A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left. Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Could Glasgow East be the turning point?

Conventional wisdom and media punditry has liked the idea that the Glasgow East by-election due on 24 July was going to be the final nail in Gordon Brown's political coffin.

Personally I think there is more chance it will be the turning point when Labour's, and Brown's fortunes, start - perhaps slowly but surely - to go upwards.

Today's ICM poll in the Sunday Telegraph puts Labour on 47% in the constituency, with the SNP on 33%, the Lib Dems on 9% and Tories on just 7%.

I'm sure it will be closer when it gets to polling day, but such has been the media expectations game played so far that even a narrow victory is going to look like an against the odds triumph for the PM.

The results in inner London constituencies on 1 May with similar (though more ethnically mixed) demographics to Glasgow East showed that where a good campaign is fought, Labour's core vote is still remarkably solid - and will turn-out enthusiastically in a tight contest.

There's good reason for this. Contrary to the incredibly patronising portrayal of Glasgow East voters in the media over the last couple of weeks, voters in the most economically deprived constituencies in the UK aren't cannon fodder voting Labour through habit against their own interest. They've had to deal with the worst excesses of Thatcherism and they know that whilst the past 11 years of Labour government have not been a socialist Nirvana, they've been a hundred times better than the alternative. They are also not gullible enough to be sucker-punched into thinking that Norman Lamont's ex-Special Adviser Mr Cameron, whilst he may indeed have developed a social conscience since his Thatcherite youth, really knows or cares about life in parts of Britain his party drift into for an occasional "gosh look at all these poor people" by-election walk-about, rather than live in and represent all year round.

Life in Glasgow East is tough - beyond tough - for many of its residents, and the health and poverty statistics for the constituency (and similar areas in East London and other major cities and outside them in former mining areas) are as good an argument for democratic socialism and as good a reminder of why the Labour Party exists as any one needs. Labour's work in Glasgow East and similar seats isn't finished. It's hardly begun. A fourth term Labour Government isn't a luxury for these kind of constituencies - it's a matter of life or death when male life expectancy in a constituency lags behind the national average by 11 years - if you don't have a Government whose priority is redistribution and investment in healthcare, that 11 year gap will get bigger not smaller.

But the direction of travel after 11 years of Labour Government is a good one and if you are living in what Australian PM Bob Hawke called the "inch between a Labour and a rightwing government you know that inch is a good place to live". Many people in Glasgow East don't have the buffer zone of comfort in their lives to gamble and risk a return to the economic decline, under-investment in health and education and disinterest in the regeneration of their city that they endured under the Tories until 1997. All the things that it's easy to be blase about that Labour has done over the last 11 years have had the greatest impact in the seats like Glasgow East with the greatest poverty: the National Minimum Wage, massive investment in police, schools and hospitals, a massive reduction in unemployment, child benefit up 26%, Sure Start, huge reductions in pensioner and child poverty, tax credits. All of these things, which have been at the core of what Labour in government has been about, have made the most difference in this kind of constituency. That's quite apart from the specific investment happening in Glasgow - ranging from the city's shipbuilding industry getting a major share in building the new Type 45 destroyers and the two new aircraft carriers, creating and sustaining jobs and skills, through to the £1.6bn Clyde Gateway project, which has targeted building 10,000 new homes and 400,000 square metres of commercial property in the next 20 years and aims to create 21,000 new jobs and increase the population in the East End of Glasgow by 20,000.

I think we'll pull it off - maybe narrowly - in Glasgow East because voters there aren't stupid and will vote in their self-interest to protect the improvements to their lives of the last 11 years and to safeguard the future hope that only Labour cares enough to bring to the UK's least well-off communities.

It looks like we have an excellent local candidate and I have a hunch that in a few years time we may all be raising a toast to Margaret Curran and the people of Glasgow East as the folk who saved Labour in its hour of greatest need.

48 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Luke

Sorry to say that your analysis is incredibly naive.

The poll has a massive margin of error due to the small sample size and does not seem to reflect the anecdotal evidence coming out from a range of sources.

Labour may well cling on to the seat. This will have nothing to do with anything positive to do with the campaign. The fiasco surrounding the selection of the candidate who is only going to be a part time MP if elected shows how inept this aspect of the process has been.

