Now the apologists will say it is wrong to attack him for this. But it is something that comes as part of the job of being a national leader. You have to be seen to attend these sorts of events, even if it is not something that interests you in the slightest. And if you really can't go, send a high-ranking substitute. Tom Watson would make a very good Pooh Bah....
The new Corbyn press team needs to get this sort of easy stuff right and quickly. If they can't, they will just collapse when something serious happens.
A week is a very long time in politics, even more so when you are Jeremy Corbyn and floundering quite so much.
Is there a rugby match on today ? Bit early in the season, isn't it ?
The important game tonight is Wigan v St Helens. Well done Cas - hope Yvette was profuse with her congratulations.
I'm don't personally think any the worse of Corbyn for him not going to a rugby match (and didn't over not singing the national anthem)... but it's poor politics.
Corbyn has a range of difficulties, but one of them is the "who would you rather go for a pint with?" issue. It's always an unfair one because an affable public persona doesn't reliably translate to being a nice person, and vice versa (indeed, as a bit of an introvert, I quietly suspect the correlation runs the other way). But all the evidence is that it DOES matter to people, and there's a bloody good reason politicians pretend to be normal.
Jezza does come across as dour, humourless and having few "normal" interests outside advancing the march of socialism. It would do him no harm to be pictured having a good-natured chat with the red-trouser brigade over a pie (cheese and onion, obviously). He'd obviously prefer to stay in and read the latest biography of Frederick Engels (and fair enough - each to his own) but he does have to think about a bit more than his ideal Friday night at this stage, what with the new job and all.
I have to say I'm naturally hostile to Corbyn, but this kind of nonsensical attack makes me want to come to his defence. Attending England rugby matches is not a responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition.
If you want to get ahead in politics or business, sometimes you have to be seen to be making an effort. Even if he does not enjoy it, it makes sense to go and be seen there. He needs to connect, he needs support.
Remember the old adage: "90% of success is simply about turning up"
Corbyn seems to think there are no responsibilities to being leader of the opposition.
He seems to lack the most basic understanding of politics - that it is about persuading and influencing people.
To me, he comes across more and more as an idealogue with little or no understanding of what makes people tick.
I have to say I'm naturally hostile to Corbyn, but this kind of nonsensical attack makes me want to come to his defence. Attending England rugby matches is not a responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition.
If you want to get ahead in politics or business, sometimes you have to be seen to be making an effort. Even if he does not enjoy it, it makes sense to go and be seen there. He needs to connect, he needs support.
Remember the old adage: "90% of success is simply about turning up"
Corbyn seems to think there are no responsibilities to being leader of the opposition.
He seems to lack the most basic understanding of politics - that it is about persuading and influencing people.
To me, he comes across more and more as an idealogue with little or no understanding of what makes people tick.
It's a good article. Corbyn and McDonnell need to do three things, in sequence.
(snipped)
Instinctive Labour-leaning voter speaking: 1. The personal negatives are their very own attributes. Mr Corbyn is a very nice man if you agree with him; so, actually, no: not in my book he isn't. Mr McConnell is a politician and did what the politician had to do; far, far too late. It isn't their competence I doubt; it's their private agenda.
2. You're right. But if there is a better approach, why can't its proponents explain it clearly? I've been trying to get my head round it for 6 years.
3. Discredit your opponent. Never mind whether your opponent is disreputable, as long as you can make people think they are. Funny how that approach works in politics. I understand that it's the first thing that salespeople are warned against.
Sorry, Nick. The scales tipped for me yesterday. As far as I'm concerned, Labour has lost it. Labour's been taken over. Last time round the hard left were fronting for communism. The only consolation is that if the hard left take over the country now, it'll be the religious fundamentalists who'll be barging in after them.
When did you last vote Labour out of curiosity? Do you really think the policies being suggested by the current lot are hard left?
1) I last voted Labour at the 2015 local elections. UK Labour at GE2010 & GE2015 were washouts for me; sorry & all that but .....
