| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... 13:58 - May 9 with 114524 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.
|  |
| |  |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 08:25 - May 25 with 2351 views | ElHoop |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:25 - May 24 by hubble |
I have to say how good it is to read intelligent and informed debate on this forum. It's also good to know that compared to some other QPR sites (and social media forums in general), this one is balanced and rarely reactionary.
In regard to the topic at hand, it looked like the Tories were taking a hammering in the polls after their dementia tax revelation and May's weak and wobbly apparent U-turn. Obviously yesterday's tragic events have taken the shine off that Labour surge and probably given May back some momentum. However I think overall a large Tory majority would be disastrous for this country. They cannot be trusted on anything, they do not serve the interests of the ordinary populace, rather they serve their own vested interests. I am hoping for at least enough of a Labour surge to keep the Tory majority very modest.
However, as I said before, it would be a beautiful thing to see May's face if they didn't increase their majority at all, or even lost it!
Keep up the good work everybody. |
I'm not sure what will happen now, when it all kicks off again tomorrow.
But I'm not convinced that these terrorist murders will help May at all. We know that May isn't a great campaigner and even sticking to the script isn't really an option now as she's had to change it. We know that Corbyn is a good and successful campaigner even if isn't a class act. So May was already up against it before Monday's events.
Diane Abbott's disaster with the maths over extra policing might actually work in their favour, as just about as many people as are ever going to know it are aware that they want to increase policing even if the numbers didn't make sense. The tories on the other hand have had to substantially cut the police force and have arguably had to call in the army to make up for this. I can't believe that Labour won't make a big point about this in the next few days. And how do you answer that one if you are May?
With the controversial cap on care in the home costs/dementia tax still all over the place, Labour still looks a 'buy' to me at the moment. |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:01 - May 25 with 2253 views | essextaxiboy |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 08:25 - May 25 by ElHoop |
I'm not sure what will happen now, when it all kicks off again tomorrow.
But I'm not convinced that these terrorist murders will help May at all. We know that May isn't a great campaigner and even sticking to the script isn't really an option now as she's had to change it. We know that Corbyn is a good and successful campaigner even if isn't a class act. So May was already up against it before Monday's events.
Diane Abbott's disaster with the maths over extra policing might actually work in their favour, as just about as many people as are ever going to know it are aware that they want to increase policing even if the numbers didn't make sense. The tories on the other hand have had to substantially cut the police force and have arguably had to call in the army to make up for this. I can't believe that Labour won't make a big point about this in the next few days. And how do you answer that one if you are May?
With the controversial cap on care in the home costs/dementia tax still all over the place, Labour still looks a 'buy' to me at the moment. |
I think UKIP will have a resurgence , they are launching their manifesto today . I was at the Gym so couldnt follow it closely but Nuttall who I cant stand quickly got off the stage and Suzanne Evans took over .
For me she has a lot of credibility , she could have stayed a Tory and had an easier ride , she could have backed away when Farage was gunning for her and she wrote the manifesto which achieved 4 million votes while Cameron was promising an EU referendum .
With respect to the Manchester victims she just pointed out the reductions in Police , Border Force , Armed Forces and others and didnt try to score points on their memory .
I will read her latest effort and see if there is anything that really rules them out . I have never voted tactically or in protest before but I have to admit walking home I was thinking about it . I have never voted for them before locally or nationally . |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:53 - May 25 with 2225 views | ElHoop |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:01 - May 25 by essextaxiboy |
I think UKIP will have a resurgence , they are launching their manifesto today . I was at the Gym so couldnt follow it closely but Nuttall who I cant stand quickly got off the stage and Suzanne Evans took over .
For me she has a lot of credibility , she could have stayed a Tory and had an easier ride , she could have backed away when Farage was gunning for her and she wrote the manifesto which achieved 4 million votes while Cameron was promising an EU referendum .
With respect to the Manchester victims she just pointed out the reductions in Police , Border Force , Armed Forces and others and didnt try to score points on their memory .
I will read her latest effort and see if there is anything that really rules them out . I have never voted tactically or in protest before but I have to admit walking home I was thinking about it . I have never voted for them before locally or nationally . |
But Evans isn't even standing for election here. They're not putting candidates in a load of seats either. At best all they are going to do is take votes from the big two parties, but it looks as if it won't be many votes if they don't have the numbers or look as if they are a serious outfit. | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 17:24 - May 25 with 2162 views | wood_hoop |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 11:25 - May 24 by hubble |
I have to say how good it is to read intelligent and informed debate on this forum. It's also good to know that compared to some other QPR sites (and social media forums in general), this one is balanced and rarely reactionary.