The fortunes of the Labour Party will not be turned around by clinging on to a massively safe seat. The economic news over the coming months will see to that. As will behaviour of ministers like Ed Balls and the ability of the cabinet to fail to tell the truth to parliament and the people.

Labour can't go much lower in the polls - but they are unlikely to rise by much.

Gordon Brown in an electoral liability as PM but there seems to be little real chance of a change because of the nature of Labour rules.

Glasgow has seen massive investment over recent years and yet life for the people of Glasgow East is still incredibly tough. Labour promised to reduce poverty and to close the gap between rich and poor. THe effect of their policies has been the exact opposite. They should be ashamed of the fact that after 11 years of power, life expectancy in Glasgow East is so low.

Humility and honesty might help turn the corner - but I seen no signs of anyone able or willing to be either of these things

9:07 pm, July 13, 2008

 
Blogger Dave Cole said...

I'm afraid I'm not an expert on any of this, so I'm mostly going to limit myself to saying that I hope Luke is right. Certainly, the media have been hostile to Brown lately. Even John Major said, on the television this morning, that he thought the media were being unfair. A win might 'reboot' things by challenging the negative narrative being promoted by the media.

I would just like to pick up on something that Simon (9:07) said:

"The poll has a massive margin of error due to the small sample size and does not seem to reflect the anecdotal evidence coming out from a range of sources."

I find it a little strange that you try to take the statistical high ground by citing low sample size as a problem with the polling before putting up anecdotes and hearsay as counter-evidence. Anecdotes have a much smaller sample size - one - and have all the problems of selectivity bias and Chinese whispering.

9:37 pm, July 13, 2008

 
Blogger Merseymike said...

Burt the SNP's policies have been far closer to the Labour/social democratic tradition than those of the Labour UK government.

Labour might well win the seat but I think the issue is more the threat of the Conservatives in England, whereas the Tories are about as likely to win in Glasgow as they are in my city!

10:22 pm, July 13, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This has the whiff of the Tories in the 90s, clutching at any straw that indicates all is hunky dory. Rather than actually make the case for how Labour could re-connect with the voters that are abandoning it it's just a cry that "our core vote is solid honest it is" and whooping that the Tories aren't ahead in, er, Glasgow East.

As for the impressive array of figures you can line up to show everything's rosy for the underclass in Glasgow and tractor production is through the roof - go up to Glasgow, Luke, or maybe even take a walk round your own ward. Walk up a piss-stinking stairwell littered with the detritus of drugs use and tell everyone how thanks to tax credits and SureStart child poverty is down 2.7592% yadda yadda. You've let these people down.

As for it being the duty of Glasgow East to save Labour, Labour might have the humility to think about what it needs to do for the residents of Glasgow East first.

10:56 pm, July 13, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it's more likely to be Darlington 1983 all over again. We'll win and it will secure the position of a useless party leader until the next general election.

10:57 pm, July 13, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Probably the worst post you have ever written. To be honest I would have been shocked if you had lost that seat. It's a safe Labour seat and if you'd lost it then I think Brown would be leaving number 10.

Luke look around and open your eyes, this countries opinion of the Labour party is at an all time low. Even abroad they are talking about the state of Britain and Browns incompetence. We are a laughing stock.

I've never known such incompetence from government. It is truly shocking.

10:58 pm, July 13, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Luke have you not wondered why Alex didn't put forward a stronger candidate in a very Catholic area.

Have you not considered that maybe Alex is just waiting for a conservative landslide in 2010 and then he will call a referendum on independence.

Alex is a very good leader and I personally think he is playing the long game.

11:09 pm, July 13, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Turning point?

Are you for real?

You may scrape by in one of the safest seats in the Country, and this is your turning point?

Delusion over!! For at least four years - your gone!!!

And lets remember that if Alex Salmond should ever get his wish and take Scotland away from the rest of the U.K., then England and Wales are a far bigger challenge for New Labour, to ever return to power with a sizeable majority.

1:11 am, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Luke writes: ... you don't have a Government whose priority is redistribution and investment in healthcare ...

Couldn't have put it better myself!

5:57 am, July 14, 2008

 
Blogger Luke Akehurst said...

