Kmflett's Blog

That Chartism which has fustian jackets, blistered hands and unshorn chins as its emblems, has been denounced by those who would make it a thing of refinement and respectability. while we repeat the fact to our readers Chartism means poverty – and poverty is a consequence of class legislation the legitimate deduction from which is, that before poverty ceases class legislation must be destroyed.

These words or similar can be found in several of the Editorials Chartist leader Feargus O’Connor wrote in the weekly Chartist paper the Northern Star (1838-52)

It has not gone unremarked upon but there was a facial hair divide in the Chartist movement. While factory workers wore (now trendy but then cheap) fustian jackets and often appeared unshaven, others such as William Lovett who sought common cause with middle class radicals appeared with better quality jackets and were clean shaven (Lovett had distinctive sideburns but a naked chin).

The fustian jackets were in the main physical force Chartists while the clean shaven tended towards moral forces. A simplistic way of course of looking at complexity but even in the Chartist period dress and appearance said something about politics

While the right-wing media continue to obsess about Keir Starmer’s precise relationship with Taylor Swift the continuing Tory crisis gets less attention.

Partly this is because despite what far right culture warriors may say on Twitter there is no prospect of a General Election for a while, possibly until 2029.

A Savanta poll of 379 Tory Councillors found they backed Badenoch over Jenrick 31% to 23%. 28% were undecided with 15% saying they would not vote. That figure is far higher than the Truss and Sunak leadership election where it was 5%

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/17/half-of-tory-councillors-doubt-jenrick-or-badenoch-can-win-next-election

Michael Gove on the Radio 4 Today podcast has suggested that Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick is in fact a generic Tory Boy and given the strength of voters feelings on this, it might be an issue. Gove of course has mentored Kemi Badenoch, although he is now Editor of the Spectator. In response Jenrick has accused Gove of fighting a Culture War. Divided they fall…

Now, I think one of Robert’s weaknesses, and I speak as someone who has the same déformation professionnelle, he looks like a typical Tory politician.

When it was put to him that he was accusing Jenrick of being a “Tory boy”, Gove went on:

So am I. It’s a stain that I bear. And given the strength of feeling against Tory boys expressed at the last general election, that’s a challenge.

Most comment (including mine) on James Watt’s recent LinkedIn post has been focused on his thoughts on Capital Gains Tax and possible tax exile.

However Watt also ponders what the future of Brewdog is. It would appear that status quo is not an option (a favourite thought of business leaders). An IPO remains a possibility (flotation on the stock market) but that has to be prepared for publicly. So far on that nothing.

Other options include a further private equity buy-out and Watt also notes a sale to Carlsberg or Heineken. Watt says that this is ‘not part of the plan’ but ‘everyone’s has always got a price’

Meanwhile Brewdog has filed its accounts for 2023, which in the wider circumstances of the hospitality industry are not that bad. Perhaps noteworthy profits are significantly up in several Brewdog operations outside of the UK, but nothing is said about the UK itself. The biggest contributions to profit were made by Brewdog Las Vegas and Brewdog Waterloo. The latter bar has been the subject of much adverse comment particularly on employee relations. While losses overall are significantly up to £59m this reportedly is due to one off charges

In reality until (and if ) Brewdog does float publicly transparency is limited.

The ‘row’ over Keir Starmer & his partner attending a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley is of course confected by a largely right-wing media. There are many reasons to criticise some of Starmer’s policies but the media attacks him simply because he is a Labour PM, as they would and have done with others who have done the job.

More specifically the media coverage as often reflects a complete ignorance of modern British history. With the rise of modern popular music from the 1950s politicians began to see the potential for popularity by making a link. Old Etonian Douglas Home who Harold Wilson beat at the 1964 Election certainly was not one for getting down with the kids. Wilson was however. He was pictured with the Beatles and on his suggestion they were awarded MBEs in June 1965 (Lennon handed his back in 1969).

Tony Blair fronted the rock band Ugly Rumours while at Oxford and when he became PM in 1997 began promoting Cool Britannia (1999) featuring Oasis, Blur etc.

Neil Kinnock was at least in the orbit of Red Wedge in the later 1980s, while Jeremy Corbyn made an appearance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury although thankfully we did not get to hear his rendition of Dylan’s Forever Young.

In short politicians, at least Labour ones, have courted pop music for 60 years. If Taylor Swift appears as heading a multi-million pound contract for Government business then will be the time to worry

The long running SpyCops inquiry has resumed again in London. Dave Morris one of the McLibel Two gave evidence on Tuesday. During the proceedings it transpired that John Dines the undercover officer who formed a relationship with Helen Steel under false pretences, had also given details of the McLibel defence case to McDonalds via his SpyCops superior officers.

The barrister in the case was Keir Starmer who gave advice and guidance pro bono to the McLibel Two over many years as the case went from the Old Bailey to the European Court.

In his biography of Starmer, Tom Baldwin recounts that at the time Starmer issued a statement saying the outcome of the case (in essence a score draw) was a ‘milestone for free speech’. After becoming an MP and subsequently leader of the Opposition, Starmer offered a qualified defence of the work of SpyCops (subsequently having been the DPP) provided that there were democratic safeguards.

Starmer is of course now the PM and may be charged eventually with deciding what to with the outcome of the SpyCops inquiry. One wonders how he feels about the revelation that he himself was being spied on

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/15/undercover-policeman-admits-spying-on-keir-starmer-when-he-was-a-barrister

Its not very punk but then again lots of things Brewdog’s James Watt has done in recent times fall in that area.

Ahead of the Budget on 30th October Watt has posted on LinkedIn to warn that a possible rise in Capital Gains Tax would hit British entrepreneurship has investment could move elsewhere. No doubt its something that Rachel Reeves is keen to do business with business will keep in mind.

Watt notes that while of course he loves the UK he might consider leaving. The Daily Telegraph has reported a potential motivation. If the very long mooted IPO of Brewdog takes place Watt would stand to benefit by hundreds of millions of pounds. That would be a bit less with higher CGT.

In short Watt is saying he might become a tax exile, not something one suspects that troubles Brewdog employees

Keir Starmer & Co welcomed global business leaders to an investment summit at the Guildhall in the City of London on Monday 14th October.

It was apparently a success certainly for the business leaders. Whether industry and infrastructure in the UK also benefit we shall see.

However most reports missed what was obviously the key part of the day, what they ate for lunch

We can rely on the Times for such details as (just about still) the ruling class paper of record.

There were it reports (15th October) two lunch options

pulled Hereford short rib cottage pie

Battered Hampshire cauliflower wings (vegetarian/vegan option)

At least the Government had invested in a good lunch far from Keir Starmer’s trade mark Pret tuna baguette