Why Daniel Knowles is worried, and Maurice Glasman is in paradise

By Natan Doron / @natandoron

That a telegraph columnist would begin his article defending the consolidation and defence of narrow upper class privilege in British society by belittling the flurry of activity on the Labour blogosphere says nothing about us and everything about him:

“a whole world of pinko tweeters, bloggers and thinkers are out there frantically tapping out their plans for the future between gulps of ethically sourced Champagne. And what ideas!”

The quote above is bad enough, but that he then refers to one of our brightest and best as a ‘stupid boy’ in the title confirms what this petty mocking of internal Labour dialogue says about Daniel Knowles.

Before I go on, let me make it clear that I don’t necessarily agree with Owen Jones’s position on Oxbridge; I do however think there are better, more articulate and thoughtful ways to unpick his argument. Like this one for example.

The fact that such a considered response was to be found on Labourlist affirms the point I wish to make here.

The Labour Party support base is using the internet creatively. We are talking to each other and doing it regularly. Furthermore it’s open to anyone; those from all backgrounds and rungs of the career ladder are encouraged and actually do contribute.

And all this isn’t good for our opponents such as Daniel Knowles. We are talking, debating, reflecting, challenging and inspiring each other. That we are doing so in a participatory and egalitarian manner is even more worrying for Mr. Knowles, though he dare not admit it.

When a recent Guardian article reported on the left-leaning liberal takeover of the blogosphere it missed an important point: this is what some of us live for. I’m reminded of when I saw Maurice Glasman comment to a packed Labour meeting in Crouch End that such high level of engaged debate was his idea of “some kind of paradise”.

This is how we organise, motivate and inspire each other. It helps us get up on a Saturday morning and knock on the doors in our neighborhoods. This is why the right are reduced to obsessing about scandals online and leave the (excellent) Tim Montgomerie looking a lonely online figure.

Whilst it is crucial we don’t become too inward looking at the risk of alienating the electorate or becoming too factional, we have to take Knowles’ comments for what they are: the affirmation of a thriving and participatory party dialogue that is helping renew the party and increasing our chances of returning to the electorate with something worth voting for. That is how we do opposition. For husky hugging, please go here.