Anonymous

I take a walk round my own ward rather a lot and life is visibly better - from the physical state of the housing and external areas of estates, to the visible signs of whether people are in work and have any cash, through to the new City Academy being built in the middle of the ward. When we canvass people in the "core vote" areas of Hackney they are not daft, they know that change has come about because of a combination of the shift from 18 years of Tory government to 11 years of Labour, and from a failing hung council to an improving Labour one. There are practical solutions to "piss-stinking stairwells littered with the detritus of drugs use" - investment in security door entry systems (something I've been able to deliver as a cllr for 2 of the biggest estates in my ward), more frequent police patrols (delivered by Ken Livingstone in London) and - whatever David Davies may think of it - more CCTV.

7:51 am, July 14, 2008

 
Blogger Ken said...

OK, so Nu-Labour tossed out a few table scraps to its core supporters, but that isn't enough, Luke.

After 18 years what they wanted was revenge, they wanted to see the people who had done well out of Thatcherism taxed until they squealed - and then a nice squealing tax introduced to screw them some more.

The fact that Nu-Labour had no intention of doing anything but give us Thatcherism with a smiley face is the reason why the party is now on its knees.

8:45 am, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was canvassing in Glasgow East on Saturday. The Labour campaign is very well organised, our candidate is well known and popular and morale is very good. While you can never be complacent, I think if we continue to get the volunteers and active support from members and trade unionists we'll do okay.

9:43 am, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps Haltemprice and Howden will be seen by future analysts as a "turning point" (what a wonderfully simplistic term!). It certainly produced dreadful dithering from David Cameron and demonstrated the borderline insanity of the hanger and flogger who almost became Tory leader....

10:17 am, July 14, 2008

 
Blogger Newmania said...

What load of rubbish , 50% of the working population is either unemployed or on incapacity (6% appx. unemployed... …‘look how low unemployment is…’ arf arf )


OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FO OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY THEY HAVE NO CHOICE

It was always impossible for Labour to lose . There was ,however , a chance to do more than maintain battery chicken low level infantilism. The money has been there but it has been squandered on open ended hand outs and arrogant projects now covered in graffiti in no go areas
Tax payers have a right to know their hard earned money is doing more than perpetuating a wasteland breeding more and more parasitical work shy Labour voters .
Every time you brag ( as you have continually done ) about all the money you are spending the tax payer thinks ..well stuff you , spend your own money on charity. Your victory here is the very reason why you cannot win in large parts of the country .The Labour Party have dug themselves a hole and they just keep digging. Conservatives are contrastingly reticent on tax cuts as they know bullishness will scare the Public sector .
Hackney ? Yes lovely place , 11 years of tax and spend and it is much he same basket case it always was . You will be happy to move out when you get your safe seta , …if there is one ….I see your future and it is in the North Luke and you cannot deny it . I used to canvass in Islington and the only bits that worked were the right to buy areas , when I left the socialist housing empire were assaulting them with extortionate service charges and the GLA was planning another 13000 units of social housing . The only reason you have that prat Kempton in Islington is the memory of Enver Hodge and just what a clown show Labour is .

Islington had about 50% in social housing and 70% of them on welfare of one sort or another .

This is ridiculous , you cannot count votes of state serfs as a political victory and this result has no bearing whatsoever on Labour’s fortunes and you know it !

2:21 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Blogger Merseymike said...

I assume that newmania has read plenty of fascist literature - for the underlying values of that post were pure fascism.

I trust that he is not speaking for the Cameron Conservative Party?

3:24 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If the margin of error is big, its just as likely that Labour are further ahead than that things are closer.

Margin of error goes both ways, Simon.

Now, get back to your Political Polling 101 class!

3:40 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Blogger Harry Barnes said...

But what is the answer to the East Glasgow question?
http://threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/2008/07/east-glasgow-question.html

6:48 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jamesm said -

"I think it's more likely to be Darlington 1983 all over again. We'll win and it will secure the position of a useless party leader until the next general election."

What ever the motivation of that post I fear that I tend to agree with the statement.

Sorry Luke, whilst we may have had a good result here in Caerphilly this week, it ain't enuf.

The sooner Brown goes the more dignity he will have, and the longer time we will have to retrieve the situation.

