Please can we choose a Brave New World

It is very hard for me to comment on the state of British politics right now, because it's too close to home and too personal.  In Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, I see a brave new world in which these two good men steer the good ship Britannia onto a whole new course towards a brighter future for everyone, as their predecessors, the Labour Government who took control after WWII.  

After 9 years of austerity and the tories running down our NHS and public services, not to mention their crazy idea to make Brexit a billionaires free for all, we are again at a point in history, where we need adults and genuine experienced and diplomatic Statesmen to step in and sort out the mess.  JC and JM have prepared for this moment their entire lives, their ideas and policies have evolved from years of research and discussion, not the cocaine fuelled cabinet meetings of old Etonians who still think they are in the Bullingdon Club.

The pain for me lies in the 'hope', which rightly deserved to stay at the bottom of Pandora's Box.  Hope gives a tantalising glimpse of what might be, what could be, a final last peep before the lid closes down forever.  I remember being mightily moved by John Cleese in the movie Clockwise, wearing a monk's habit and with every chance of his dreams rapidly disappearing, complaining profusely that it was the 'hope' that hurt the most.  I hear you Brother.  

As much fun as it is watching the odious Boris Johnson rightly hated throughout the UK and losing (almost) every vote, I can't rid myself of a niggly feeling that the snidey git will find a way to the pull the UK out of Europe on the 31st and clean up at the bookies.

We are living in a bizarre age, where lawlessness and deception at the highest levels are practiced in plain sight.  'Get over it' says Mick Mulvaney, White House Chief of Staff, 'I'll just lay across this parliamentary bench as if I were in a opium den', says Jacob Rees-Mogg.  We are not even going to try to pretend we are working for and on behalf of the people.  

Unfortunately, the alt right sickness, appears to have hit everyone who has never picked up a book or read a newspaper.  All those who think their lives will be mightily improved if others are made to suffer.  The kind of people who believe the NHS should not treat people in need unless they are a British taxpayer.  That's so unkind I will refrain from commenting.  But I should add, the same applies to public housing, everyone needs a roof over their heads.  

Housing shortages, queues in the NHS, are all down to lack of investment.  If the government doesn't invest enough money to keep up with needs of the population, the government is at fault. The NHS needs massive investment, not fewer 'customers', more homes need to be built.  These 'desperate needs' that have been ignored for so many years by the tories, but will be immediately implemented by Labour, will not only provide the services that should be available to everyone in one of the richest countries in the world, but it will boost employment and boost the economy.

As a child of the 60's, I enjoyed the massive transformation of working class life brought about the Labour government of the 1940's.  A full nutritionally balanced meal every day at school, albeit with free dinner tickets and the shame that entailed, and a bottle of milk in the afternoons.  And yes, I too chanted along to Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher, when the old witch took away our free milk, I believe it was popular in most playgrounds.

But England, in the 60's, was buzzing like a pendulum doo, whatever that is.  It was the 'in place', not only for the glitterati, but the illuminati, the literati, the papparati and all the 'atis' that were popular at the time. 'Arold Wilson' who I'm not sure had an 'aaati' bone in him, turned England into the legend of Austin Powers, it was all about the Jaguar E type, Carnaby Street and the Kings Road, Baby.  On the drama front, 'Cathy Come Home' hit the heartstrings of every liberal, and indeed, every tory, kindness began to replace the cruelty of 'undeserving poor'.  Pop stars, like John Lennon began highlighting novel ideas like kindness, peace and no religion and immediately went onto the FBI's most wanted lists.  Who the fuck wants peace when there is so much money to be made with hostility?

But we are still in the 'hope' phase, but I am scared to look.  I applaud all those warriors out there every day, they are brave and focused.  I am especially cheered by the young 'woke' (not quite sure how to use that word yet) new generation who are making such tremendous waves with Momentum.  Finally, the right wing do not have total control of the airwaves, literally everyone has instant access to the truth.  Gone are the days when Rupert Murdoch could tell the UK masses how to vote via the front page of the Sun.  There is hope.  Which brings me back to where I began.  

