Kmflett's Blog

Candidates are now declared for elections in England, Scotland and Wales in 2027.

A significant issue for the left is trying to at least take the edge off the Reform vote.

Another however is where the left vote itself will go, with Labour facing significant issues not least on war.

The FT has published a relatively sober analysis of the Green’s performance in local elections (map above). Historically where the Greens have run Councils the experience has been mixed (see Brighton). However that was then and the Greens now have over 200,000 members. If you look at the candidates standing in May many look like those who might once have stood for Labour.

The FT article seeks to draw a distinction (no doubt with some satisfaction) between what it sees as quite cautious Green Councils in practice and the radicalism of Zack Polanski’s leadership. It would indeed be interesting to see a radical Green Council in the way that some Labour Councils in the past have been in various ways. This may however be more theory than practice.

Of course as Reform Councillors have found out local Councils thanks to the austerity years are cash strapped and have legal responsibilities that they must carry out. There is little evidence that Reform Councillors have much of a clue what they are up to.

As the FT article perhaps grudgingly concedes that is not so much the case with most Green Councillors, often rooted in community campaigning. It does mean however that they can end up appearing not so different to the alternative Council leaderships they have replaced. In doing so they disappoint those who have supported them looking for a genuine change.

Of course building out and involving local communities, campaigns and trade unions can help to find a way out of this and the independent socialist candidates standing in a number of areas should be able to point the way here. Elections are important but there is a wider world of conflict and struggle out there.

On 10th April 1848 the Chartists held a rally for the vote on Kennington Common. They had mostly marched from north of the river. The plan was to take a huge petition for the vote to Parliament. However once the Chartists had passed south the police and soldiers blocked them.

A leader of left Chartism, George Julian Harney who worked with Marx and Engels, made his position on this clear at a Chartist delegate meeting on 11th April.:

‘He would never again consent to leave London to hold a meeting

Northern Star 15th April 1848

The Chartists did have options north of the Thames including Copenhagen Fields and Bishop Bonners Fields (Victoria Park). However Kennington Common has remained the starting point for large protests in the modern era. The 1990 Poll Tax demonstration being a case in point.

That said while some demonstrations do head south of the Thames (the US Embassy having moved to Nine Elms) very few gather anywhere but in central London north of the Thames. The police perhaps recognising the importance of the river recently dictated that the Al Quds Day demonstration in March 2026 being restricted to a static protest on the south side of the Thames while a counter protest was allowed to gather on the north side…

Phil Ochs Love Me I’m A Liberal was recorded in 1966 and aimed at those who were once radical or claimed be yet ended up on the side of authority. The context was the US involvement in the Vietnam War. The words remain relevant 60 years on

Phil Ochs – Wikipedia

https://youtu.be/bLqKXrlD1TU?si=T2XSRu2lp5X-cN64

Love Me, I’m A Liberal, song lyrics

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers(3);
Tears ran down my spine.
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy(4),
As though I’d lost a father of mine.
But Malcolm X(5) got what was coming,
He got what he asked for this time.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.
I go to civil rights rallies.
And I put down the old D.A.R.(6)
I love Harry(7) and Sidney(8) and Sammy(9),
I hope every colored boy becomes a star.
But don’t talk about revolution,
That’s going a little bit too far.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.
I cheered when Humphrey(10) was chosen;
My faith in the system restored.
And I’m glad the commies were thrown out,
of the A.F.L. C.I.O.(11) board.
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros,
as long as they don’t move next door.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.
This song was originally posted on protestsonglyrics.net
The people of old Mississippi,
Should all hang their heads in shame.
Now I can’t understand how their minds work.
What’s the matter don’t they watch Les Crain(12)?
But if you ask me to bus my children,
I hope the cops take down your name.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.
Yes, I read New Republic(13) and Nation(14),
I’ve learned to take every view.
You know, I’ve memorized Lerner(15) and Golden(16),
I feel like I’m almost a Jew.
But when it comes to times like Korea(17),
There’s no one more red, white and blue.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.
This song was originally posted on protestsonglyrics.net
I vote for the Democratic Party,
They want the U.N. to be strong.
I go to all the Pete Seeger(18) concerts;
He sure gets me singing those songs.
And I’ll send all the money you ask for,
But don’t ask me to come on along.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.
Once I was young and impulsive;
I wore every conceivable pin.
Even went to the socialist meetings;
Learned all the old union hymns.
But I’ve grown older and wiser,
And that’s why I’m turning you in.
So love me, love me, love me, I’m a liberal.