At the time of GE 2005 I was living in Exeter, so probably voted for Ben Bradshaw but actually don't remember anything about that GE at all, not where my voting station was or even that there was a GE during my time there. (I'm a civic-duty voter but was in the throes of clinical depression so may not have voted at all. Although not voting would have been extremely unusual, it was my first meaningful chance to make my vote count, so I'd have thought I would remember it. Until 2005 I had lived all my life in dead-donkey Conservative constituencies, so used my vote to support no-hoper candidates that I felt deserved encouragement.)
2) No, I don't think the policies being suggested at present are hard left. What I'm seeing is hard left people making a successful take-over. I'm old enough to remember what people with the same world-view did last time. I don't doubt anyone's sincerity, but I personally don't want to go there again.
Travelling around London today it seems an addendum is required that not only is rugby a game for hooligans played by gentlemen but it is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen and watched by thoroughly decent gels in pels and their menfolk, all equally decent.
Personally, I don't blame Corbyn for not going to the Rugby event today. It's a sport which bores me to tears.
Well, Spitfires and old pilots might have bored you too, but you aren't Leader of the Opposition.
There is a list of things it is prudent to do as a Leader of the Opposition. One is sing the national anthem when celebrating those who were prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice for the country, so that the same national anthem could still be sung. In English. Another is to be present as the said Leader of the Opposition at a prestigious event, showcasing this country and shown around the world for the next few weeks. Britain at its best.
That he doesn't want to be associated with it (presumably because he fears he will be closely examined to see if his lips move for the anthem) is a snub to the event and to the office of LOTO. Oh, and to the country hosting this event.
His country. Supposedly. Maybe if it were being held in his constituency. Or Dresden.....
I have to say I'm naturally hostile to Corbyn, but this kind of nonsensical attack makes me want to come to his defence. Attending England rugby matches is not a responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition.
If you want to get ahead in politics or business, sometimes you have to be seen to be making an effort. Even if he does not enjoy it, it makes sense to go and be seen there. He needs to connect, he needs support.
Remember the old adage: "90% of success is simply about turning up"
Corbyn seems to think there are no responsibilities to being leader of the opposition.
He seems to lack the most basic understanding of politics - that it is about persuading and influencing people.
To me, he comes across more and more as an idealogue with little or no understanding of what makes people tick.
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
Personally, I don't blame Corbyn for not going to the Rugby event today. It's a sport which bores me to tears.
Well, Spitfires and old pilots might have bored you too, but you aren't Leader of the Opposition.
There is a list of things it is prudent to do as a Leader of the Opposition. One is sing the national anthem when celebrating those who were prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice for the country, so that the same national anthem could still be sung. In English. Another is to be present as the said Leader of the Opposition at a prestigious event, showcasing this country and shown around the world for the next few weeks. Britain at its best.
That he doesn't want to be associated with it (presumably because he fears he will be closely examined to see if his lips move for the anthem) is a snub to the event and to the office of LOTO. Oh, and to the country hosting this event.
His country. Supposedly. Maybe if it were being held in his constituency. Or Dresden.....
Mr. JEO, rugby's a good sport. Like you say, lots of action.
Though bad games are dire (there was a Scotland/England match a few years ago in terrible conditions which was tedious as hell). At least with F1 a boring race can be enlivened by a crash or technical failure.
Were you around when Snowflake was? You'd have liked her.
Snowflake5? Oh my goodness - there is a blast from the past. She had a blog that she kept going for a while but it stopped about a year or so ago.
Perhaps she'll return now that she's got time on her hands.
I cannot say I ever agreed with her on just about anything, but she was passionate and wrote some insightful stuff. Her blog was often a good read.
How did people know who she was?
Well.... she always used the handle "Snowflake5", her blog was called "Snowflake5" and she always used the tag-line "I'm Labour", on top of that her views were fairly consistent. It is not like I had 4 people mixed up...
Every time someone from the left quotes Paul Krugman they stick "Nobel-prize-winning" in front of him. Never mind that his Nobel prize was nothing to do with his take on austerity. There could not be a more blatant appeal to authority.