I'm over 60 now, I get knocked down and I get up again, becomes tougher and tougher.  Where I used to think 'nothing's gonna stop us now', I now think, yeah, it probably will.  I even, kind of, accept that I am powerless to stop it.  I haven't felt this level of powerlessness since I was a young teenager in the care of demons.  I couldn't change the nature of the people around me then anymore than I can change it now.  Not a happy place to be.

But we are on a precipice, we don't have to be rushed towards the cliff's edge.  Safety switches and dead mans handles are all in place, the masses can see right through Boris Johnson and his get rich quick backers, everything is stacked up for a glorious revolution, I'm just too scared to look.

THE MADELEINE CASE NOW

I have lost interest in the Madeleine case, it would be true to say, but it is not a forbidden topic.  I happen to think most people would understand the 'McCann Syndrome' reference quite easily.  Gerry and Kate have not quite got off scot free, they have become almost an urban legend for child neglect, and offloading responsibility.  In many people's eyes they will never be cleared, and I guess they will just have to live with it.

I think all hope I had that Operation Grange would clear this matter up once and for all, is gone.  Not that I particularly wanted to see retribution against the McCanns, but I did want all those who interfered with the course of justice brought to account.  Unfortunately,  as Goncalo Amaral once said, it will only be solved when the political will is there.  I am not so bothered that the parents will never be charged, in all sorts of ways, they have suffered so much more than if they had, for example, just 'fessed up' to an accident. I doubt any one of us would want to be in their shoes.  I personally, could not live one day without the freedom to be myself. That is the freedom to say, do and write whatever I want.  If you are trying to deceive people, you do not have that freedom. For my sins, I spent my formative years in a convent where lying was essential in order to survive, not just to protect yourself, but to protect your friends. I remember lying in my bed at night trembling in fear that my 'lies' would be found out.  It scarred me mentally, I never wanted to feel like that again.

My honesty has got me into trouble my entire life, see my McCann blogs, lol, but of course, it far precedes the Madeleine case.  Not that I am ever blunt or coarse, heaven forbid, but I would rather be alone and ostracised than join a herd.  But forgive me, I have gone back to my favourite subject, me, ha ha, but only to accentuate how imprisoning it can be having skeletons in the cupboard. I am of course speaking metaphorically and generically here should Carter Ruck still be looking in.

I did however take a quick peek at 'latest Madeleine news' as I saw the subject revived in a few posts, and there isn't any.  It would seem all those I spent so many years arguing with, were right, Doh!  That is, this case will never be solved.  Irks a bit, as it means handing victory to those ghouls in the cesspit, but ce la vie, I'll get over it.  

My interest in the Madeleine case, stemmed from my interest in human behaviour, and with Gerry and Kate McCann, and several characters within their inner circle, there are endless resources.  It almost never happens that you have a subject who has given so many videoed interviews plus a blog and a book!.  Like many students of psychology, I am interested in spotting deception.  I speak as one who often has been, and occasionally still is, deceived.  Again doh!  Probably because I prefer to look for the good in people, even if they are lying to me.  I feel pity for them if they have to lie, and I take no pleasure in seeing them squirm.  That's what I mean about freedom, it means you never have to squirm.

When people lie on a national and global scale however, the sympathy comes to an abrupt end.  It is one thing to save your own skin, another thing altogether to make a profit out of your own irresponsibility.  Every parent who loses a child blames his or herself, even when it is obvious they are completely blameless. The McCanns have always done the opposite, they blamed everyone else from start, beginning with the Portuguese police.  I don't know what alerted everyone else, but for me it was the uncomfortable feeling of being manipulated, not only by the parents, but by every 'get rich quick conman', and indeed, news agency, out there.  

