rise, in real terms, for the last thirty years, while the fat cats, sharks and speculators are minted; the students starting out life saddled with debt; the millions who’ll never be able to afford a home; and in honour of the National Health Service, soon to be dismantled further, but remaining the brightest light in the nation’s modern history. What a rotten, unfair and unbalanced society we’ve become.
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:28 - Jun 1 with 1967 views | FDC |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:17 - Jun 1 by hoof_hearted |
Postal vote just dealt with. No need to respond because it's a done deed and it's my personal private vote that I'm sharing with the power of anonymity as I've ummed and ahh'd a bit in your company. Just make of it/me what you will but here's my final thinking:-
I dislike my conservative candidate, Nick (neither seen nor) Hurd, but he'll get in with a huge majority as always so I don't need to consider any direct impact on the next government. He can feck right off.
The local Labour candidate seems to be a potentially much better MP for us and associates with Starmer and Khan rather than the unpalatable Corbyn and McDonnell which would give her my vote but I could never, ever. ever associate myself with Corbyn and McDonnell.
UKIP - never entered the debate for me.
Lib Dems - Tim Farron? Really? I'm not against having some sort of check back about the final Brexit deal to keep a rein on whoever is agreeing things on my behalf but if my mates want to play hide the sausage with each other then I don't want a god botherer condemning them to hell from parliament.
Yesterday I looked into all my local candidates as much as is possible. I've read the local manifestos of all the parties, factored in my personal prejudices as above and looked and listened to the performances last night.
I have voted Green and not as a wasted protest vote. They have no baggage, no class war hatred, no fantasy economics - they admit we'll all have to pay more taxes and they don't indulge in the fantasy it is "only the top 5%". They don't have joint- leaders with the full backing of the party and a decent number of very credible candidates. They aren't going to get into power but I think a bit more of their influence would do the country an enormous amount of good. It worked for UKIP.
Over and out for politics for me. If it's a hung parliament then see you all on the next thread in October. Otherwise keep well until 2022  . |
Good choice.
Having been a member of the Green Party many moons ago, and having met Natalie Bennett a number of times I can assure you that behind the lentils and sandals class-war very much features in their politics, and in fact they are far and away the most left-wing mainstream party  [Post edited 1 Jun 2017 11:29]
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:34 - Jun 1 with 1939 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
Have thought of voting Green only as I hate the Blairite mp here and he will win anyway but I think in many cases it would only help the tories . |  |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:36 - Jun 1 with 1933 views | FDC |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 10:38 - May 19 by paulparker |
It's possible that oldie little-England UKIP types,
how wonderfully condescending of you,
I wouldn't worry, hardly any of us oldie , horrible, nasty UKIP voters will ever vote for Labour , never in a million years would anyone get behind the likes of Corbyn , Abbott , Thornberry , the 3 amigos who love to look down on the average man on the street who have nothing but contempt for the likes of me , they will never get my vote |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 13:35 - Jun 1 with 1836 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
Is it wrong that I just told the libs that knocked at my door that they have my vote, letting them walk away smiling.
Kunts | |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 13:42 - Jun 1 with 1820 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
May just did another speech and for the first time it's not the top story on the BBC news site
Things changing ? | |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 13:45 - Jun 1 with 1813 views | johncharles |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 13:35 - Jun 1 by 2Thomas2Bowles |
Is it wrong that I just told the libs that knocked at my door that they have my vote, letting them walk away smiling.
Kunts |
I always lie to the Consevatives when they come to my door. They can be quite racist if you lead them on a bit. They go away chuckling. Knobs. |  |
| Strong and stable my arse. |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 13:48 - Jun 1 with 1806 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 13:45 - Jun 1 by johncharles |
I always lie to the Consevatives when they come to my door. They can be quite racist if you lead them on a bit. They go away chuckling. Knobs. |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 14:37 - Jun 1 with 1775 views | FDC |
Ha ha, my word. This is excellent.
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 15:44 - Jun 1 with 1720 views | johncharles |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 14:37 - Jun 1 by FDC |
Ha ha, my word. This is excellent.