And what is wrong with an appeal to authority? It was something Aristotle approved of.
I'm don't personally think any the worse of Corbyn for him not going to a rugby match (and didn't over not singing the national anthem)... but it's poor politics.
Corbyn has a range of difficulties, but one of them is the "who would you rather go for a pint with?" issue. It's always an unfair one because an affable public persona doesn't reliably translate to being a nice person, and vice versa (indeed, as a bit of an introvert, I quietly suspect the correlation runs the other way). But all the evidence is that it DOES matter to people, and there's a bloody good reason politicians pretend to be normal.
Jezza does come across as dour, humourless and having few "normal" interests outside advancing the march of socialism. It would do him no harm to be pictured having a good-natured chat with the red-trouser brigade over a pie (cheese and onion, obviously). He'd obviously prefer to stay in and read the latest biography of Frederick Engels (and fair enough - each to his own) but he does have to think about a bit more than his ideal Friday night at this stage, what with the new job and all.
All he has to do is sit in a seat, let his eyes glaze over and think back to the happier, carefree days of touring the GDR with his paramour. Come on Jezza, make the effort! Don't you want to be PM?
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
Yes. I do feel very sorry for him with what he's undergoing. I hope he & his family come through it relatively unscathed.
Anecdote alert - walking home today I spied in a window a 'Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader' poster, in a house which had displayed a Green party poster at the GE - both are sufficiently out of place in the Tory shires that I recalled the house, but clearly the Corbyn effect is indeed working in many places!
"I think we're beginning to see why his first wife divorced him. He's only interested in his political hobbies. No dinners out, trips to the cinema... "
This thread is becoming surreal like the last one. If you and Jessop can't find find anything interesting to write can't you go for a swim?
Betting post.For those who are in for the next Labour leader market,the 16-1 available at WH for Keir Starmer should be taken in any dutch bet alongside the value of AJ at long odds.The thing about Alan Johnson is that he has consistently said he doesn't want it or need it .I believe him .Whilst Keir Starmer's politics is in the formidable position of no political baggage or association with the Blair/Brown government.He has an open book. As part of the dutch spread I would also include a number of women as Labour may decide AWS should apply to the election of leader.Maybe someday Labour will choose to have a woman leader.Where's Barbara Castle when you need her?
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have to say I'm naturally hostile to Corbyn, but this kind of nonsensical attack makes me want to come to his defence. Attending England rugby matches is not a responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition.
If you want to get ahead in politics or business, sometimes you have to be seen to be making an effort. Even if he does not enjoy it, it makes sense to go and be seen there. He needs to connect, he needs support.
Remember the old adage: "90% of success is simply about turning up"
Corbyn seems to think there are no responsibilities to being leader of the opposition.
He seems to lack the most basic understanding of politics - that it is about persuading and influencing people.
To me, he comes across more and more as an idealogue with little or no understanding of what makes people tick.
I have to say I'm naturally hostile to Corbyn, but this kind of nonsensical attack makes me want to come to his defence. Attending England rugby matches is not a responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition.
If you want to get ahead in politics or business, sometimes you have to be seen to be making an effort. Even if he does not enjoy it, it makes sense to go and be seen there. He needs to connect, he needs support.
Remember the old adage: "90% of success is simply about turning up"
Corbyn seems to think there are no responsibilities to being leader of the opposition.
He seems to lack the most basic understanding of politics - that it is about persuading and influencing people.
To me, he comes across more and more as an idealogue with little or no understanding of what makes people tick.
Anecdote alert - walking home today I spied in a window a 'Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader' poster, in a house which had displayed a Green party poster at the GE - both are sufficiently out of place in the Tory shires that I recalled the house, but clearly the Corbyn effect is indeed working in many places!
The Greens, being far leftie in the main and Corbynistas are largely interchangeable.
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have come round to Jezza since I found out he was a biker. I loved my motorbikes and went on a couple of biking tours, though not the DDR. I had an MZ made in DDR once, does anyone know what bike Jezza had?
Were you around when Snowflake was? You'd have liked her.