Notes:
1 – Included in the 1966 album, Phil Ochs in Concert.
2 – Phil Ochs (1940 – 1976) biography.
3 – The assination of Medgar Evers, in Wikipedia.
4 – The assination of President Kennedy , in Wikipedia.
5 – The assination of Malcolm X, in Wikipedia.
6 – D.A.R., the Daughters of the American Revolution, in Wikipedia.
7 – Harry Belafonte, in Wikipedia.
8 – Sidney Poitier, in Wikipedia.
9 – Sammy Davis Jr., in Wikipedia.
10 – Hubert Humphrey, in Wikipedia.
11 – American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations AFL-CIO and the expulsion of communists.
12 – Les Crane, (often incorrectly spelt at Crain instead of Craine).
13 – The New Republic magazine, in Wikipedia.
14 – The Nation magazine, in Wikipedia.
15 – Probably, Leo Lerner, in Wikipedia. If you have citations to suggest somebody else, please let us know.
16 – Probably Harry Golden. If you have citations to suggest somebody else, please let us know.
17 – The Korean War, in Wikipedia.
18 – Pete Seeger, in Wikipedia.

Why they say them I’ll leave others to speculate

When I started drinking in the 1970s (and joined CAMRA in 1975) the London beer scene was not the most encouraging. There were only two London brewers of note Fullers and Youngs. The former were moving away from hand pulled beer to top pressure dispense. Youngs of Wandsworth remained the only cask ale brewer in the Capital.

Living in North London, then as now, this wasnt of great help as Youngs pubs were mainly in south-west London. There were however a few outposts notably the Spreadeagle in Camden Town and the Prince (now Princess) of Wales at Lea Bridge.

The beers, Youngs Ordinary and Special and the seasonal Winter Warmer, were good examples of the brewers art. At 5% Winter Warmer was one of the two strongest beers then available in London pubs (the other being Fullers ESB). I even had the questionable honour of meeting John Young on occasion. He used to appear at social events at the old Telecoms (now BT) London HQ on the Albert Embankment…..

Anyway Youngs is no longer a brewery but a pub company. Its beers are brewed (probably) by Carlsberg at Burton.

Youngs have announced the acquisition of Cubitt House an upmarket chain of nine pubs for £30m. The pubs are mostly in inner West London.

The Times comments ‘Cubitt House is considered more upscale than Youngs. (Its pubs) feature gastropub menus (while Youngs) ‘menus lean towards pub classics’ (i.e pies). Perhaps the Times should acquaint themselves with the Tom Kerridge pies in the M&S Gastropub range.. although the Times report is by Isabella Fish so perhaps the issue is how upmarket you want your fish and chips

The Trump Government & William Cobbett’s pre-1832 Old Corruption

Robert Reich who was Labour Secretary in the Obama Administration posted the below on Blue Sky on 9^th April 2026

A reminder: The Attorney General of the United States should be the people’s lawyer, not the president’s personal attorney. The Department of Justice should act to protect the public, not the occupant of the Oval Office and his political allies.

As if to underline the point Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is one of the US representatives at talks with Iran on 11th April. Kushner, a businessman, is not elected to any post and is unaccountable. His various titles- currently Peace Envoy- are a result of the patronage of Trump

Jared Kushner – Wikipedia

While the US has a written Constitution and the UK mostly does not have it’s a reminder of the British Government in the days before the 1832 Reform Act

‘Old Corruption’ was the term used by the radical journalist and politician William Cobbett and others to describe Parliaments and politics before the 1832 Reform Act. Here people held positions because of who they knew not because they were competent. Here also were numerous political sinecures. People benefiting from a political office in which they did little or no work.

It’s worth noting that before the 1832 Reform Act started what was a very long process to achieve full adult suffrage (completed in 1928) Britain came very close to revolution in 1831/2

After 2012 which took a satirical look at the London Olympics and W1A which did the same for the BBC, John Morton’s new six part series 2026 on the US World Cup has launched on the BBC (six episodes on IPlayer).

There are some familiar characters not least Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) as Head of Integrity and his assistant Will Humphries (Hugh Skinner). As before David Tennant does the voice overs.

The question perhaps is whether Morton’s satirical approach which looks at management culture and meetings about meetings and in particular perhaps brand and reputation management can work when the real life event is taking place in Trump’s USA with an illegal war currently being pursued and ICE snatching people off the streets and hauling them off to concentration camps.

There is not much scope for humour there, 2026 is not on that page, but the backdrop is unavoidable.

So far I’ve watched just the first episode. There was some decent satire but very few laughs but when I rewatched W1A recently (all three series on the IPlayer 2014-17) there were still plenty of laughs.

Of course satire and comedy does not have to be funny haha. I think 2026 could have been in that territory but it would have needed to be more sharply political and that might have provoked another Trump lawsuit against the BBC. Hmmmm

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/apr/08/twenty-twenty-six-review-hugh-bonneville-bbc?CMP=share_btn_url

The headline is from the Aberdeen Press & Journal.