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Watch this NOW !!! | |
| Strong and stable my arse. |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 17:08 - Jun 1 with 1669 views | robith |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:17 - Jun 1 by hoof_hearted |
Postal vote just dealt with. No need to respond because it's a done deed and it's my personal private vote that I'm sharing with the power of anonymity as I've ummed and ahh'd a bit in your company. Just make of it/me what you will but here's my final thinking:-
I dislike my conservative candidate, Nick (neither seen nor) Hurd, but he'll get in with a huge majority as always so I don't need to consider any direct impact on the next government. He can feck right off.
The local Labour candidate seems to be a potentially much better MP for us and associates with Starmer and Khan rather than the unpalatable Corbyn and McDonnell which would give her my vote but I could never, ever. ever associate myself with Corbyn and McDonnell.
UKIP - never entered the debate for me.
Lib Dems - Tim Farron? Really? I'm not against having some sort of check back about the final Brexit deal to keep a rein on whoever is agreeing things on my behalf but if my mates want to play hide the sausage with each other then I don't want a god botherer condemning them to hell from parliament.
Yesterday I looked into all my local candidates as much as is possible. I've read the local manifestos of all the parties, factored in my personal prejudices as above and looked and listened to the performances last night.
I have voted Green and not as a wasted protest vote. They have no baggage, no class war hatred, no fantasy economics - they admit we'll all have to pay more taxes and they don't indulge in the fantasy it is "only the top 5%". They don't have joint- leaders with the full backing of the party and a decent number of very credible candidates. They aren't going to get into power but I think a bit more of their influence would do the country an enormous amount of good. It worked for UKIP.
Over and out for politics for me. If it's a hung parliament then see you all on the next thread in October. Otherwise keep well until 2022 . |
While I disagree with the conclusion you've reached, if everyone in the country put the kind of thought in you've done there, I feel we would have a richer, more energised country. Thank you for sharing |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 17:13 - Jun 1 with 1659 views | robith |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 13:45 - Jun 1 by johncharles |
I always lie to the Consevatives when they come to my door. They can be quite racist if you lead them on a bit. They go away chuckling. Knobs. |
I lived all over Hackney for a variety of years, but Stamford Hill was the only flat where the Tory candidate ever bothered to come knocking (it's the only part of Hackney with Tory councillors). I felt very sorry for her - she was incredibly young and clearly a HQ grad sent out to a red stronghold to take one for the team for a better shot next time | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 18:24 - Jun 1 with 1618 views | Hunterhoop |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 17:13 - Jun 1 by robith |
I lived all over Hackney for a variety of years, but Stamford Hill was the only flat where the Tory candidate ever bothered to come knocking (it's the only part of Hackney with Tory councillors). I felt very sorry for her - she was incredibly young and clearly a HQ grad sent out to a red stronghold to take one for the team for a better shot next time |
I live in Conservative seat (Wandsworth), which has a fairly chunky Conservative majority (14k, I think). And yet, I have received zero campaign material into my letter box. I've seen nothing in the borough in terms of Conservative campaign material at all, until this morning on the way to work, where one well dressed 60 yr was forlornly handing out fliers.
Very odd.
Lib Dems have had some presence with leaflets, door to door, etc.
Nothing from Labour or the Greens (or UKIP, although not somewhere they're likely to pump much resource).
Anyway, point I was going to make was, even at a local level, it feels like the Tories are being remarkably complacent. Justice Greening is the sitting MP; she's not even sent out a parish update style note to constituents. Odd.