Snowflake5? Oh my goodness - there is a blast from the past. She had a blog that she kept going for a while but it stopped about a year or so ago.
Perhaps she'll return now that she's got time on her hands.
I cannot say I ever agreed with her on just about anything, but she was passionate and wrote some insightful stuff. Her blog was often a good read.
How did people know who she was?
Well.... she always used the handle "Snowflake5", her blog was called "Snowflake5" and she always used the tag-line "I'm Labour", on top of that her views were fairly consistent. It is not like I had 4 people mixed up...
No, I mean how did people know she was Missus Balls.
It was always known that Osbo wanted to be FS. Obviously his stature has increased by luck and design such that he is now seen as a possible PM. But I'm not sure anything has changed from the time he wanted to be FS.
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have come round to Jezza since I found out he was a biker. I loved my motorbikes and went on a couple of biking tours, though not the DDR. I had an MZ made in DDR once, does anyone know what bike Jezza had?
It'd be a shame for the staff, so I hope they're there for their sakes.
But I'm fed up with the Red Bull management constantly whinging, as if they have a right to be the best team. I particularly feel sorry for Renault, who are having all the blame for Red Bull's underperformance thrown at them, when the car is also not massively competitive at most tracks.
Were you around when Snowflake was? You'd have liked her.
Snowflake5? Oh my goodness - there is a blast from the past. She had a blog that she kept going for a while but it stopped about a year or so ago.
Perhaps she'll return now that she's got time on her hands.
I cannot say I ever agreed with her on just about anything, but she was passionate and wrote some insightful stuff. Her blog was often a good read.
While it was clearly well-written, punchy and the product of a lot of thought, I thought it was stultifying and utterly uninsightful personally, but that may be because my starting point was a position of similar alignment if not broad agreement.
Made me more unforgiving of factual and historical errors, over-extended extrapolations, comparisons and allegories, the trotting out of the same old tropes. For someone not familiar with the paradigm, what she wrote might have been quite refreshing.
Were you around when Snowflake was? You'd have liked her.
Snowflake5? Oh my goodness - there is a blast from the past. She had a blog that she kept going for a while but it stopped about a year or so ago.
Perhaps she'll return now that she's got time on her hands.
I cannot say I ever agreed with her on just about anything, but she was passionate and wrote some insightful stuff. Her blog was often a good read.
While it was clearly well-written, punchy and the product of a lot of thought, I thought it was stultifying and utterly uninsightful personally, but that may be because my starting point was a position of similar alignment if not broad agreement.
Made me more unforgiving of factual and historical errors, over-extended extrapolations, comparisons and allegories, the trotting out of the same old tropes. For someone not familiar with the paradigm, what she wrote might have been quite refreshing.
Mr. JEO, rugby's a good sport. Like you say, lots of action.
Though bad games are dire (there was a Scotland/England match a few years ago in terrible conditions which was tedious as hell). At least with F1 a boring race can be enlivened by a crash or technical failure.
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Topping , you have lost it , what has happened to your usual sensible self. That is a load of bollox.
'To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.'
LBC phone in yesterday on Stop and Search hosted by the moron O'Brien criticised Zac Goldsmith for noticing that as the searches have gone down, knife crime has gone up.... preventing the trauma of certain people getting stopped more than once a lifetime is more important than stopping people dying apparently
I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive. Had Corbyn had the sort of spin doctor most leaders have I'm sure they would have pointed out how inappropriate he found it insulting the Scots on an occasion like that which was why his lips didn't move. For those (like me) who haven't bothered to listen here is the offending verse
Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen!
off topic, I assume OGH and TSE will be doing a London Mayoral/Assembly Member betting piece soon. I ask because I have been nominated as an AM candidate in Merton/Wandsworth and would love to their thoughts.
LBC phone in yesterday on Stop and Search hosted by the moron O'Brien criticised Zac Goldsmith for noticing that as the searches have gone down, knife crime has gone up.... preventing the trauma of certain people getting stopped more than once a lifetime is more important than stopping people dying apparently
James O'Brien is, was and probably always will be a complete knob.
