Labour’s arrogance is blinding them!

Posted 7 Dec 2010 by Walaa Idris

Although not my own words, however, I don’t totally disagree with them.

Cruising the blogosphere this afternoon, I came across a refreshing post on Labour Uncut posted by Peter Watt the former General Secretary of the Labour Party. Refreshing not because he pointed out Labour’s faults or talked them down – okay maybe a little – but because it’s honest, blunt and factual, and because it’s a timely eye opener from an insider who knows what he’s talking about. It is what every party facing a new challenge, a change or any kind of rebirth needs to know about itself before it forges forward. A kind of a political MOT – Which he should be applauded for!

Less than a year after losing the election they (Labour) have someone who is pointing out what most of us saw, see and hear all the time but most of Labour is oblivious to. I suspect Mr. Watt might drop off many Christmas lists this year – but his words “We can’t just condemn or patronise everyone as not understanding just because they say or feel things with which we don’t agree.” Or “If we put aside our moral arrogance then we might just find that we have much in common with them and them with us.” will last beyond any festivities and guide many sensible politicos – I hope – in their political journey!

5 comment(s)

Floyd

Floyd
7 Dec, 15:13

Maybe I have missed something in the irony that LP activists and MPs should be taking advice from someone who was at the heart of NuLabour selling whatever remained of its principles to big business/media. Indeed NuLabour all to happily swollowed the Daily Mail/Express/Sun/Times/Telegraph jibe of being to close to the unions.

Leaving that aside, as David said Mr Watt, has got an axe to grind because the NuLabour establishment decided that he was to be their fall guy. In other words, concerning his article and your blog, what he (and by implication you) are saying, is that the Labour party needs to agree whole hearltdly with the cuts agenda and forget about even the minimal gestures so far that the PLP has done so far.

Brian Moylan

Brian Moylan
7 Dec, 18:48

What’s happened to “winners and losers”?
Used to enjoy looking to see if I was featured; you know, with all my “judgemental arrogance”.

Phil Ruse

Phil Ruse
7 Dec, 21:34

I expect him to be rubbished thoroughly unfortunately! The irony is that being a Conservative (or should that be conservative?!) I ought to be glad when Labour makes it so difficult for themselves, instead I am sad that we are unable to work on that ‘common ground’.

Walaa

Walaa
7 Dec, 22:29

Floyd – you are talking about Nu Lab as if its a different party when it’s not. No one is saying Lab has to agree wholeheartedly with anything – Watt is saying look and listen to yourself, to be able to understand what’s going around you, you need to see and hear what others are seeing and hearing.

Brian – I’ll try a winner & losers this week and dedicate it to you – how about that!

Phil – I just got it – you are spot on ignore my email ;-))

Brian Moylan

Brian Moylan
8 Dec, 11:58

As I say I always look forward to your judgemental pieces.
Don’t know whether I will be a winner or a loser, and care even less than you might like to imagine. ;)

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