It sounds rather like a stunt Brewdog might have pulled in the classic era before 2017.

In fact it relates to the news that James Watt resigned as a Director of Brewdog on 24th March and is listed as ‘resigned’ at the Companies House listing. It was a bit late, as the other Directors resigned on 6th March- Martin Dickie quit in August 2025.

My analysis of how Brewdog could have turned out very differently is here:

BrewDog: Origins of the crisis and how a socialist approach could have made a difference – Culture Matters

Bernie Grant d. 8th April 2000. Anti-racist, socialist, beard wearer.

I’m not in London today but if I was I’d be making the short way from my Tottenham residence to the old Tottenham Town Hall today to pay respects at the plaque marking the life of one of the great post-1945 political figures, Bernie Grant.

He died 26 years ago today after a period as leader of Haringey Council and then Labour MP for Tottenham from 1987, one of the first four black MPs to be elected in the modern era.

There is no question that Bernie made a significant impact on Haringey politics and well beyond which continues 26 years on. He was the first black leader of an authority anywhere in Europe and while the example has been far too slow to be followed it was a landmark.

His fight against racism and opposition to the Thatcher Government when he was Council leader again set a template

I was Chair of Haringey Trades Union Council throughout the period that Bernie was Council leader and MP.

I recall particularly Election meetings where in those days we would invite the Labour candidate only to speak. Bernie was an inspiring and indeed an idiosyncratic speaker. Throughout the period he was pursued by the tabloid press (fortunately it was well before social media) and particularly the S*n who labelled him ‘Barmy Bernie’. We were always on the look-out for ill-intentioned types at these kind of meetings keen to twist an off-cuff the remark.

My connections do go rather wider. His brother was a trade union colleague in telecoms (as was his partner) and like myself a cricket fan, neither of us for England…

We have to accept I think that political figures like Bernie Grant come along only rarely in each generation. Remembering him 26 years after his death is important not least for the motivation it should give to continue the fight now. And it certainly does need continuing

Some further detail on Bernie Grant’s background from FB posts

Monty as he was familiarly known to us was my first cousin. He like my father. Basil Barnett Blair, fought for the betterment of people. Monty (Bernie) was relentless, fearless and committed in standing up for people of all classes regardless of race, color or religion. In his private life he was the same person. Being an older cousin, Bernie was an example of kindness, humor, and loyalty. He mostly lit up the room with his smile and gapped teeth. He enjoyed family and family certainly enjoyed him. He is tremendously missed and his memory lives on not only in public life but greatly by his family and friends, whose lives he touched. To Sharon, Monty’s dear wife, my dear cousins and their families, other family members I send my love and continued blessings.

Mr. Keith Flett, thank you for honoring “one” of my favorite cousins. (hmm!) Bountiful Blessings to you, your family and the communities Monty served in.

Much respect,

Gweneth Blair- Bernie’s favorite cousin 

Charlotte NC

USA.

Denise McGuire

Uncle Basil was the General Secretary of the Teachers Union in Guyana and then the General Secretary of the TUC in Guyana Rosamund Grant Patrice Elonge Leyland Elonge Paula Grant Jennifer Hircock Philip Williams Charlie Bruce Raymond G Humphreys Philip Bowyer

Leyland and Bernie lived with Uncle Basil and his family when their parents were teaching “up country”. Until the nuns found then liming on the seawall and wrote their mother saying she needed to come back to Georgetown and keep them under control! Lovely memories xx

Trump’s TACO Tuesday

After he threatened to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age (an echo of a Vietnam War strategy which didn’t work either) Trump as agreed to a ceasefire brokered, it is reported by Pakistan. The country borders Iran has nuclear weapons so it has a clear interest.

Trump will no doubt claim it’s a victory but then he lies about everything and most media commentary suggests it’s a serious defeat for Trump and the US’s imperial role. A few comments suggest that Trump was only playing at being mad (after Nixon, who was not playing) but Trump’s erratic behaviour in general makes this a hard line to pursue.

At the end of December 2025 the Financial Times named its word or more properly anacronym of the year which was Taco. Not the tasty food but Trump Always Chickens Out.

Robert Armstrong who coined the word noted that its popularity signifies how thin skinned Trump is to criticisms of his policies, perhaps particularly in respect of his 2025 tariffs.

Armstrong argued that Taco underlines that Trump doesn’t really have any policies but is rather a ‘gifted reality TV star’.

I certainly don’t buy Armstrong’s point that Trump is not running an authoritarian Government.

However if we refocus Armstrong’s anacronym to in the context of the Situationists Society of the Spectacle (Guy Debord) we can see that Trump primarily promotes a brand-himself. Taco is an alternative reading of that brand and in this sense quite a subversive one.

In the last 24 hours the TACO brand has been badly damaged.