GW

9:16 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The party should not be complacent on this by election. But it would be great to win. Any by election win for a government is a good sign. Hopefully the lead does not make the party complacent.
It was the tories that caused poverty in the seat. They destroyed the industry. It is labour that has tried to solve the problem of poverty in the seat. With the mini wage, tax credts, and bringing in the commonwealth games should help.

11:49 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If we do get rid of the leader it is better to do it after the euro and local elections that way a new leader would have as little blame as possible for the recession or for the mid election election defeats. I cannot see the point in changing the leader and putting him in a recession. It would be a death knell. Just give this leader a year more if he is still low down in the surveys fair enough but it does the party no favours to let a new leader take over a with a 2 year recession to deal with. Who would be dumb enough to take the job under the current situtation anyway.

11:52 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anyway vote labour on july the 24th.

11:53 pm, July 14, 2008

 
Blogger Newmania said...

I assume that newmania has read plenty of fascist literature - for the underlying values of that post were pure fascism.

I trust that he is not speaking for the Cameron Conservative Party?

How so? The Conservative Party is developing Wisconsin based ideas for removing benefits after a given period. This will require a lot of help and support channelled through the voluntary sector and may well cost more than the current plot to maintain perpetual neediness. The cruelty lies in Labour`s flash flood throw money at it exercise

You know nothing about fascism obviously

10:23 am, July 15, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

I believe we'll keep Glasgow east, but with a reduced majority.

There has been a lot of redevelopment in the area, but whilst the surroundings have improved the daily strife of the people living there has not unfortunately.

The SNP government might be popular with its moderate socialist agenda, but it is not that difficult to appear socially democratic when your opposition is the new labour party.
Their social democracy might be an illusion, after all Souter (homophobic scum bag) is bank rolling them.

I do like Salmond though. He is a good MP and MSP (at least that is what my Mum's colleagues say - they're his constituents)

11:13 am, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I do like Salmond though. He is a good MP and MSP"

Brother Gopaul is an SNP infiltrator.

What a silly, silly little man.

11:42 am, July 15, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

Well Anon, (possibly Newsmedia, if not apologies)I also have great respect for the likes of Annabelle Goldie and even though I disagree with her politics I think she is one eloquent and smart lady, does that make me a Tory?

No in case you need that underlined.
Tell me anon, do you find other people who hold wholly different political beliefs to your own difficult to respect? If that is the case what sort of democrat are you?

2:39 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brother Gopaul fantasises about Annabell Goldie dressing up in Nazi uniform and spanking him!

The saucy git!

3:15 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you find other people who hold wholly different political beliefs to your own difficult to respect?

Your sentiments would hold more weight were you to practice what you preach.

Brother Gopaul shows no respect to Mrs Thatcher, George Bush, David Cameron or Tony Blair.

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy...

3:40 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

Anon, you sly dog you, behave!!!

3:54 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am asking people to put a sticker on the back of their car with the initials of the PM, beside a flag of the UK. Many other people seem to be doing this. Support and loyalty to the PM is still very high among the UK public especially it seems among car drivers who go abroad.

4:14 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

Dearest Martha,
Your latest post deserved a decent answer so here it goes,

Mrs Thatcher: She wrecked the country and our industries. She is responsible for the breakdown of society and also responsible for the economic problems we see today. That said she was apparently a different person behind doors and was "motherly" to Michael Foot, which makes me think she was not the hollowed out sarcophagus I thought she was. To get to her top positions in the party and to become the first female PM of the UK is praiseworthy considering the obstacles in the way, defiantly worthy of respect.

George Bush (senior/junior):
Well the CIA/oil man liar ("read my lips etc....") certainly was not a good president, however his good relationship with Gorbechev help end the communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the USSR with little bloodshed; worthy of respect no?
Junior may be an idiot and mass murderer but he is actually quite funny, and that is a good quality to respect surely?

Tony Blair: Liar and mass murderer yes, but he was an excellent politician. He won us 3 election victories and wiped the floor with the Tories, turning your lot into ribbons. He will always have my respect for that.

David Cameron: Well I can't say much of his politics (can anyone?) but it can't be easy being your leader. He has had to fend off racists, euroskeptics, homophobes and other conservative caucuses (joke!!!). Not to mention the latest sleazy shenanigans you lot seem to embroil yourselves in. He seems to care about his wife and kids, so a decent father, also on the political front he said the market will hold no answers for the repair of society that is worthy of respect.