In regard to the topic at hand, it looked like the Tories were taking a hammering in the polls after their dementia tax revelation and May's weak and wobbly apparent U-turn. Obviously yesterday's tragic events have taken the shine off that Labour surge and probably given May back some momentum. However I think overall a large Tory majority would be disastrous for this country. They cannot be trusted on anything, they do not serve the interests of the ordinary populace, rather they serve their own vested interests. I am hoping for at least enough of a Labour surge to keep the Tory majority very modest.
However, as I said before, it would be a beautiful thing to see May's face if they didn't increase their majority at all, or even lost it!
Keep up the good work everybody. |
Good post hubble, have to agree with a lot of the points you make, this could well be a 'Thatcher' moment for May, disliking her was growing by the day, Thatcher used the Falkands War to an acute advantage, looked like she was going to win the 82 election but only just, Falklands turned that into a landslide, didn't help that Foot was leader of the Labour Party, the media had field days on everything he said, did, even his wardrobe.
Not unlike another fairly left leaning Mr Corbyn, who who seems had been fighting back, unfortunately for him, the evil carnage that has shocked so many of us, is no place to try and score political points with. |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 17:24 - May 25 with 2156 views | TacticalR |
Suzanne Evans was the one who described UKIP as 'toxic' last year. After the election was announced I heard her and another UKIP bruiser Lisa Duffy sounding off together. It was obvious that post-Brexit they had no ideas and could only go on about veils and 'FGM'. Talk about politics in reduced circumstances. |  |
| |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 18:32 - May 25 with 2116 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 17:24 - May 25 by wood_hoop |
Good post hubble, have to agree with a lot of the points you make, this could well be a 'Thatcher' moment for May, disliking her was growing by the day, Thatcher used the Falkands War to an acute advantage, looked like she was going to win the 82 election but only just, Falklands turned that into a landslide, didn't help that Foot was leader of the Labour Party, the media had field days on everything he said, did, even his wardrobe.
Not unlike another fairly left leaning Mr Corbyn, who who seems had been fighting back, unfortunately for him, the evil carnage that has shocked so many of us, is no place to try and score political points with. |
That may depend on a few things
Before this week it was believed that the tory press were going to hit JC hard on the IRA stuff, should they go ahead with that line I can see this week being use to show how bad the tories have been on cuts and park the blame at their feet and all get really nasty |  |
| |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:53 - May 25 with 2078 views | johncharles |
Theresa May is a walking disaster area. The police can't keep all the suspects under surveillance because they don't have the man power. This is due to the cut backs made by May when she was Home Secretary. Putting troops on the street is like saying the Police aren't up to the job. It's also saying that she isn't up to the job. Panic measure which only gives terrorists more targets. It also gives weight to their claims that this is a war.
I know that most of you are too young to have lived through the troubles in NI but for those of us who watched unfold on the TV every evening it's a horrible re-run of the mistakes. |  |
| Strong and stable my arse. |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 20:25 - May 25 with 2060 views | essextaxiboy |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 19:53 - May 25 by johncharles |
Theresa May is a walking disaster area. The police can't keep all the suspects under surveillance because they don't have the man power. This is due to the cut backs made by May when she was Home Secretary. Putting troops on the street is like saying the Police aren't up to the job. It's also saying that she isn't up to the job. Panic measure which only gives terrorists more targets. It also gives weight to their claims that this is a war.
I know that most of you are too young to have lived through the troubles in NI but for those of us who watched unfold on the TV every evening it's a horrible re-run of the mistakes. |
You are right to bring up reduced police numbers , but there are 3.5 k on the suspect list and this latest slimeball wasnt dodgy enough even to make that . Even without thr cuts they cant watch them all and the London bombings took place before the cuts were even made .. | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 23:02 - May 25 with 1994 views | BromleyHoop |
The Tory lead is down to 5% on one poll tonight although this was taken just before the Manchester attack. Labour supporters must surely be beginning to believe that they can pull off what must be the biggest shock win in politics in the U.K. in several lifetimes!
This may have coincided with Diane Abbott going missing from the TV. [Post edited 25 May 2017 23:04]
|  |
| |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 23:22 - May 25 with 1975 views | FDC |
The yougov poll is from the past couple of days
Data from Monday shows labour had over taken tories in favourability ratings prior to the attack |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 23:42 - May 25 with 1960 views | Brightonhoop |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 20:25 - May 25 by essextaxiboy |
You are right to bring up reduced police numbers , but there are 3.5 k on the suspect list and this latest slimeball wasnt dodgy enough even to make that . Even without thr cuts they cant watch them all and the London bombings took place before the cuts were even made .. |
The cuts dont help though. Cutting police numbers by 20,000 means you will see a troop on the beat before a bobby.
