[Politics] Natalie Elphic defects to labour

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

As a staunch lefty I’m sick and tired of Corbyn constantly getting thrown under the bus on BBCQT. Nandy was the latest last night and her kissing Elphicks arse last night was sickening.
I won’t be voting for them.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

Precisely.

I drifted in from the far left in the late 70s when I was young. Naïve. Idealistic. Pure, if you like.

The message that politics is the Art Of The Possible really hit home during the early Thatcher years, when Labour needed to be coherent, but was split between the can-dos and the ideological purists.

I recall Militant had as their slogan: "No Compromise With The Electorate". Even as a callow young man, the absurdity of that really hit home. You can't do anything in opposition.

And....as an old man now, I figure: what gives me the right to demand that society be exactly as I wish it. All my views reflected in parliament. All my prejudices met and my desires fulfilled. At the expense of everyone with slightly different requirements. No.

No. Politics is the art of the possible. It requires compromise. To succeed you need a parliamentary majority, and this will itself involve a coalition of different viewpoints with an umbrella organization that can run the show. We call these organizations Political Parties. As a Labour man I can't expect that every other Labour person will share all my views, hopes, aspirations and prejudices. And, older and wiser perhaps, I'm content with that.

If it all goes too far out of my comfort zone I may step aside, as I did when Blair created state-funded religious schools (or attempted to do so). Albeit these days I suspect I may suck up most stuff that has my nose twitching, because right now the Tory opposition is so bad, so vile, that it would take a great deal of tomfoolery from labour to have me step away.

As someone of a similar age, I think, this pretty much somes up how I have grown to see things.

 

[Cornwallboy]

I'm waiting for @[B]Cornwallboy to declare their support for Labour[/B]

That will really be the 'Hove' moment.

Currently undecided. Feel it's time for a change but I don't find Starmer and co particularly inspiring. I guess if I do become a NSC 'socialist' I can come on here showing off about my jaunts to Europe to watch a football match, spending fortunes doing so and proclaiming myself to be a 'socialist' who is really concerned about 'poverty' and 'hardship' who in reality don't really give a f about either and the only thing that is 'socialist' about them is where they stick an X every 5 years, beyond that they live very middle class Conservative lives.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Currently undecided. Feel it's time for a change but I don't find Starmer and co particularly inspiring. I guess if I do become a NSC 'socialist' I can come on here showing off about my jaunts to Europe to watch a football match, spending fortunes doing so and proclaiming myself to be a 'socialist' who is really concerned about 'poverty' and 'hardship' who in reality don't really give a f about either and the only thing that is 'socialist' about them is where they stick an X every 5 years, beyond that they live very middle class Conservative lives.

You are funny these days, far funnier than when you were posting as @Beach Seagull. So who is your reform candidate in Eastbourne ?

 

[A1X]

As a staunch lefty I’m sick and tired of Corbyn constantly getting thrown under the bus on BBCQT.

I’m quite happy to throw him under the bus while not being on QT if that makes you feel better?

 

[Farehamseagull]

Precisely.

I drifted in from the far left in the late 70s when I was young. Naïve. Idealistic. Pure, if you like.

The message that politics is the Art Of The Possible really hit home during the early Thatcher years, when Labour needed to be coherent, but was split between the can-dos and the ideological purists.

I recall Militant had as their slogan: "No Compromise With The Electorate". Even as a callow young man, the absurdity of that really hit home. You can't do anything in opposition.

And....as an old man now, I figure: what gives me the right to demand that society be exactly as I wish it. All my views reflected in parliament. All my prejudices met and my desires fulfilled. At the expense of everyone with slightly different requirements. No.

No. Politics is the art of the possible. It requires compromise. To succeed you need a parliamentary majority, and this will itself involve a coalition of different viewpoints with an umbrella organization that can run the show. We call these organizations Political Parties. As a Labour man I can't expect that every other Labour person will share all my views, hopes, aspirations and prejudices. And, older and wiser perhaps, I'm content with that.

If it all goes too far out of my comfort zone I may step aside, as I did when Blair created state-funded religious schools (or attempted to do so). Albeit these days I suspect I may suck up most stuff that has my nose twitching, because right now the Tory opposition is so bad, so vile, that it would take a great deal of tomfoolery from labour to have me step away.