You see Martha I try and see the good in people. It does not stop me criticizing them when I feel they are wrong (as Comrade Akehurst will testify), maybe you should try that and see how far you get.

Lots of love

Ravi X X

4:24 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Blogger Newmania said...

She wrecked the country and our industries.

That presumably is why her reforms were retained by Gordon Brown as Chancellor in fact its about the only praiseworthy thing he ahs ever done .

Brother GoPaul anon was not me .

5:03 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Blogger Tom said...

"Do you find other people who hold wholly different political beliefs to your own difficult to respect?

Your sentiments would hold more weight were you to practice what you preach.

Brother Gopaul shows no respect to Mrs Thatcher, George Bush, David Cameron or Tony Blair.

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy..."

Obviously. If you respect some people from opposing parties, you have to respect all of them, don't you?

Silly bugger.

9:16 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

John Michie (TV detective) who is the lead actor in Taggart has joined the Glasgiow east labour campaign.
"Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets."
Well Mr Michie is that rain and the scum is the tories.

10:27 pm, July 15, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dirty European Socialist:

And I quote from your own masterful peice:

"Well Mr Michie is that rain and the scum is the Tories."

The scum is the Tories?

Educated are we?

And just one more thing for your feeble mind to comprehend! - The S.N.P. are the only genuine opposition for New Labour in this by-election, What’s Glasgow East got to do with the Tories?

12:08 am, July 16, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

reversepsycho
Nope there are still tories in the seat. I know your feeble mind thinks that only two parties stand in each by election. But actually there alot more than two. I still see the tories as the enemy in the seat and that is what the party will try and point out a vote for the snp is vote for the tories in reality.
Now why else do we hear tories saying they will vote SNP.
By the way I am very educated I have postgraduate qualifications.

10:23 am, July 16, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

Newsmedia, I believe I have always said that The Great Leader and his not so illustrious predecessor (I'm only ready the official account here)has cemented Mrs T's legacy, but probably having so many younglings running around (congrats by the way- even if it’s too late)you've been too busy to read my other posts on this excellent blog. Either that or you're stupid, I'd like to think you're smarter than you appear (even thought the evidence goes to the contrary) so I'll go with the former rather than the latter.
As Miller rightly points out I respect all democrats whatever their stripe. It takes conviction and dedication to put yourself up for election and I believe that is worthy of respect. On whether I agree with them? Well we both know that is a different matter.
As for the SNP in Glasgow East. Whilst Dirty European Socialist is quite correct to point out the Tories will field a candidate I have to say there is more likelihood of the sun turning purple than a Tory being elected there. The SNP are our opposition here let there be no doubt. We must beat them, and I believe we will. The SNP want to fracture this small island under false pretences. There are no significant differences between an Englishman and myself. We speak the same language, work for the same employers; join the same Trade Unions, there is no need for self determination. But what the party must do is try a put forward a socialist programme within the social democratic tradition of the Labour Party. This is the only way to countenance the nationalist threat. Think with Scotland gone England would have a Tory government in perpetuity, no one (newsmedia excluded) wants that do we?

12:08 pm, July 16, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Miller 2.0 may claim to be in favour of democracy, but his record speaks otherwise.

The spotty oik was one of those who supported the undemocratic overthrow of Tony Blair and his replacement by Gordon Brown.

Who voted for Gordon brown? Who?

He's also a big fan of Saddam Hussein. It's quite pathetic really.

Miller and Brother Gopaul may at first seem reasonable but as soon as they're challenged they resort to personal abuse.

Not that Cameron and Thatcher care what they think.

2:12 pm, July 16, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

Anon (Newsmedia) said,

"Miller and Brother Gopaul may at first seem reasonable but as soon as they're challenged they resort to personal abuse."

I am reasonable I just disagree with your politics.

My dear fellow I don't need to resort to personal abuse to goad you. Your posts are of sufficient quality they speak volumes of you and your party.

Your comments are so ludicrously funny and off the mark I almost feel sorry for you.

May be it's the stress of being in opposition or maybe it's because you have such a young family but you really need to chillax man!!! All this stress can't be good for you or your little ones (apparently they pick up on these things according to Super Nanny).

