The commissars are back

Len McCluskey said rivals to Jeremy Corbyn were unlikely to win union support.
Source; Guardian Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Perhaps they have forgotten but Marx is dead, Thatcher is dead. 

Severely weakened by Margaret Thatcher, the power of the Trades Unions is not what it used to be but the current difficulties being experienced by the Labour Party, driven by Momentum, have provided the opportunity for some Union bosses to flex their muscles again, Len McCluskey General Secretary of Unite and General Secretary Mark Serwotka of the Public and Commercial Services Union among them, with Corbyn appearing to be under the control of the unions.

The hard Left is campaigning for people to join the Labour Party simply to vote for a Leader who does not have the confidence of  the majority of Labour MPs to lead them. The hard Left's intervention is reminiscent of  Militant Tendency in their attempted take-over of the Labour party in 1985 before Neil Kinnock made his memorable speech at the Party Conference in Bournemouth. 

Many of the new activists appear to be young idealists who did not vote in the EU Referendum then complained afterwards because they did not like the result, mainly because of a perceived restriction on their movement around Europe, the same generation which tries to stop discussion in our universities. Examples here and here.

I have listened to Jeremy Corbyn. He is a prisoner of Party members who delude themselves into thinking that they represent the electorate. Corbyn may be the clear choice for leader of the Labour Party but MPs are elected by a much broader spectrum than party members. He says that the Opposition should be putting "enormous pressure on the Tory government on inequality, injustice and poverty", sounding remarkably like a pale reflection of what Theresa May has on offer in her leadership speeches.

More importantly, Theresa May is focused on Brexit, as is the electorate, not the petty party politics which continue to obsess the Labour Party. Principles without power are not the stuff of government. Corbyn may represent his party but the wider electorate takes a broader view.

There is no confidence in Corbyn among MPs as their leader so he should stand down to restore confidence in Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition in the interests of the country.

Postscript [19.07.2016]

The Trident vote has come and gone with a thumping majority in favour of renewal. Unlike 140 of his party colleagues the Leader of the Opposition decided to do his own thing and vote against the motion in opposition to Labour Party policy. The wishes of the membership can be fluid apparently.

Given Corbyn's pick and mix approach to politics he could be a modern day Anglican but apparently he has no religion. He says "I go to churches, I go to mosques, I go to temples, I go to synagogues. I find religion very interesting. I find the power of faith very interesting." A little more faith in his fellow MPs would not go amiss instead of pressing the Labour destruct button. Said to be a "nice guy", Jeremy could easily be a New Anglican!

Ed Miliband Out

In the latest bit of political opportunism the leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, has come out 4marriage. Given his ratings there will be many wishing he were out altogether but leaving that aside, not only has he pledged his support but he has pledged "wholehearted" Labour backing for what he sees as 'reform'. He said, "I know that equal marriage is a very, very important part of ensuring equality before the law, the equality in our culture which is so important, and such a sign of us being a modern country and the kind of country I believe in." 

This campaign has nothing to do with equality or reform. Marriage cannot be reformed, it is what it is, the union of a man and a woman in an environment that protects the family unit and provides children with the security they need for the benefit of society as a whole. The introduction of civil partnerships has given same sex couples the equality they demanded but that is not enough. Enough is never enough. Today in Anglican Mainstream attention is drawn to a problem in the US military following the introduction of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” policy with homosexuals now demanding special privileges. We should not be surprised. Just look at the church. Following the acceptance of women for ordination there have been moves by the newly enlightened to ban anyone from ordination if, regardless of conscience, they are unable to accept women priests as consistent with the teaching and tradition of the Apostolic church. To have principles opposed to the latest fad gives rise to accusations of discrimination and even homophobia. So much for 'equality'.

Not satisfied with acceptance of difference we are now expected to embrace it fully or suffer the consequences. To witness members of the clergy using false propaganda to achieve their aims was sad but to witness elected representatives of the people demanding change for which they have no mandate using the same distortions is sickening.