An explanation

By A. Supporter

I wrote “Labour United? The problem with the next generation“ because, like Hazel Blears, among others, I am disappointed. But unlike Hazel Blears I am not bound by Cabinet discretion to keep my personal opinions to myself. Some people have commented that my opinion is irrelevant because it is anonymous; others have attacked my piece on the grounds that it does nothing to bolster the young Party faithful. One of the rejections of my post was:

“I’ve got a few questions for Disgruntled from Miseryguts [me]. When was the last time you went leafleting? Used the virtual phone bank recently? How did you like spending your holidays in Glenrothes? Glasgow or Crewe? What is the contact creator code for Respect?”

My response: what tangible evidence can I proffer to the court of Labour opinion that will make my observations any less pertinent than anyone else’s? Train ticket stubs, a photo of me at a phone bank, the code for Respect on Contact Creator? How does the author know, with absolute certainty, that I’m not the person referred to in her piece that spends four hours a week at the phone bank? The assumption is merely that no-one who sits at a phone bank canvassing for the Labour vote for four hours a week could possibly be of my opinion.

I did not set out to denigrate individuals, nor did I set out to denigrate the Labour Party, but rather to express my disappointment at the cliques, the cultish loyalty and, in some cases, the careerism in the Labour movement. Yes, there have been young Labour MPs. Robin Cook for example, who was elected to the seat of Edinburgh Central in 1974 at the age of 28 and whose stance on Iraq I will always admire. But Robin Cook worked as a schoolteacher prior to his election to the House of Commons, a job that may have helped keep him human in the eyes of the public.

As for me, I support the Labour Party because, ideologically and historically, the Labour Party has tried to make Britain a fairer place to live. If Labour has failed, then I will say this: the Tories rarely even tried. For that reason, I have campaigned for the Labour Party and will continue to do so. But I cannot condone the ‘smackdown’ culture that sees career politicians clamour for position and not for better policies. I am Labour but I won’t support Labour United.

P.S – If I pin my passport photo to the mast, does what I write have new meaning? If so, the Economist has a lot to answer to.