Pondering, and while slightly more optimistic than we once were, still really quite unhappy Lefty thread

[Hassled]

Where had we got to? We'd agreed that we all love Cameron, right?

Actually Appletree, he wasn't at all cool to live with - always out bigging it up with his Labour or union mates, would go on strike at the drop of a hat in the 70s for anyone so we often lived without pay because he was on strike or picketing for some random bunch of workers.

I remember being on a rare family day out in Llangollen and dad went to a 'phone box to ring work because he'd called for a strike the day before. He was told "the lads have walked out and are sitting outside on the grass. What shall we do now brother?" I knew - back home, end of day out, dad out until the early hours "negotiating". Working class heroes aren't always all they're cracked up to be.

Hungry that sounds grim, sorry.

my Dad was union only after the 70's and mostly his activism consisted of knowing his way round a library and librarians to point out in writting that the US was banning X and Y and Z, not using it without masks in an enclosed area.

It was ok. No violins required. Didn't turn me right, though

Just posting to get this on my Threads I am on list. Is there any news?

DH is home so not much time for MN

The bugger did not bring me anything from Italy, and it is Mother's Day tomorrow so I might just send him off with the DC for an hour so I can catch up with the thread(s)

no news mdmeL but I do like the dress on your blog pic!

Have been jumping from thread to thread to say that the dust is settling nicely for a a labour rebirth. Call it NuNuLabour or better yet NuOldLabour...positioned to pick off LD support with nice shiny new leader + PR + antiTrident + anti ID cards or similar. Labour leader will soon be the best job in politics..shout it loud my friends

TDiddy whilst I hate to say, it that sounds like an attractive mix - although I'm fairly keen on ID cards and think rushing to get a new leader, cetainly if that's as a concession to the LDs, would be a huge mistake. I think GB should be allowed to stand down when he wants and on his own terms, within reason.

I want to support labour but id cards and foreign policy make it difficult.

I miss Robin Cooke

Hmm. I suppose rather than "being keen" on them it's that I don't see the problem with them, other countries have them, don't see them as an infringement of my or anyone else's rights and think they may be useful for security reasons. I'm not very liberal. Obviously, I have the usual "this is Britain we're bound to cock it up" attitude towards them, but apart from that - in principle no problem. Convince me otherwise.

I have to confess I also don't have a principled objection to ID cards - they'd be useful for example to make the voting system a bit more secure...they exist in a lot of european countries without problem. And I can think of other uses (proof of age for example).
But, as currently conceptualised they seem over complex and far too expensive.

hungysavingexpertdotcom et al: I am fine with ID cards or without ID cards but that isn't the point. What I am saying is that PR + another symbolic gesture will make NuOldeLabour span the Centre left spectrum and in the next run off will haved expereineced politicians with clean hands. We would have shaken off Iraq + we will boast experience in managing the economy in good and bad times. In a polarised election WE WILL WIN !!!

The other two will be associated with weak Govt. THIS IS A PROMISE!

LDs (sadly) will be ruing missed opportunities.

DC will suddenly look tired and worn by it all, nearly man.

Enter NuOLDELabour.

GB words that DC and NC should take their time to sort something out my be prophetic!!

I went for a run a saw it all clearly. Mandy would not have missed the obvious!

Wow. You obviously ran further than me today. All I managed to work out when I went was how many loads of washing I needed to put in before going out. Good theory, though.

dunno where i sit on the Dulux spectrum really. probably Pastel Rose Pink with Apple Green, so perhaps I shouldn't be here at all. for me it prob in fact comes from a mix of traditional church upbringing and that vile strain, the wealthy Fabians - if it's not about the community, your neighbours, putting yourself last, working for others, putting bran on your cereal so you are healthy enough to attend more committees, then there is NO POINT. Doing stuff for Mammon the markets - why? what are the markets FOR, if not for the good of the people? we do not exist as units to serve the economy, nor are we individuals, we are born attached to another person with a cord and would die if not cared for by someone else. We are members of a free citizenry who are nothing without each other.

yy, TDiddy.

I think a Lib/Lab coalition would go down like a cup of cold electoral sick at this point and would do horrible damage to both parties.

BTW, did anyone else have one of those weird terrifying moments in the ballot box? You know, the same as when you're on a tall building, and part of you thinks "what if I jump?"... I was so worried I'd put my X in the wrong box, I must've checked my paper a hundred times. Just in case I got voting vertigo...

I cannot talk about the markets/economy ruling our life matter. I will only froth at the mouth like some rabid beast. Even typing this is raising my blood pressure...

Mandelson and Co will play one last stroke before they exit!! PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTIONAL and seal NuLabour's legacy!!

Even GB's exit now looks kinder than we could have hoped. And GB's legacy will probably wear the test of time and look better than his premiership.

And Cameron is worn just one day in and risks ending up on the scrap heap. Poor DC - he is really a nice guy but looks like he will miss the cut!!

Love it TDiddy

If the Guardian article is to be believed, DC isn't even PM yet and the Tory backbenchers are already planning on bringing him down. At least they gave Maggie 11 years.

If I were DC, I'd be suspicious of anyone with an overly full head of hair...

hungysavingexpertdotcom -

Labour has time to sit this one out.

Go ahead and be minority Govt Dave.

Or get into bed with NC and see which of you can screw the other! SPlit the Tory party and split LDs (sadly) at the same time!

Labour is the party of STABILITY AND STRONG LEADERSHIP- SHOUT IT LOUD.

Take the wheel Georgie Osbourn just as the Sovereign crisis precipitates (hope Ken Clarke remembers his sums). Come on have a go George!