It would take a very brave Labour MP to defect to "any party'"for the sheer amount of vitriol and abuse that would come their way. I suspect most of them will "sit it out" at least for a while. Nevertheless, it must be absolutely galling for those who have sat on the backbenches for years, to see these new MPS' of only four months, get shadow front-bench jobs.
I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive. Had Corbyn had the sort of spin doctor most leaders have I'm sure they would have pointed out how inappropriate he found it insulting the Scots on an occasion like that which was why his lips didn't move. For those (like me) who haven't bothered to listen here is the offending verse
Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen!
The tosh is your attempt to defend him on this basis.
That verse wasn't part of what was being sung on this (or indeed any Royal occasion)
In no way would he have been endorsing a defunct verse by participating in communal singing of verse 1...
(I happen to think that, as an atheist, republican, he was perfectly right not to join in - but this sort of apologist nonsense does you no credit whatsoever)
Betting post.For those who are in for the next Labour leader market,the 16-1 available at WH for Keir Starmer should be taken in any dutch bet alongside the value of AJ at long odds.The thing about Alan Johnson is that he has consistently said he doesn't want it or need it .I believe him .Whilst Keir Starmer's politics is in the formidable position of no political baggage or association with the Blair/Brown government.He has an open book. As part of the dutch spread I would also include a number of women as Labour may decide AWS should apply to the election of leader.Maybe someday Labour will choose to have a woman leader.Where's Barbara Castle when you need her?
Note that's ''Sir Keir Starmer, KCB, QC '' 'Sir' So for a start that's somebody who's not bothered about kneeling before the Queen.
I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive. Had Corbyn had the sort of spin doctor most leaders have I'm sure they would have pointed out how inappropriate he found it insulting the Scots on an occasion like that which was why his lips didn't move. For those (like me) who haven't bothered to listen here is the offending verse
Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen!
Err, Roger that verse hasn't been sung for about 300 years.
Betting post.For those who are in for the next Labour leader market,the 16-1 available at WH for Keir Starmer should be taken in any dutch bet alongside the value of AJ at long odds.The thing about Alan Johnson is that he has consistently said he doesn't want it or need it .I believe him .Whilst Keir Starmer's politics is in the formidable position of no political baggage or association with the Blair/Brown government.He has an open book. As part of the dutch spread I would also include a number of women as Labour may decide AWS should apply to the election of leader.Maybe someday Labour will choose to have a woman leader.Where's Barbara Castle when you need her?
Note that's ''Sir Keir Starmer, KCB, QC '' 'Sir' So for a start that's somebody who's not bothered about kneeling before the Queen.
And he comes with plenty of baggage - both political and professional.
I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive. Had Corbyn had the sort of spin doctor most leaders have I'm sure they would have pointed out how inappropriate he found it insulting the Scots on an occasion like that which was why his lips didn't move. For those (like me) who haven't bothered to listen here is the offending verse
Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen!
Err, Roger that verse hasn't been sung for about 300 years.
Plus the official delegated words of the national anthem are written on the same paper as our constitution eg there is no official national anthem words - it has evolved with various verses added on as people thought appropriate over time.
I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive. Had Corbyn had the sort of spin doctor most leaders have I'm sure they would have pointed out how inappropriate he found it insulting the Scots on an occasion like that which was why his lips didn't move. For those (like me) who haven't bothered to listen here is the offending verse
Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen!
Err, Roger that verse hasn't been sung for about 300 years.
Otherwise, yes, great piece of spin.
You should try the putative Scottish ones. All about waging war on the English in the 13th century. "Knaves" is quite mild.
This is the one the Nats sing every year:
Scots who have with Wallace bled Scots whom Bruce has often led Welcome to your gory bed Or to victory!
Now's the day, and now's the hour See the front of battle glower See approach proud Edward's power Chains and slavery!
Who will be a traitor knave? Who can fill a coward's grave? Who's so base to be a slave? Let him turn, and flee!
Who for Scotland's King and Law Freedom's sword will strongly draw Freeman stand, or freeman fall Let him follow me!
