Some praise for Diane Abbott for lending support to Alex Salmond in his refusal to buckle down to the US Senate "enquiry" (for that, read "cynical politicising") over Megrahi's release. She didnt, of course, go far enough and point out the mis-trial, the FBI witness bribes, and the unjust conviction of almost certainly an innocent man...but Diane is running for office so we wouldnt expect full candour, would we ?).

The best thing about her statement was the skilful way in which she protrayed David Miliband as the poodle-servant of a depraved American culture of vengeance. David Miliband, like Obama and the stupid redneck senators are offended most because Megrahi isnt dead ! DAVID MILIBAND DOESNT AGREE WITH COMPASSIONATE RELEASE UNLESS IT RESULTS IN DEATH !!!!

VOTE FOR DAVID MILIBAND, GET GEORGE BUSH VALUES !!

I am shocked day after day at the way the sick people who post on CarerWatch are being bullied and frightened. I don't really care any more about the politics. It's an atrocity and people are just looking the other way.

Frances: It is surely not far off when the sick and disabled will be better off doing it Indian style and vaunting their sickness/disability on the street for donations. Even those born without sickness/disability may get a slash across the face in order to be a better earner.

Basically, the middle-class who benefit from the welfare state outweigh, by vote, the sick and the disabled. Morality does not come into it for the immoral types who become politicians.

Well said. That's exactly how it happened/was/is.

I am voting for Diane Abbot not because I truly believe that she has any chance of winning but because she has not. The values and principles of Labour people like me are not about returning to antiquated LP Structures; for a very long time the almost Militaristic Hierarchy; language such as Comrade this and/or fraternal that (words which to so many outside the Party) many didn't understand and were wary of. Camaraderie bound us together, it was something understood encompassing much of what Diane Abbot is apparently about. We were united as one if you like towards the same objectives of a socialism (note not Socialist). A mutual and decent Society of equality of opportunity, sharing and caring. A small Island where the basic Utilities were shared in common. A caring Society with an NHS , Education, fair wages etc which readers understand all too well. Part 1V of Clause four did single out only one section of Society and needed to be inclusive. And no! I do not wear rose tinted glasses looking to a past that clearly did not exist as being totally equal and all the rest of it. Huge debates were always the order of the day, consensus not always achieved and Challenges about Radical Changes in Society were a constant. Union practices, the Party at war with itself, fractionalisation and positioning of Right and Left (especially the extreme Left) forgot what we should have been about. New Ideas that needed to become realities (Ideas like STEP and fully Comprehensive Education; so many). Some of those Ideas were made real, were accepted and Change implemented. The Party did deal with the Idealogues. Neil Kinnock sacrificed so much to do that. Remember John Smith's OMOV and the like. Activists worked hard and long for those many years between (and before) 1993 and 1997 sickened by Thatchers wholesale destruction of our Society. 18 years of Hell! New Labour grew out desperate necessity to break that Hell. But New Labour didn't include the Basic Values of Labour people. Mere touchstones were all that was left. Yes! there were was so much to attempt to right and to some extent achieved despite some obstacles like Foot and Mouth and the Myriad of consequences left behind for New Labour to sort out; doing so by donning the mantle of some described as Toryism. After all, it sold off the Railways which we could have retained. Embraced Adam Smith and continued with Laisses-faire , free market Ideology. Thirteen years, apart from some excellent Policies (never wholly achieved) members ignored, forgotten except when they were needed to work as commanded from the Center. The 21st Century was to rid New Labour of members who had the nerve to criticize some deeply wrong Policies which didn't much in the way of intelligence to see where we were going and how we would end up. The majority of the people became spectators and lost trust in Politics and Politicians. They had nowhere to go so they stopped voting. Democracy went to the wall. Conference was a sham, staged. Remember anybody?? Walter Wolfgang being manhandled for say " rubbish." We were all mere spectators now knowing that New Labour had nothing much to do with its grassroots. Labeling members who composed our moribund Party as what!! The hedonism all around where money was cheap and personal Debt was Okay reflected that of New Labour. The small achievements were like so many crumbs. Those of us who stayed did not do so out of Loyalty to New Labour but because were not going to let those who had high jacked our Party retain it. Apart from Diane Abbot who expresses something of our values we have the rest who mumble stuff like "I didn't really support the Iraq War" or "I wasn't happy about how social/council houses" were virtually non-existent. "But look here we did bring in the minimum wage" but did not agree (until now) that a living wage was what was needed. The minimum wage Employers could well afford to pay since it really meant an acceptable amount well within that of cheap labour. Frankly, what characterizes all of those running for Leader is the streak of New Labour which remains. That a Miliband would able to better handle this Government at PM question time is not a good enough reason to vote for them. And now they want members to believe that they are changed and really care about bread and butter Issues.The needs of the vulnerable and those who care for them (or don't). Do any of them really understand the debacle which was the General Election. That democracy itself is at serious risk. Can we really trust any of them as having grown up and discovered a modicum of wisdom? The Party can only hope unfortunately. To think, all we have to go on is something as abstract as hope.
Jeanne Doncaster.

Isn't it wonderful? Soon as there is mention of cutting Child Benefit and Winter Fuel Allowance to those with substantial incomes there is a whole troupe of MPs and whatnots ready to step into the fray and commence battle on their behalf. So why is there nobody fighting the corner for the Sick, Disabled, and their Carers?


Posted on CarerWatch this morning. It is a puzzle isn't it?

There is a report of the first meeting of the Keir Hardy Society on LLB Readers currently.

Having previously left and returned myself Robert, I would be interested to know what you found out there that was worth leaving for ? What did I fail to find myself. I suppose that you could argue that nothing is better than New Labour. Literally. But surely we can create something by way of a political alternative ? Either inside the Labour Party or outside, or both.

A major error by Abbott but it does show she can get down to the New labour standard, what matters to these people are winning at all cost, thank god I've left.

By her view that Tony Blair's gift of all his vast wealth to the British Legion is beyond politics, Diane risks her front position in the leadership contest. I have to doubt her capacity to take measured judgements now. She may have calculated that TINA, but the photo of Brother Ed in a red tie is very seductive.

Diane sounds like a real socialist. She'll get my vote!

Is Seumus Milne for real about Iraq in today's Guardian. I consider myself quite well informed but I was shocked. If what he says is true - how come no one knows about it.

Obviously the master plan for Afghanistan too.

D Mil is Tony Blair all over !

Frances: Are you surprised ?

I posted in the spirit of satire. Dave said in reply he wouldn't apologise for raising squillions of money - it's what the Labour Party should be doing to combat Lord Ashcroft. You just need to report it straight. It's a living satire.

Isnt he loverly ??


Labour leadership frontrunner David Miliband wants to slap a 'mansion tax' on thousands of homeowners whose properties are worth more than £2million.

He says the £1.7billion raised every year would enable him to overturn the Government's plans to reduce housing benefit for the country's poorest.

But critics point out that the threshold for the one per cent tax would mean that his £1.5million home in plush Primrose Hill in north London would just miss out.

Purely a coincidence !

Frances: Are you surprised ?

from today's Guardian

Diane Abbott today accused David Miliband of "buying" the Labour leadership contest.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington claimed the level of funding raised by the shadow foreign secretary has given him an unfair advantage in the race to succeed Gordon Brown.

The latest figures published by the Electoral Commission on 8 July show Miliband, who helped Abbott win the number of nominations needed to be in the contest, has raised by far the most money of the five contenders with £185,265, more than six times the amount raised by the second highest levels of funds, secured by Ed Balls.

In contrast, Abbott says she has raised just £1,700.

But Abbott claimed today that Miliband had in fact "£400,000 in cold cash" to drive through his leadership bid. "There is something unfortunate about even the appearance that someone is buying the election," said Abbott in a video interview for the Guardian.

The Labour Party needs to encourage more diversity of backgrounds and experience in its leaders, and actually represent the values of the people who vote for them.
Diane did not vote for an illegal war and would not waste taxpayers money on Trident. She is concerned about human rights, preserving the NHS, and improving public transport (which is the key to reducing our over-reliance on petrol), and has plenty of experience in Parliament.
She gets my vote.

Jonathan
After thirteen years of NewLabour control of the party - who are the members these days. Half have left. Those who are still active must have a higher toleration for NewLabour than I do. Who are they? What do the membership think about anything. No one knows or cares. They have no voice or means of expression.

Change of leadership would give Labour a chance of a change of members but that is chicken and egg. These turkeys won't be voting for Christmas and Christmas came for the others many years ago.

I shall vote for Diane.

Dianne deserves support not so much because of what she is, but because of what she isn't.

Jonathan: I dont actually disagree with your verdict about Abbott. She is infinitely better than the dedicated and conventional Blairites she is challenging, and one can say a lot worse about them. Of course she doesnt deserve to lead the nation, but nor does Cameron. All I said is that nationally, she is likely to be far more popular than she is within the PLP. In fact, she won an opinion poll run by one of the national dailies. When the talent is so obviously missing, she compares well. But I am by no means an Abbott fan, although if I had a vote, she would have it because the other four are so appalling.

Lee - she's got the support of just 2 Trade Unions and 20 CLP's - she has very little support in the party - more than Ed Balls admittedly, but nothing significant. To say that she is being somehow held back by the 'system' is as absurd as it is misleading. The only thing holding Diane back is her faliure to persuade most members that she has got any kind of grasp of the challenge facing the Left in the next 10 years. For the most part in this election, she has given us a mix of self promotion and a rehash of Campaign Group ideas from 10 years ago. She's nowhere on electoral reform, nowhere on forging progressive alliances and has completly failed to address the direct challenge to Labour posed by the Coalition and the 'Big Society' ideas of Cameronism.

If you want to make a case for Diane's leadership, please do - but don't try and convince us that that she would be swept to victory, if only for the actions of some New Labour Cabel - it's simply not credible.

If it were a national referendum, she would stand quite a strong chance. But as the majority of the PLP will do as Mandelson instructs, and as the system is tilted against the union and membership vote, no she doesnt stand a chance. Its a done deal..one of the Milibands.

Diane is the least marked by her years in the New Labour Party.

Unfortunately, she does not stand a chance, does she?

Rather tame, but I agree with Dugsie..she is the only credible candidate

You've said enough Diane to convince me to vote for you. You are clearly the non-New Labour candidate in the field.