Kmflett's Blog

Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik has a to the point piece (3rd June) on why Labour’s Great Moving Right Show means that numbers no longer feel obliged to vote Labour at the Election. One impact which the bourgeois media is already noticing (Times Editorial 3rd June) is the potential for a low turnout.

There are of course still reasons for voting Labour. Firstly because in a First Past the Post electoral system its the only way to eject the Tories from Office. The moment of change can lead in unanticipated directions. Secondly because despite the best efforts of the Starmerites there remain some decent Labour candidates on the ballot. Thirdly because Labour offers something the Tories never will which is more rights in the workplace. Of course as in 1997 what this ends up looking like will be modest, but even small differences matter to those at the bottom of society.

Beyond that there will be a range of left independent candidates in a limited number of Constituencies including my own of Tottenham. A focus rightly so is Labour’s disgraceful position on Gaza and Palestine.

There is another perspective. While using the vote to get the Tories out remains important,until 1928 not everone had the vote. It was extended incrementally over almost a century from 1832. What did radicals and the left do then? They looked at pressure from without. Namely electing not the lesser of two evils but one or other party, the Liberals (after 1859) or the Tories. Which Party in Government could be pushed by protest to carry measures helpful to those without the vote.

Actually quite a few measures were passed in the second half of the nineteenth century which made a difference for the better for the voteless. This was achieved not by altruism but by organised protest. It was also unpredictable. Helpful change was as likely to come from a Tory as a Liberal Government. It depended on the precise context of the moment and of those wanting change grasping how to exploit it.

So on July 4th vote certainly to get the Tories out, but focus on the task ahead. Building organisation to make the new Government do something useful for the many not the few

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/03/keir-starmer-labour-left-rishi-sunak-tories

June 3rd

Beard Liberation Front

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, is preparing its Election Manifesto and considering its Election strategies.

This guide to facial hair from the Daily Mirror in 1909 is not BLF approved but provides perspective

Liz Truss has a majority of 26,000 in her South West Norfolk seat. She has said (Sunday Times 2nd June) that she is focused on winning the seat at the Election on local issues and has no ambition to return to Downing St. That doesnt quite fit with the extensive publicity her political memoir has received where she styles herself as the saviour of Western civilisation.

There are two other right-wing candidates James Bagge a former Tory standing on an anti-Truss platform, who usually describes himself as the ‘Turnip Taliban’ and Toby McKenzie for Reform.

With the potential for a split vote on the right there could be a, very welcome, Labour surprise here.The candidate Terry Jermy has a beard.

The final large scale Survation MRP poll released on 2nd July shows the following

Labour 34.7%

Tory 30.0%

Reform 15.1%

“

A couple of weeks ago the failed Labour MP John Woodcock who now calls himself Lord Walney presented his report on political violence and extremism. Woodcock has no qualifications or expertise in the area but that didn’t stop him from making numerous proposals to ban or restrict protests mainly in areas such as Palestine, climate or oil where he has a declared interest or is a paid lobbyist.

On Saturday 1st June far right grifter Yaxley Lennon organised a march in central London. The numbers were not insignificant, 5,000 or so. The banner at the head of the march suggested it was focused on hate (picture above).

The Met Police’s assessment was posted on their Twitter

Officers have identified individuals within the crowd who have a history of being involved in violent disorder. A number have football banning orders and are associated with hooligan groups from London and across the UK.

There is also an element of the crowd previously well known for involvement in anti-lockdown protests during the pandemic and associated disorder.

While there have not been any offences so far, a number of people in the crowd are intoxicated

Interviewed on Sky about the march (and a smaller counter lobby by Stand Up To Racism) Walney managed several minutes of waffle before starting on about ‘both sides’. When it comes to the which side are you on question Walney it seems clear is on that of the street thugs that Suella Braverman whipped up to cause disorder at the Centotaph in November 2023.

As he hints in the Sky interview Woodcock has now remembered he was once a Labour MP and is looking to get Keir Starmer on board with his authoritarian proposals on protest.

The Ambridge Socialist

2^nd June

Casey Meats needs a union

The BBC has reported that items are going missing from Casey Meats deliveries. The suspicion, so far unproven, is that an employee is pilfering items. At one level the Ambridge Socialist has no issue with this. Its redistribution from the rich to the poor. However if the reputation of the Company is damaged its likely the workers will end up suffering more than the owner.

Casey Meats needs to recognise a union and starts discussion on the impact of the cost of living crisis on employees and whether the wage rates are competitive

Election: Sid Grundy is the Ambridge Socialist candidate

The Ambridge Socialist candidate for South Borsetshire on 4^th July will be Sid Grundy. More details to follow

Bread Beer

The Ambridge Socialist is pleased to see an uptick in sales of cask Shires bitter being drunk in one of Britain’s most well known pubs, the Bull Ambridge

Shires is produced in Borchester and is a classic Best Bitter with a superb balance of malt and hops.

