WELL it’s time to pass comment on the Labour Party shenanigans. After months of sparring for the leadership and from the post-election disaster of 2019, where does this “lost party” go from here?
From the heady days of Corbyn and the emergence of Momentum this Labour party, split on all sides and deeply divided, now produces a leader who is the recipient of a knighthood and to all intents is of the Blairite persuasion. His designated shadow cabinet seems to contain recycled MPs from previous senior posts who have been in the main anti-Corbyn in outlook or who clearly blame Corbyn for one of the party’s worst election performances.
READ MORE: Backlash as Priti Patel gives wrong number of coronavirus tests
A party with 500,00 members, many with extreme left-wing views. Well where are they all now? I have no doubt they are licking their wounds and lying in wait ready to make things very difficult for Sir Keir and his shadow cabinet. From an English perspective they remain the second party, but can look forward to at least 10 years in the political wilderness, trying to redefine what they stand for and who they now represent.
With the now less than “red” Northern England bastion of support gone for the foreseeable future, who do they represent? They also suffer as a party that when their politicians speak all I see is arrogance, inability to see the reality of their situation. Their sense of entitlement as a party destined to rule is palpable.
READ MORE: When this is over we need to reflect on leaders in times of crisis
All this is supplemented by a high degree of misplaced optimism or even chronic delusion as to their imminent demise. Until a new centre party emerges, Labour will limp along as England’s second choice. Their newly elected “safe bet” compromise shadow cabinet have simply added to the confusion.
In relation to Scotland, will this “new” Labour party look kindly upon us? If the views of the new management are anything to go by, very unlikely. They talk of federalism as the solution to the democratic deficit for the “nations and regions of the UK”. Their inclusion of regions says it all!
You cannot have both. It’s either four nations or just regions. Once again English regions sit outside the three other nations. England masquerades as the UK at every turn. Labour in Scotland has little or no relevance in Scottish politics.
The problem is that they kid themselves that their dire situation in Scotland is temporary and that their halcyon glory days will return. Their hatred of the SNP that have been in power for the last 11 years has consumed them to the exclusion of all else.
Their MP Ian Murray epitomises through his utterances their problem in Scotland. This MP retained his seat in the biggest tactical vote by Tories and LibDems ever seen in a constituency in Scotland to keep out the SNP. The new Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland will simply be a “red Tory” hell bent on doing the bidding of his English nationalist colleagues.
The only hope for Labour in Scotland is to become the Independent Labour Party of Scotland and after independence take their place in Scottish politics. The Labour Party in Scotland is not in imminent demise like its English counterparts, they are already an irrelevance and many of their Scottish members have already jumped ship. Only the voting system of Holyrood will provide list MSPs in 2021. This once proud party has truly lost its way.
Dan Wood
Kirrirmuir
ISN’T it great to see our bobbies, and bobbesses, out on their beats in our communities? When this crisis is over, could we have more of the same, please? It currently feels like we are all part of one big whole, rather than, as some previously felt, a “them” and “us” situation.
George McKnight
West Calder
Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of The National is at stake. Please consider supporting us through this with a digital subscription from just £2 for 2 months by following this link: www.thenational.scot/subscribe. Thanks – and stay safe.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel