Labour's witchhunt against Cllr. Andrews
Am I alone in finding the local labour party’s “witch-hunt” against Cllr. Andrews somewhat strange. For a party (allegedly) based on a concern for humanity and its freedoms, and which has campaigned for the embracing of “diversity,” it seems a bit strange that they are so determined to hold someone’s past so determinedly against them. Apparently diversity is fine by the labour party as long as it only extends to ethnicity and culture, not to ideas!!! The real problem seems to be that the Labour Party is disgusted by the irresponsible attitude of the electorate in rejecting them and electing someone else. Well – Get over it!!! The labour party’s current position puts me in mind of Berthold Brecht’s comment on the Communist government of East Germany:“It was said that the people has lost the confidence of the government and could win it back only by redoubled efforts. Would it not be simpler if the government dissolved the people and elected another?”Let me make it clear at the outset. I do not know and have never met Cllr. Andrews. I have never voted, nor campaigned for the ICG. My involvement with the NF has only been antagonistic (due to my involvement with the Anti-Nazi league during my own murky past). My current politics are very much OLD labour – I still regard myself as a socialist and feel totally betrayed by the power and control-freakery of Bliar’s New Toryism.However, when reading Cllr Andrew’s statement about his political past in this week’s Brentford & Chiswick Times, I was struck by how similar our backgrounds were. Both young, naïve and idealistic, both keen to get involved and “do” something about the moribund political scene, and both seduced by the two faces of the “dark side” (to borrow a Star Wars analogy). Whereas Cllr Andrews was drawn to the NF, I got involved in a Marxist-Leninist group which proclaimed the necessity of proletarian revolution. Both nonsensical causes, but both very attractive to young people with lively minds and the need to make a political mark. While my political choice at the time was fairly extreme, it was not unknown at that time for many of the current labour party to have been members/supporters of the Communist Party. Many more were supporters of the various Trotsykite groups which proliferated at that time. Many, if not all these people are still within the Labour Party. John Reed is, I believe, a case in point (forgive me if I have got that wrong Mr. Reed).The bottom line is simple – PEOPLE CHANGE! If political parties didn’t believe that, then why do they bother? What would be the point of trying to convince people that your ideas are better/more appropriate than someone else’s?Let go of the obsession with Cllr Andrews’ past and concentrate on the present. That is what the electors of Isleworth and Brentford have done, and that is what the Labour Party must do if it is to regain the confidence of the people. Attacking someone’s past, rather than their present actions smacks of desperation and political poverty.
John Coxall ● 6902d1 Comments