Hugh Gaitskell
My article about Hugh Gaitskell from the conference edition of Progress magazine:
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/10/02/a-natural-hero/
posted by Luke Akehurst at 12:29 pm
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/10/02/a-natural-hero/
About Me
- Name: Luke Akehurst
- Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Labour Party activist since 1988 - firmly on the moderate wing of the party. Member of Labour’s NEC 2010-2012 and since 2020. National Secretary of Labour Students 1995-6. Parliamentary candidate for Aldershot (2001) and Castle Point (2005). Hackney Councillor (Chatham Ward) 2002-2014, Labour Group Chief Whip 2002-09, Chair of Health Scrutiny 2010-2014. Supporter of Europe, NATO/nuclear deterrence, Israel, electoral reform. Guardian reader. Dad. Oxford resident. Unite union member. Employment history as a Labour Party Organiser, Local Government Political Assistant, Director at a Public Affairs company. All views expressed in a personal capacity. The rest will become evident from reading the blog.
2 Comments:
"If the party opts to debate the renewal of Trident, it will need similarly courageous voices to speak up for a strong defence policy."
A statement like that only serves to illustrate just how extreme Luke is in his support for nuclear weapons. He sees them as an indicator of being 'strong' on defence.
However, this view is firmly rejected by Tony Blair in his memoirs:
"I did not think this was a ‘tough on defence’ versus ‘weak on defence or pacifist’ issue at all."
And it is nonsense to claim that Britain's nuclear weapons are 'independent'. Blair acknowledges this too:
"It is true that it is frankly inconceivable we would use our nuclear deterrent (sic) alone, without the US."
The Labour Party does need to re-examine the Trident decision and I hope it will decide to cancel any planned successor.
10:44 am, October 04, 2012
It is always worth looking at counterfactual history. We learn that the actual outcome was not inevitable. And so we can gain a sense of our own power.
I am surprised that the counterfactual history books have not looked at Gaitskell.
I expect Luke's probably read the "What if?" type books. Very interesting reading.
10:31 am, October 06, 2012
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