That's Mays problem. And in the real world, everyones. No good calling the cops, there's none left. If you chuck the bath out or sell it to the Chinese you cannot have a bath. And that is where we are at in Mays la la land. 30 years, 3 decades of cuts leaves the whole thing fcked.
Think before you vote. And double check you are not voting for your own demise. |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 00:19 - May 26 with 1909 views | Hunterhoop |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 23:22 - May 25 by FDC |
The yougov poll is from the past couple of days
Data from Monday shows labour had over taken tories in favourability ratings prior to the attack |
I worry you're going to be sorely disappointed on June 9th, mate.
I may be entirely wrong, but it feels to me that Corbyn is campaigning and preaching to the converted. It looks good but is a waste of time. Win with 50% or 80% of the vote in certain constituencies is irrelevant. He needs to campaign and persuade voters in marginal Tory seats, surely?!
Popular polls are utterly irrelevant. He's not been willing to go doen that path, which is disappointing and not the sign of a leader. He's campaigning like a niche protest party to his advocates and members. They won't win him the election.
It's odd.
May's campaign has been appalling. She is haemorrhaging votes, and looks vacuous and naive.
Farron simply can't come across as a leader. For all the LDs sensible policies, his lack of credibility (plus his illiberal past) kills the party's chances. They're relying on nabbing seats of the Tories, where they have big beasts fighting constituencies.
I think it's been the worst run election in living history...by everyone!
If one thing is for sure, we need a Proportional Representation electoral system. Only one party has been pushing that line for decades...They're offering you your chance tobe truly heard. The other side care only about mandated power. [Post edited 26 May 2017 0:32]
|  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 00:38 - May 26 with 1889 views | DannytheR |
Left-wing rag The Telegraph reports that the Tories will give state schools a real terms cut of 3 per cent if/when they win the election, making a total 7 per cent cut since 2015. (Figures from the independent IFS).
Good job none of us have children or grandchildren in state schools, eh?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/25/school-spending-fall-7-per-cent-conse [Post edited 26 May 2017 0:38]
|  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 01:17 - May 26 with 1867 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 00:19 - May 26 by Hunterhoop |
I worry you're going to be sorely disappointed on June 9th, mate.
I may be entirely wrong, but it feels to me that Corbyn is campaigning and preaching to the converted. It looks good but is a waste of time. Win with 50% or 80% of the vote in certain constituencies is irrelevant. He needs to campaign and persuade voters in marginal Tory seats, surely?!
Popular polls are utterly irrelevant. He's not been willing to go doen that path, which is disappointing and not the sign of a leader. He's campaigning like a niche protest party to his advocates and members. They won't win him the election.
It's odd.
May's campaign has been appalling. She is haemorrhaging votes, and looks vacuous and naive.
Farron simply can't come across as a leader. For all the LDs sensible policies, his lack of credibility (plus his illiberal past) kills the party's chances. They're relying on nabbing seats of the Tories, where they have big beasts fighting constituencies.
I think it's been the worst run election in living history...by everyone!
If one thing is for sure, we need a Proportional Representation electoral system. Only one party has been pushing that line for decades...They're offering you your chance tobe truly heard. The other side care only about mandated power. [Post edited 26 May 2017 0:32]
|
Can I ask what constituency you live in Hunter? |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 03:00 - May 26 with 1845 views | essextaxiboy |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 23:22 - May 25 by FDC |
The yougov poll is from the past couple of days
Data from Monday shows labour had over taken tories in favourability ratings prior to the attack |
Every radio and TV commentator I heard before Monday was caveating those closer polls with the fact that polls historically close up mid way through the campaign . I think they will open up again . | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 03:37 - May 26 with 1839 views | SydneyRs |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 00:19 - May 26 by Hunterhoop |
I worry you're going to be sorely disappointed on June 9th, mate.
I may be entirely wrong, but it feels to me that Corbyn is campaigning and preaching to the converted. It looks good but is a waste of time. Win with 50% or 80% of the vote in certain constituencies is irrelevant. He needs to campaign and persuade voters in marginal Tory seats, surely?!
Popular polls are utterly irrelevant. He's not been willing to go doen that path, which is disappointing and not the sign of a leader. He's campaigning like a niche protest party to his advocates and members. They won't win him the election.
It's odd.
May's campaign has been appalling. She is haemorrhaging votes, and looks vacuous and naive.