Do you know what you need? A little Barry Manilow in your life.

As I've now brought him up I may as well say my lovely missus has bought tickets for us to see him in the O2 Arena (AKA- The Millennium Dome) in December. Given she can't stand his music (yeah right) I thought it was a magnificent gesture.

And newsmedia, if you and your other half can't wait till then, there is a production called "Can't smile without you", and yes I'm dragging the missus to that too. It profiles all his hits in a musical number and should be showing at a theatre near you, just Google it and see if you can make it. Just think with the musical and his concert that is a total 4 hours of Barry Manilow, how cool is that?

As you can guess I am really excited about it and considering this will be my first concert (well unless you count when "Bjorn Again" were playing in the Phil- Mike will know where I'm talking about).

Till then why not get onto YouTube or iTunes and listen to these tracks

"Can't smile without you"- just because it is one of my favourites

"One Voice"

"I've never met a man I don't like"

"It's a Miracle"

"As sure as I am standing here"

"Bandstand Boogie"

"Beautiful Music"

"Bermuda Triangle"

"Could it be magic"

"Daybreak"

"Even now"

"I made it through the rain"

"I write the songs"

"Let freedom ring"

"Looks Like we made it"

"This one's for you"


That should get you started, might lighten the mood you seem to be in.

If that does not do the trick

"Bring me sunshine" by Morcombe and Wise.

Try singing that with a sneer on your face.

5:35 pm, July 16, 2008

 
Blogger Merseymike said...

Well, we went to see him in Vegas , Ravi - I know its naff but he knows it too, and its a great show. You'll love it!

Not as good as the blessed Celine, though!

10:31 pm, July 16, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

You saw him in Vegas? Awesome!!! Doesn’t Celine have a show there too?
This December can't come fast enough, but I’ve got to think of something of equal value to spoil Kelly with before then.
Hey Mike, are you and your fella planning to see "Can't smile without you"? It’s playing at the Empire in September; I'm hoping to saturate Kelly in his music before the concert. Tickets are still available, although now the advertising is up you’ll have to rush to get your tickets before they get sold out.

9:32 am, July 17, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brother GoPaul, your entire philosophy is based on personal abuse, hatred and envy.

I can relax in the knowledge that far-Left madmen like you will ensure the Labour party has another 18 years in opposition.

Maggie battered your version of what Labour should be. It's hilarious that you want to turn back the clock to the seventies. Old Labour dinosaurs like you and Miller have learnt nothing.

Getting rid of Blair was your biggest mistake.

Idiots.

11:59 am, July 17, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

Newsmedia, I think I hear the flapping of the men in white coats ready to take you away........

12:38 pm, July 17, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I find it quite shocking that Ravi should belittle people with mental health. This is unacceptable. I demand an apology.

1:52 pm, July 17, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

2:18 pm, July 17, 2008

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

Newsmania said

"I find it quite shocking that Ravi should belittle people with mental health. This is unacceptable. I demand an apology."

Of course you do, but you do seem to show signs of psychosis. Bouts of multiple personality disorder to maniacal ranting you should see your GP.

2:20 pm, July 17, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would just like to point out I never said that the tories had a chance of wining the seat. I said they were still someone who we should speak out against. Why is there some idiot troll trying to claim I said that the tories could win the seat. I just said a vote for the SNP is a vote for the tories.
How is that difficult to infer from what I wrote. By the way reverpsycho you complete idiot, if you really did thin i was sayi ng that you must be an idiot but you seem more of an annoying bullying wind up merchant, the sort of scum i was revfering too. the tories are standing in the seat so I can still say we should wash the scum of the street it is still important hat they record as few votes as possible to show the people of the seat detest them for the tory leader insultung them when he came up to the seat.
What kind of utter oaf goes up to a seat, which his party destroyed the economy off, and basically says you are all fat losers vote for me I'm a rich welathy gut.

4:47 pm, July 17, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The tories will not even save their deposit in the seat. The people of the city detest them so much. They are just party of southern snobs who hate the poor.

11:06 pm, July 17, 2008

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

And this year's award for political soothsaying goes to......






Anyone other than Luke.

Got that a bit wrong didn't you.

4:17 pm, July 25, 2008

 

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