davelevy.info

And last night, the Parliamentary Labour Party, with 48 exceptions abstained on the second reading of the Welfare Bill. Jeremy Corbyn was one of the exceptions as were the leading candidates for London Mayor, at least those who are MPs. The SNP are making a big noise about Labour failing to vote with them, but it doesn’t look like they voted for Labour’s amendment & it’s only second reading! It’s Harman’s decision to abstain, that has created the dilemma.

At the Labour Leadership Hustings, I was discussing with comrades the impact of the “Indie” referendum, and argued that we had brewed it big time. While the need for an answer to the currency question and the risk of capital flight (supported by every Scottish saver) were important, until Gordon Brown made his speech on pooled sovereignty and the advantages, successes and future of the United Kingdom, Labour’s argument was gives us your votes and seats to sustain a Labour Government. Neither were enough and Brown’s speech was too late and under reported since all the English media wanted to talk about the “solemn vow” of devo-max, which Cameron pissed all over within hours of the result.

The argument that Corbyn will put Labour into opposition for 15 years is a statement of pessimism and labelling him a Trot is an attempt to de-legitimise the politics of his supporters.