Farron simply can't come across as a leader. For all the LDs sensible policies, his lack of credibility (plus his illiberal past) kills the party's chances. They're relying on nabbing seats of the Tories, where they have big beasts fighting constituencies.
I think it's been the worst run election in living history...by everyone!
If one thing is for sure, we need a Proportional Representation electoral system. Only one party has been pushing that line for decades...They're offering you your chance tobe truly heard. The other side care only about mandated power. [Post edited 26 May 2017 0:32]
|
He's actually campaigning on principle and for me its about time somebody did that and a refreshing change.
I realise that has gone completely out of fashion in the last 30 years, and that marketing strategies and abandonment of personal values in order to to get/retain power has been the order of the day(on all sides) and for those reasons Corbyn is unlikely to win. Its also the reason people have become so disengaged with politics.
Labour is meant to stand for all of the sort of policies Corbyn is proposing in his manifesto. If that's not enough in the face of an apathetic public and an onslaught of right wing media propaganda then so be it. You make your own bed and you will have to lie in it. The Tories can't win without the votes of ordinary people, people who the Tories have no interest in helping, but they'll probably win anyway. |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 08:06 - May 26 with 1769 views | hubble |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 08:25 - May 25 by ElHoop |
I'm not sure what will happen now, when it all kicks off again tomorrow.
But I'm not convinced that these terrorist murders will help May at all. We know that May isn't a great campaigner and even sticking to the script isn't really an option now as she's had to change it. We know that Corbyn is a good and successful campaigner even if isn't a class act. So May was already up against it before Monday's events.
Diane Abbott's disaster with the maths over extra policing might actually work in their favour, as just about as many people as are ever going to know it are aware that they want to increase policing even if the numbers didn't make sense. The tories on the other hand have had to substantially cut the police force and have arguably had to call in the army to make up for this. I can't believe that Labour won't make a big point about this in the next few days. And how do you answer that one if you are May?
With the controversial cap on care in the home costs/dementia tax still all over the place, Labour still looks a 'buy' to me at the moment. |
I think you could be right:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-poll-yougov-latest-jeremy-c | |
| |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 08:21 - May 26 with 1750 views | ElHoop |
Well it's difficult to predict what other people are going to do. It's nothing like predicting a football game or a cricket match. But it feels a lot like the Brexit/Trump situations where the win/no win options were very limited and it almost seems like it's not much of a risk to vote Labour because the alternatives are at least as bad if not worse. At least Labour will make an impact in areas where something defibnitely needs to be done.
I still can't believe that Labour will win, but I definitely said that about Trump and he duly went and won. You can be sure that if you could offer May a trip back in time to forget the whole idea of an election then she'd bite your hand off.
I don't see how May can win any sort of half decent majority either though - she seems to have nowhere to go now. She's surrounded by static mountains of shite, mostly piles of her own making. | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 08:51 - May 26 with 1717 views | FDC |
@Hunter, I'm under no illusions, just responding to Bromley saying the latest polls were from before the attack
@Essex, there's something odd in the fact you often report on what the TV is saying as some kind of insight! I think we all know polling can change | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 09:33 - May 26 with 1674 views | essextaxiboy |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 08:51 - May 26 by FDC |
@Hunter, I'm under no illusions, just responding to Bromley saying the latest polls were from before the attack
@Essex, there's something odd in the fact you often report on what the TV is saying as some kind of insight! I think we all know polling can change |
How is it odd ?
Its not just that polling can change but that the trend is that they narrow consistently at this point in a campaign . I would think that a lifelong political journalist , several in fact who have experience of that are worth listening to , the insight that I report isnt mine but theirs.
By contrast some posters link to random webpages and blogs as if they carry some weight , in fact this whole thread was started because of some random link to a rant by a bloke on Facebook that none of us know . | | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 09:39 - May 26 with 1662 views | stevec |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 09:51 - May 23 by nadera78 |
You really are an ignorant pr1ck. |
What's helpful for May is Corbyn has got history when it comes to terrorism.
He could redeem himself here but he won't.
1/5 Trumps fault
1/2 Britains fault
100/1 fault of religious fanatics
Let's see how it pans out.
You really are an ignorant pr1ck.
Quite possibly, Sir.
But let's wait to hear what Jezza has to say before jumping to conclusions. My money's still on the 1/2 shot. |  | | |
| On Diane Abbot, why we should vote Labour anyway, and more... on 10:22 - May 26 with 1613 views | JamesB1979 |
I'm not a typical Tory voter but the difference between Amber Rudd and Dianne Abbott is poles apart. Rudd came across very well in question time last night. Compare that to the bumbling interviews that Abbott gives. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