By Oppression's woes and pains By your sons in servile chains We will drain our dearest veins But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low Tyrants fall in every foe Liberty's in every blow Let us do or die!
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have come round to Jezza since I found out he was a biker. I loved my motorbikes and went on a couple of biking tours, though not the DDR. I had an MZ made in DDR once, does anyone know what bike Jezza had?
Honda Super Blackbird ?
Very droll.
Che Guevara rode a Norton, but I wonder if Jezza would favour a Triumph made by the workers Co-operative at Meriden? Or maybe a Ural combination:
The British motorbike industry gets better and better, but now built in Leicestershire as part of the Bloor empire. Bloor started out as a plasterer and is now a self made millionaire employing thousands and exporting all over the world. He bought the Triumph name after the Meriden Co-operative set up by Tony Benn collapsed. A tale of two industrial policies...
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have come round to Jezza since I found out he was a biker. I loved my motorbikes and went on a couple of biking tours, though not the DDR. I had an MZ made in DDR once, does anyone know what bike Jezza had?
Jezza is a biker? I hope twitter doesn't find this out....
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have come round to Jezza since I found out he was a biker. I loved my motorbikes and went on a couple of biking tours, though not the DDR. I had an MZ made in DDR once, does anyone know what bike Jezza had?
Jezza is a biker? I hope twitter doesn't find this out....
I'm still trying to avoid thinking of Dianne Abbot in black leather.
Mr. G, tweak the tiger's tail and hear the thunderous roar
Speaking of being savaged, I'm off. Hope to get the pre-qualifying piece up around the usual time tomorrow. Off-chance it might be at an odd time. Have to see how things go.
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have come round to Jezza since I found out he was a biker. I loved my motorbikes and went on a couple of biking tours, though not the DDR. I had an MZ made in DDR once, does anyone know what bike Jezza had?
Jezza is a biker? I hope twitter doesn't find this out....
I'm still trying to avoid thinking of Dianne Abbot in black leather.
She was slimmer back then, judging by some of the pictures! Though I doubt either Diane Abbott or Jezza are into leather biker gear!
"'I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive.'
Do try a bit harder instead of repeating what Salmond said on QT last night and pretending it was some original thought from you."
I didn't hear Salmond's comments on QT but I did read Don Brind's piece above which you presumably didn't because that's where the thought for my post originated.
I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive. Had Corbyn had the sort of spin doctor most leaders have I'm sure they would have pointed out how inappropriate he found it insulting the Scots on an occasion like that which was why his lips didn't move. For those (like me) who haven't bothered to listen here is the offending verse
Lord grant that Marshal Wade May by thy mighty aid Victory bring. May he sedition hush, And like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush. God save the Queen!
Wade was a great engineer, and many of his works form the basis of the Scottish road network to this day. The ones that are not can make superb walks - like the one heading southeast from Fort Augustus, or the one over Rannoch Moor to Kingshouse via Ba Bridge. (*)
Any song that celebrates a great engineer gets my vote. If that great engineer also civilised the Scots, then so much the better.
(BTW, cannot believe you did not know about that now-unsung verse. Where have you been?)
(*) Although his successor Caulfield actually built more.
Did any of Corbyn's new people not tell him the Rugby World Cup is raising the profile and funds for the World Food Programme? So that is who he is snubbing by not attending....
To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.
The serious point about lots of poshos watching the rugby is that rugby, for any number of reasons, attracts more an ABC than CDE crowd.
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
Tbh I think it's just that he doesn't like Rugby, and is the kind of bloke who is probably very stubborn. Apparently he's very into trains though.
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
I have come round to Jezza since I found out he was a biker. I loved my motorbikes and went on a couple of biking tours, though not the DDR. I had an MZ made in DDR once, does anyone know what bike Jezza had?
Jezza is a biker? I hope twitter doesn't find this out....
I'm still trying to avoid thinking of Dianne Abbot in black leather.
She was slimmer back then, judging by some of the pictures! Though I doubt either Diane Abbott or Jezza are into leather biker gear!
