18 April 2019
Diary of a Corbynista
Lions and Donkeys.
By Don Urquhart
11 April
Julian Assange was wrestled out of the Ecuadorian Embassy to await extradition to the United States. Jeremy Corbyn was out of the traps quickly to urge the government not to send him there, as The Home Secretary seemed minded to do. Corbyn has the support of Veterans for Peace:
We oppose the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States and are deeply concerned that journalism and whistleblowing is being criminalised by the US and actively supported by British authorities. The indefinite detention of Chelsea Manning and the persecution of Reality Winner and John Kiriakou have demonstrated that a whistle blower will not receive a fair trial in the US court system. We believe the authorities are seeking a show trial for the purpose of revenge and to intimidate journalists.
Extradition is usually a matter for the courts but the British Government has stepped in previously to block the process, particularly where the destination country demonstrates a corrupt and inhumane legal system. The Gary McKinnon case for example, where the British hacker enjoyed the support of the then Home Secretary, one Theresa May.
12 April
Are Lord Sugar’s plans replicated by other captains of industry?
Part of a Twitter dialogue between Trish Westrop and Lord Sugar. The latter has called Corbyn a liar.
Trish Westrop:
I would trust Mr Corbyn before you Lord Sugar. I think you’re just a little bit worried you may have to pay a little bit more. We won’t miss you. Oh and by the way being poor and born in a council flat doesn’t give you values…caring for others does.
Lord Sugar:
Sorry Trish you have it wrong. I will not pay a penny tax if Jeremy Corbyn gets to be PM. As I have announced, I will be off and leave you to enjoy the death of Britain. Do you know how many families have relied upon me for their income and prosperity 1000’s.
13 April
In launching the Brexit Party Nigel Farage characterised the British people as “Lions led by donkeys”, a phrase I had thought to originate in the First World War as a description of the British armed forces. However apposite, it could well be a century old piece of fake news. But it reminded me of the reaction of General Erich von Ludendorff to the peace agreement. He regarded it as a “stab in the back” just as Farage and others market a “betrayal” story. Ludendorff blamed everyone but himself, majoring on the Jews. He found ready listeners including Corporal Adolf Hitler and we know how that turned out.
Whatever English Nationalism and racism are out there Farage and their UKIP competitors will ride them as hard as they can.
14 April
Ahead of tomorrow’s Annual Conference the National Education Union (NEU) has published a survey documenting the impact of austerity on children’s education. The Times Educational Supplement reports.
NEU joint-general secretary Mary Bousted said:
“Government does not want to hear these stories from the frontline of teaching, but they must.
It is truly shaming for the UK, one of the richest countries in the world. A decade of austerity has only served to place more children in poverty, while at the same time destroying the support structures for poor families.”
15 April
On Andrew Marr yesterday David Lammy MP invoked the image of a tearful Dame Margaret Hodge dismayed by Jeremy Corbyn’s alleged anti-Semitism. However the lady’s antipathy goes back a long way and is multi-faceted.
Here’s a Private Eye article from 1995:
Millionaire newcomer to the Commons Margaret Hodge has had a tricky time with some of her fellow Labour MPs.
A former leader of Islington council and now a devoted Blairite member for Barking, Hodge agreed to debate Clause 4 with hard left MP Jeremy Corbyn in front of an earnest crowd at the Red Rose Centre in Islington.
Corbyn argued to retain the public ownership clause while Hodge said electoral victory must come first. Corbyn won the crowd over completely – at which point Hodge turned from cool pragmatist into fuming maniac. She rose to reply and completely blew her gasket: she called the astonished crowd stupid and accused them of loving being in opposition and of having their heads in the sand. Of the hundred or so present, only two voted in favour of Hodge, one of them being Stephen Twigg, ex-president of the NUS and now Hodge’s researcher.
16 April
Ken Follett’s novel Pillars of the Earth has as its central theme the building of a cathedral in the 12th Century. You come away in awe of the faith, skills, tenacity and courage it took to complete such a project.
Yesterday it was probably a random spark that destroyed Notre Dame de Paris.
17 April
Jeremy Corbyn addressed the National Education Union (NEU). He undertook to eliminate Sats were Labour to be elected. This was widely reported but you will not see on the MSM the rapture with which his speech was received.
