Billy Bragg

[Cwenthryth]

Yes, really. He retweeted Zoe Williams article as a ‘powerful defense (sic) of trans rights’ and has gone on in replies to demonstrate he has zero understanding of what the issues are here. Keeps complaining about ‘negative stereotypes’. He’s stuck way back in ‘be kind, men are nasty to transsexuals in prison so let anyone self-identify into women’s prison’.

Many women & some men well on the way to ratio-ing him, but will he listen?

twitter.com/billybragg/status/1237489351535271938?s=21

I do think we now should be singing Billy Bragg songs at every future protest...with these new improved lyrics. Genius.

Ta dido

Just googled. Him. Beard ✅ mates with corbyn ✅

Ereshkigalangcleg, when you said:

Like many left wing men who romanticise traditional working class stereotypes, Billy views women as helpmeets to support men who are doing the important work

you were so right. He's Momentum through and through.

I’m pleased to say though that there are an unusual number of men on the thread taking Billy to task on this. Thank you leftie men, finally.

I must say that ,having just seen a reference to Fun Boy Three on another thread, if Terry Hall - who I have loved from afar for almost 40 years - tries this line I will be officially cancelling all men.

Always thought he was an arse (and a god-awful singer).

definitelygc just read your response to me saying I was politically confused, it resonates so much to how I am feeling. I am originally from Blyth Valley, a red wall seat which fell to the Tories, the contempt which many on the left/liberal side has for people from there disgusts me, this with the gender debate is seriously making me question everything I thought true of the Labour Party.

(and a god-awful singer)

Although I do love 'California Stars' to death, I think it was Wilco that sang it ...

... Yep, found a duet on youtube. Bragg really spoils it. So off-key it hurts.

Nice lyrical updates, Mockers and Karen Ingala Smith!

He's agreed with little OJ for so long I think this was always his thoughts.
As a huge fan of over 30 years, I'm sad. Not surprised, but sad.

Yet another rich white man who doesn't understand why women want to hold onto all-women interview panels, their own awards and their own bloody toilets.

It's a great relief to me to be honest at last about my feelings about his lefty icon i.e. I never thought he was the sharpest knife in the box.

You are right Biology. His songs are smarter than he is. He’s a clever lyricist. But that does not equate to being a deep or critical thinker. I do always wonder why we look to celebs - actors and singers etc - for any insight. They are not paid for their critical thinking skills.

I followed Billy Bragg on Twitter because I have loved some of his songs but then I found he was just a tedious Momentum bloke and defollowed.

Awesome Mockers!

Wave towards Winton and I might see you.

I've been through his responses in my delirium. He's peppered them with stuff like 'if I didn't care about anyone else I'd be a Tory' style posturing, and then still managed to tell all the very, very patient women trying to explain reality to him that he's sure it's possible to work out who is a bad man and keep them out.

Presumably his plan is just to ask if they're Tories, or something.

good point, Binterested-

i'm annoyed with myself for over-investing in any blue-tick's opinion re gender bollocks on twitter (caveats jk rowling and glinner, obvs- critical thought evident) but, really, why should billy's thoughts matter to me or irvine welsh's for that matter (who happily has shown support for suzanne moore's article but prob isn't massively au fait with the whole issue). a high profile is certainly no guarantee of understanding ishoos. and, yes, billy comes across as a bit thick (promise that's not sour grapes!)- i kinda thought he'd be more cerebral but that's the beauty of twitter, innit? people disappoint you

he's sure it's possible to work out who is a bad man and keep them out.

Maybe when he has worked out that little gem, he can share it, and the world will be a transformed place for everyone.

So:

1. TWAW
2. Self-ID
3. .....Not That One!

It occurred to me when I was cooking. Is he after a new generation of dewy eyed acolytes?

I remember him in the mid 80s and although my friends thought he was the dogs’, I thought he was putting it on a bit and acting up to the ‘me the working man hero’ image. I also thought he was a bit of an arse. I seem to remember seeing him play at an anti nuclear rally of some sort in Glasgow, mid 80s. I didn’t think he was very good.

He's getting absolutely slaughtered on Twitter - by an equal mix of women and men - many coming from a clearly Socialist angle. Who knows, maybe some of it will get through to him.

He comes across as someone who thinks his farts are golden, so I wouldn’t hold your breath. I knew he was a phoney - see, if you wait long enough (only 35 years...) they show their true colours!

But this is always how it turns out, whether it's 'Imagine No Possessions' Lennon with all his Rolls-Royces in the swimming pool, or Roger Hope-I-Own-A-Trout-Farm-Before-I-Get-Old. Even groucy old Neil Young with his overpriced MP3 player that plays the sounds you can't hear....

White middle class man wants sympathy for other men to take precedence over woman's rights? What a surprise.

Not surprised. He's been on the trans bandwagon for years. His back catalogue is tinged with misogyny if you listen for it. He's just another 'left-wing' man who's been waiting a long time for a cover under which to twist the knife.

Not read the whole thread but Billy is in the process of more tweets one of which says:

"For the record, I believe that the safety of women should be the paramount consideration in female prisons and toilets. That is not inconsistent with accommodating the majority of self-identifying trans women who are not predatory 2/4"

Surely by this logic you might as well put non-predatory men-identifying-men in with women too then?

Just have mixed sex everything and put the predators somewhere else?

Can't see any issues with this at all. Oh no.

Misogynistic arse.