Jezza reminds me of this fellow from Mike Leighs Nuts in May 1976:
Comments
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11873371/Jeremy-Corbyn-had-fling-with-Diane-Abbott-in-the-1970s.html
UK productivity 20% below the average for the rest of the G7 in 2014 ow.ly/SoprI
Well done Cas - hope Yvette was profuse with her congratulations.
Corbyn has a range of difficulties, but one of them is the "who would you rather go for a pint with?" issue. It's always an unfair one because an affable public persona doesn't reliably translate to being a nice person, and vice versa (indeed, as a bit of an introvert, I quietly suspect the correlation runs the other way). But all the evidence is that it DOES matter to people, and there's a bloody good reason politicians pretend to be normal.
Jezza does come across as dour, humourless and having few "normal" interests outside advancing the march of socialism. It would do him no harm to be pictured having a good-natured chat with the red-trouser brigade over a pie (cheese and onion, obviously). He'd obviously prefer to stay in and read the latest biography of Frederick Engels (and fair enough - each to his own) but he does have to think about a bit more than his ideal Friday night at this stage, what with the new job and all.
To me, he comes across more and more as an idealogue with little or no understanding of what makes people tick.
but .....
At the time of GE 2005 I was living in Exeter, so probably voted for Ben Bradshaw but actually don't remember anything about that GE at all, not where my voting station was or even that there was a GE during my time there. (I'm a civic-duty voter but was in the throes of clinical depression so may not have voted at all. Although not voting would have been extremely unusual, it was my first meaningful chance to make my vote count, so I'd have thought I would remember it. Until 2005 I had lived all my life in dead-donkey Conservative constituencies, so used my vote to support no-hoper candidates that I felt deserved encouragement.)
2) No, I don't think the policies being suggested at present are hard left. What I'm seeing is hard left people making a successful take-over. I'm old enough to remember what people with the same world-view did last time. I don't doubt anyone's sincerity, but I personally don't want to go there again.
Sky offering 7/2 on Osbo as next PM. Next best 13:8.
Down from a brief 4/1.
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-prime-minister
Has something happened?
Oh and a lot of frenchmen with funny hats.
On the panel, @SeemaMalhotra1 MP (Lab&Co-op), @theresecoffey MP (Con), writer @allisonpearson, commentator @johnmcternan
There is a list of things it is prudent to do as a Leader of the Opposition. One is sing the national anthem when celebrating those who were prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice for the country, so that the same national anthem could still be sung. In English. Another is to be present as the said Leader of the Opposition at a prestigious event, showcasing this country and shown around the world for the next few weeks. Britain at its best.
That he doesn't want to be associated with it (presumably because he fears he will be closely examined to see if his lips move for the anthem) is a snub to the event and to the office of LOTO. Oh, and to the country hosting this event.
His country. Supposedly. Maybe if it were being held in his constituency. Or Dresden.....
This isn't some meaningless international one off.
Though bad games are dire (there was a Scotland/England match a few years ago in terrible conditions which was tedious as hell). At least with F1 a boring race can be enlivened by a crash or technical failure.
will Red Bull be on the grid next year?
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/18/red-bull-christian-horner-engine
https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/644082652388163584
Jezza literally (literally!) does not understand the ABC posho crowd. He doesn't accept their right to anything apart from providing tax dollars to the CDE crowd and his pet projects. They are the enemy. Always have been and he has certainly never considered and evidently isn't going to consider now going to an event full of them.
"I think we're beginning to see why his first wife divorced him. He's only interested in his political hobbies. No dinners out, trips to the cinema... "
This thread is becoming surreal like the last one. If you and Jessop can't find find anything interesting to write can't you go for a swim?
As part of the dutch spread I would also include a number of women as Labour may decide AWS should apply to the election of leader.Maybe someday Labour will choose to have a woman leader.Where's Barbara Castle when you need her?
Be a shame to lose two teams. On the plus side, there'd be no more bitching from Horner.
Edited extra bit: MrsC, you cheeky monkey!