Definite feeling across the country that May is ballsing this right up. A hung parliament would be excellent on many levels. Ideally, I'd want no coalition formed, and force the buggers to all work together a tad, hopefully delivering Proportional Representation and a better way of doing politics in Britain for the long term. |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:10 - Jun 1 with 1580 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
Tim Farron did ok last night, now on Andrew Neil he is a dead fish. | |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:14 - Jun 1 with 1577 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
He has lost it Andrew Neil has finished him off a real row going on | |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:17 - Jun 1 with 1572 views | stevec |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:10 - Jun 1 by 2Thomas2Bowles |
Tim Farron did ok last night, now on Andrew Neil he is a dead fish. |
This is what I can't stand about Liberals. Tiny Tim is a weasel, the sort of man who shakes on a deal then welch on it. Lowest of the low. |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:20 - Jun 1 with 1568 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
Truly dreadful from TF in one show he has been hung out to dry. | |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:25 - Jun 1 with 1554 views | QPR_Jim |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:17 - Jun 1 by stevec |
This is what I can't stand about Liberals. Tiny Tim is a weasel, the sort of man who shakes on a deal then welch on it. Lowest of the low. |
It's almost like you want me to mention the brexit bus!
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:28 - Jun 1 with 1551 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
Going on about spliffs now but he must be on something harder, incoherent t wat. [Post edited 1 Jun 2017 19:56]
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:35 - Jun 1 with 1538 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
That's the end of him, political suicide live | |
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:38 - Jun 1 with 1532 views | stevec |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:25 - Jun 1 by QPR_Jim |
It's almost like you want me to mention the brexit bus!
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Know what you're saying but the fundamentals were a yes no vote, that was the handshake.
Any man with any decency honours that shake, win or lose. Any man who then tries to wriggle out, best of three, any bo llocks like that, is a weasel. End of. | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 20:26 - Jun 1 with 1497 views | QPR_Jim |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:38 - Jun 1 by stevec |
Know what you're saying but the fundamentals were a yes no vote, that was the handshake.
Any man with any decency honours that shake, win or lose. Any man who then tries to wriggle out, best of three, any bo llocks like that, is a weasel. End of. |
All depends, putting Brexit aside for a second, I'm sure if you felt like you'd been miss-sold something (rightly or wrongly) you wouldn't feel obliged to honor the agreement.
Reading your post again, you seem to be equating it to a handshake on a bet which is fair enough you should honor it even if it's something unpalatable like donating money to a political party you disagree with (top man LBlock) but I don't see that as being the case here, I see it more as some bloke trying to con a pensioner. Subjective though isn't it I guess but now you're a lefty I'm sure you'll start to come around. | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 20:35 - Jun 1 with 1486 views | QPR_John |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 20:26 - Jun 1 by QPR_Jim |
All depends, putting Brexit aside for a second, I'm sure if you felt like you'd been miss-sold something (rightly or wrongly) you wouldn't feel obliged to honor the agreement.
Reading your post again, you seem to be equating it to a handshake on a bet which is fair enough you should honor it even if it's something unpalatable like donating money to a political party you disagree with (top man LBlock) but I don't see that as being the case here, I see it more as some bloke trying to con a pensioner. Subjective though isn't it I guess but now you're a lefty I'm sure you'll start to come around. |
Honour surely |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 21:36 - Jun 1 with 1438 views | DannyPaddox |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 14:37 - Jun 1 by FDC |
Ha ha, my word. This is excellent.
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"Like a fcuking giant triffid!"
Brilliant! [Post edited 1 Jun 2017 21:59]
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 22:24 - Jun 1 with 1395 views | Brightonhoop |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 22:57 - May 31 by JamesB1979 |
Farron and Lucas were the best for me. I also think Wood is pretty good. |
Lucas was my local mp and was useless beyond belief.Couldn't run a bath let alone a constituency. Lives in Brussels apparently for the school and trough benefits. Brightons not good enough for her. The very worst of derelict representatives.
Try her as your MP first. Absolute chocolate teapot motorbike ash tray 8 days a week. Talks a lot of wind power, the spine of a snake.
Awful awful awful, beyond comprehension
Jasmine in the mind.
Wipe and flush. Dont waste your vote. [Post edited 1 Jun 2017 22:33]
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| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 22:32 - Jun 1 with 1380 views | QPR_Jim |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 20:35 - Jun 1 by QPR_John |
Honour surely |
Your right, auto correct made me spell honour like an american, do I need to re-write it for you to understand what I meant or can you muddle through despite the spelling mistake? | | | |
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