Recently Bull regulars noted for not drinking Shires have been turning to it.

First George one of the younger generation of proletarian Grundys was heard switching from his usual lager to Shires.

This week Meat packing factory owner Vince Casey usually a whisky and ginger man ordered Shires. He also tried and liked a new beer produced with bread, quite common craft beer niche.

Oliver Sterling part owner of Grey Gables and the village’s only reader of the Spectator also ordered Shires. He might be thought to be a cask beer traditionalist being in his seventies but again he is a G&T man.

We should look forward to a stronger Shires ESB to encourage more Ambridge excitement

Pellicle on Shires

https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/2021/8/23/ambridges-best-recreating-shires-ale-from-bbcs-the-archers

Horses

Something has gone wrong at the stables. It appears to be serious.

D Day

Lynda and others have decided to organise an event to mark D Day. No doubt will be hearing about a people’s war. Hopefully there will also be recognition of the ‘D Day Dodgers’ fighting Italian fascists at Monte Cassino

The Broad Church of Labour is something much referred to but never defined. Ralph Miliband argued that it was a Church where the right determined the order of service but the left could lurk in the pews at the back provided they didn’t make too much noise.

Keir Starmer has effectively ended services at the Labour Broad Church and in the run up to Election several left-wing candidates have been purged and replaced by Starmerites. A central focus has been on Diane Abbott in Hackney North and Stoke Newington (the Constituency that borders my own of Tottenham). Suspended in 2023 and left in a political void she was reinstated this week after a campaign. While her candidacy at the Election was a matter for Labour’s NEC, Starmer controls the NEC and determined that she could be a candidate.

Its good news that Dianne Abbott through determination, resilience & sticking to her principles has seen off the Starmerites and will be the Labour candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Meanwhile in an interview with his biographer Tom Baldwin in the Observer (2nd June) Starmer clarified further his position. Diane Abbott is an ‘exception’. Presumably she is welcome at the Starmer Narrow Church as an observer or possibly an emeritus member

Starmer argues that Abbott is worth treating as an exception. “Although I disagree with some of what she says, in terms of the battles she’s been through and the terrible insults she has had to rise above, I’ve actually got more respect for Diane than she probably realises,” he says. “She was the first Black woman MP and has always had to fight for everything. She’s not like any other candidate.”… “I don’t usually get involved in individual selections Observer 2nd June

…for the first time we are a multiracial party, which I hope will affect the self image of black voters. He congratulated the four black and asian members Diane Abbott, Bernie Grant, Paul Boateng and Keith Vaz.

Tony Benn, Diary 17th June 1987

The occasion was an address to the PLP by Neil Kinnock after the 1987 Election defeat to Thatcher

2nd June

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, is to meet in the next few days to agree a style guide ruling on England football manager Gareth Southgate’s reported decision to swap his iconic waistcoat for a cardigan for the 2024 Euro football championships.

The campaigners say that the cardigan and facial hair combo might be a Dad Beard niche that could be acceptable without being promoted.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, do cardigans and beards work in 2024? That is what our style review will consider in the next few days

I stopped by the British Library again this week (Ive been a reader for 40 years,since 1984). I don’t go that often currently because the system for ordering books on-line in advance is unfortunately still not working(I’ll post on that).

However with an Election on 4th July which is being compared to that of May 1st 1997 I thought I’d check what if anything I’d said in that most reliable of organs (of the time) the New Musical Express.

Fortunately bound hard copy volumes of the NME are available on open access in the Humanities 2 Reading Room.

I think my Fletter of 19th April 1997 is broadly consistent with my present views. Its part of a long running NME Fletters research project.

The NME did indeed have a lot to say about the 1997 Election (again another post) which included a report that on May 1st 1997 Micheal Eavis stood as the Labour candidate in Wells and polled a very creditable 10,000 votes

Both Marx and Engels were frequent visitors to English seaside resorts mainly in the south of England. Marx liked Margate and in later life Ventnor while Engels rented a property opposite the pier in Eastbourne.

Records of their visits to locations in northern England are less easy to find. Engels enjoyed several visits to Bridlington, including the beer available.

However at Whitsun 1873 Marx wrote to Engels from Manchester (25 Dover St 31st May 1873). Engels had by this time retired and was based in London while Marx was spending some time in Manchester.

He wrote to Engels that he had been to Southport and on that day was off to Buxton until 2nd June with Samuel Moore. He was a friend of Marx and Engels nd translator of the first English edition of Capital.

Buxton in this period was famous for its spa waters and Marx was keen on taking the waters for health reasons.