[Although that may be an accurate assessment of the 2015 season to date].
@MarqueeMark I only found learning about Spitfires and old pilots boring when I had to endure Ewan McGregor documentaries about it.
But I'm fed up with the Red Bull management constantly whinging, as if they have a right to be the best team. I particularly feel sorry for Renault, who are having all the blame for Red Bull's underperformance thrown at them, when the car is also not massively competitive at most tracks.
Made me more unforgiving of factual and historical errors, over-extended extrapolations, comparisons and allegories, the trotting out of the same old tropes. For someone not familiar with the paradigm, what she wrote might have been quite refreshing.
Made me more unforgiving of factual and historical errors, over-extended extrapolations, comparisons and allegories, the trotting out of the same old tropes. For someone not familiar with the paradigm, what she wrote might have been quite refreshing.
Man sentenced to life for 'senseless' stabbing to death of 15 year old cyclist, Alan Cartwright.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34289598
not surprised in the least.
I mean you have St. Julien, St. Estephe, Margaux on the left bank.
Admittedly, the right bank offers Pomerol and St. Emilion...
'To be fair to Corbyn he does have the small matter of being in the first week of putting together an opposition in the midst of a party full of enemies and the most sustained media assault in living memory. I'm not surprised socialising isn't high on his agenda.'
Poor diddums.
Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!
That verse wasn't part of what was being sung on this (or indeed any Royal occasion)
In no way would he have been endorsing a defunct verse by participating in communal singing of verse 1...
(I happen to think that, as an atheist, republican, he was perfectly right not to join in - but this sort of apologist nonsense does you no credit whatsoever)
'Sir'
So for a start that's somebody who's not bothered about kneeling before the Queen.
Otherwise, yes, great piece of spin.
Conservatives to win mayoralty of London @ 6-4 (Paddy Power; Betfair Sportsbook)
Corbyn Year of Exit 2020 @ 9-2 (SkyBet)
Corbyn to still be leader of Labour party Jan 1st 2017 - YES ( Betvictor) 4-5
'I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive.'
Do try a bit harder instead of repeating what Salmond said on QT last night and pretending it was some original thought from you.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34297046
Edited extra bit: VW would also provide the engine.
That's from Eddie Jordan, who is mad as a box of frogs but also got Hamilton's move to Mercedes spot on.
I know it has been done to death, but here is one of the latest forecasts for GE
https://twitter.com/JamieRoss7/status/644898365461917696
This is the one the Nats sing every year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gnEBv4Mbmo
Che Guevara rode a Norton, but I wonder if Jezza would favour a Triumph made by the workers Co-operative at Meriden? Or maybe a Ural combination:
http://www.imz-ural.com/
The British motorbike industry gets better and better, but now built in Leicestershire as part of the Bloor empire. Bloor started out as a plasterer and is now a self made millionaire employing thousands and exporting all over the world. He bought the Triumph name after the Meriden Co-operative set up by Tony Benn collapsed. A tale of two industrial policies...
https://twitter.com/mitchellvii/status/644914344678060032/photo/1
Speaking of being savaged, I'm off. Hope to get the pre-qualifying piece up around the usual time tomorrow. Off-chance it might be at an odd time. Have to see how things go.
"'I've never listened to the words of the anthem till now. It is indeed a load of tosh and in parts offensive.'
Do try a bit harder instead of repeating what Salmond said on QT last night and pretending it was some original thought from you."
I didn't hear Salmond's comments on QT but I did read Don Brind's piece above which you presumably didn't because that's where the thought for my post originated.
Any song that celebrates a great engineer gets my vote. If that great engineer also civilised the Scots, then so much the better.
(BTW, cannot believe you did not know about that now-unsung verse. Where have you been?)
(*) Although his successor Caulfield actually built more.
Ladbrokes have Corbyn to still be leader at next Election as 6-4, which an interesting alternative to that.
https://sports.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/betting/politics/british/next-party-leaders/labour-leader-at-next-general-election/220734071/
https://youtu.be/daEocG2dKCU
Biker in that too (on a FZ50 as I recall!)