Fabian Society: “We Support Boris Johnson”
I’m afraid this is one of those times where the headline is misleading. Still, it got your attention and maybe a laugh.
The remark was at an event entitled “Is Britain Broken?” between the Bow Group and the Young Fabians. A certain Fabian speaker on the panel made the remark, referring to BoJo’s reference to the idea of a broken society as “piffle”, something he suitably blustered his way out of at this year’s Party Conference.
Unfortunately this was not a particularly enjoyable debate. It quickly descended into partisan recrimination and “yah boo sucks” party politics. This was a shame as some rather good views and opinions got drowned out in a divisive shouting contest about who could paint the most dystopian picture against who could sound the most optimistic. It left you wondering what the point of these joint political events
This was probably due to the choice of title. It led to an argument really over what you emphasise in politics, with the Labour side going off on extended rants about the Conservative Party.
Still, I got to make a light-hearted jab at Hazel Blears over her comments about blogging, sinister and corrosive nihilist that I so evidently am.
At least the drinks afterwards had some decent discussion.
UPDATE: I’ve just been doing some digging regarding one of the speakers. Dr. Stella Creasy, Labour PPC for Walthamstow and (obviously) speaking on the Fabian side was the worst culprit in the partisan attack stakes. Rather than debate the question, she launched into two and a half minutes of Tory-bashing while sneering at anything that anyone else raised that challenged her ideas, as if we were all nuts. Given her rather impressive academic CV, one cannot but think that this was a wasted opportunity. We could have had a really interesting debate on the issues at hand, which she obviously has some knowledge of. It’s not like she couldn’t have even got some side-swipes in while making her point. But instead she opted to go for nothing but blue-bashing. What a waste.
Sphere: Related ContentI Agree with Luke Akehurst
A title I never expected to write, proving once again that politics makes for interesting bedfellows. I was going to write something similar on Hazel Blears’ comments, but it seems he beat me to it.
Sphere: Related ContentUsually I agree with Hazel Blears but I’m not sure I do when it comes to her comments yesterday on blogging:
“We are witnessing a dangerous corrosion in our political culture… Perhaps because of the nature of the technology, there is a tendency for political blogs to have a ‘Samizdat’ style. The most popular blogs are rightwing, ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes. Perhaps this is simply anti-establishment. Blogs have only existed under a Labour government. Perhaps if there was a Tory government, all the leading blogs would be left-of-centre?” But mostly, political blogs are written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.” Until political blogging ‘adds value’ to our political culture, by allowing new voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and despair.”
I think this rather misses the point. If politicians didn’t misbehave, Guido wouldn’t have anything to write about. He reflects public cynicism about the political class - largely self-inflicted by politicos who have behaved badly - rather than generating it. People read Guido in large numbers because he breaks stories which mainstream journalists or their editors are too risk-averse to run with, and because it is an entertaining, funny read. Blaming Guido for cynicism about politics sounds like the MacMillan era Tories blaming That Was the Week That Was and Private Eye for public disrespect post-Profumo.
Guido’s personal attacks on the PM are deeply unpleasant - and for Labour supporters like me actually reinforce our sympathy and loyalty to the man - and his commenters are often from the loopier fringes of the right, but his own politics aren’t nihilistic, as far as I can work out he is a libertarian, which is a legitimate philosophy to hold even if I disagree with it.
The vast majority of blogs are not “written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians” - mainly they are written by people who are part of the political system or politicians themselves. Unfortunately, the majority of this majority of blogs are painfully dull so no one reads them, whereas Guido at least entertains and informs his audience so people do read him.
The irony is that Hazel’s forthright opinions would actually make her a brilliant blogger who people would want to read and comment on.