Great post Harry

 

[goldstoneseagull]

But do we want her? Hmmmmm.....

Lol you actually think there’s any difference between the Tories and Labour…

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Lol you actually think there’s any difference between the Tories and Labour…

Lol you actually wrote that?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Currently undecided. Feel it's time for a change but I don't find Starmer and co particularly inspiring. I guess if I do become a NSC 'socialist' I can come on here showing off about my jaunts to Europe to watch a football match, spending fortunes doing so and proclaiming myself to be a 'socialist' who is really concerned about 'poverty' and 'hardship' who in reality don't really give a f about either and the only thing that is 'socialist' about them is where they stick an X every 5 years, beyond that they live very middle class Conservative lives.

Don’t forget to post photos of the fancy restaurants!

 

[Triggaaar]

<sigh> No she has not.

She is standing down at the next GE.

She's standing down at the election. Labour already have a candidate and it won't be her.

Fair enough. I listened to plenty about it when the announcement was made and didn't hear anything about her standing down.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

By defecting to Labour, who have accepted her, it gives the impression that they are accepting her views too. Surely the honest and honourable thing would have to become independent?

Don't think they really are accepting her.....

The honest thing would be to resign.... but you know.... why do that....

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Don't think they really are accepting her.....

The honest thing would be to resign.... but you know.... why do that....

Really? They are welcoming her with open arms. Starmer is DELIGHTED about it.

 

[Cornwallboy]

Don’t forget to post photos of the fancy restaurants!

Ha ha absolutely!!! Honestly these pesky 'socialists' cluttering up the corporate areas at football stadiums when you would think they would prefer to be with the masses, not mixing with 'evil Tories.'

 

[Cornwallboy]

You are funny these days, far funnier than when you were posting as @Beach Seagull. So who is your reform candidate in Eastbourne ?

Not intentionally funny it's just my opinion. Don't know tbh haven't given it a moments thought, more concerned with going out to buy a Daily Mail at this precise moment.

 

[Blue3]

She was or possibly still is a member of the ERG I heard Bill Bayley refer to her as just being slightly more right wing than Joseph Goebbels

 

[keaton]

BBC News - New Labour MP Natalie Elphicke accused of lobbying over husband's sexual assault case

New Labour MP Natalie Elphicke accused of lobbying over husband's sexual assault case

The new Labour MP is accused of asking the then Justice Secretary to help move the date of the case.

www.bbc.co.uk

If only there had been some clues she was a bit dodgy before she was allowed into the Labour party

 

[Chicken Run]

BBC News - New Labour MP Natalie Elphicke accused of lobbying over husband's sexual assault case

New Labour MP Natalie Elphicke accused of lobbying over husband's sexual assault case

The new Labour MP is accused of asking the then Justice Secretary to help move the date of the case.

www.bbc.co.uk

If only there had been some clues she was a bit dodgy before she was allowed into the Labour party

@The Clamp ‘s ditch welcomes its first Labour MP

 

[The Clamp]

@The Clamp ‘s ditch welcomes its first Labour MP

I have lost a huge amount of respect for Labour over this.

To the point where I don’t think I’ll be voting for them in the GE.

They’ve dropped a massive bollock here.

 

[Zeberdi]

Great post Harry

Strangely enough, I’ve had discussions with contacts in the States that say this is the reason both Biden and Trump are keeping their core supporters - it’s not just political parties that compromise on their policies/standards but the electorate is getting more pragmatic too - because for them in a world where views are becoming more and more polarised, the alternatives don’t bear thinking about - that’s the thinking that will either elect a convicted sex offender and narcissist into power or a leader, clearly too old for the job, that has enabled what many see as tantamount to genocide.

It’s a sad indictment of the state of British politics and FPTP, that the only choice for many is a Party that stands the best chance of keeping their most hated one out rather than one that really reflects their political ideology.

 

[schmunk]

a leader, clearly too old for the job, that has enabled what many see as tantamount to genocide.

Presuming you're talking about Gaza, do you really think any other US president, Obama included, would have done differently?