My eyes were opened by going into higher education, but my mind was blown when I started to look deeper into this case.  That quaint English sense of justice and fair play was, to my disgust, long gone, that lovely 1960's world of the Carry Ons, was some kind of mythology that I was carrying around in my head.  'I say old chap that's just not cricket' no longer applied.  The Madeleine case was as a much a learning curve and water shed, as my quest for a degree.  It gave me deep, deep, insight, not into into psychopathy, narcissism, forensic linguistics, but also micro-expressions and of course duping delight!  But more, it also led me delve much deeper into the dark side of corruption within our so called respected public agencies, institutions and charities.  All a tad too dark for me, but plenty there for the young and enthusiastic journalists and psychologists who still want to put the world rights.

Sadly though,  all blockbuster, film or book, potential in the Madeleine case is now gone - the interest simply isn't there, the world has moved on.  Students of psychopathy, narcissism, sociopathy, media manipulation, conspiracies, etc, etc, have the far more entertaining (and terrifying) antics of the US President and the UK Prime Minister.  Madeleine would literally have to turn up 'Anastasia' style and be recognised and blood tested to grab the front pages.  Sightings and ex detectives opinions just aint gonna cut it.

For now, in the spirit of Maya Angelou, when someone tells you how this will end, believe them.  Ok, not verbatim, but when a police commissioner and an ex police commissioner suggest the case may never be solved, that's the option they want to stick.  Maybe too many reputations are on the line, on both sides of the aisle, too many big names who would be humiliated if the parents turned out to be involved.  VIPs who pulled strings here and there to help the parents and their friends avoid justice?

It is not a proud moment for the UK, but in an era where we have a corrupt far right government leading us all towards the cliff at Beachy Head, it is the least of our worries.

HE'S A FILTHY PIECE OF TOE-RAG

Trying to write some kind of account of the craziness that now engulfs the western world in 2019, my head is so scrambled I feel like Picasso staring at a blank canvas in 1939.  So I'm just going throw a bunch of unrelated inanimate objects together, linked by crazy faces and naughty bits.  I'll just go put a head in the corner there, and top it off with a few unexplained tits.

Inexplicably, we the UK and the USA, for decades at the forefront of progressive, compassionate, governing, have 'elected' as our leaders, two of the worst human beings ever to walk this planet.  As simple as the people of BC (Before Christ) were, they knew at least to follow the guy who preached justice and fairness for all, even for the lepers and immigrants.  The first JC, Jesus Christ was of course crucified for his socialist preachings, the present JC, Jeremy Corbyn is experiencing similar.  Christians have of course, been torturing themselves for centuries for not following the original JC at the start.  That is, not standing up to their oppressors (the Romans) more aggressively, and for accidentally assisting their oppressors in crucifying their saviour.  On the face of it, most of the blame of course lies with the Jews, Christianity was pretty niche at that time and the Jews were already the scapegoats in the ancient middle east, probably because, even before the AD Roman calendar kicked in, the disciplined, cultural hard work ethic of the Jews had (in the ancients' minds) established them as superior, elite even.  Money makers, which was bound to incite envy.

But I am not looking for a theological debate.  My question, and indeed terror, lies in how the f*ck did we, the most informed, most enlightened mass populations in history, get to a position where our two countries are being held to ransom by two sociopathic lunatics?  Has democracy gone wrong?  Because it's looking that way and alarm bells should be going off everywhere.  Both the UK and the USA are on the verge of Civil War.  And the majorities, in both countries, are fighting the rise of the extreme Right.  As in Hitler's time, the extreme right demographic rarely goes above 30%, but sadly they are the loudest and most destructive and they are supported by the richest.  And that makes it all the more repugnant. Tommy Robinson may look and sound like a representative of the working classes, but he is working on behalf of their oppressors, the Eton boys who through nature and nurture instinctively know how to get the plebs to do their dirty work.  Be in no doubt TR wants a 'class system', one in which he moves up a few notches on the social scale on the basis of being white British.  Clearly, he has never been able to scale those few notches through academia or achievement, so he has opted for kicking those he perceives to be below him, those who arrived in this world via a different geographical location.  Who knows what tf happened to him, who hurt him so badly, and very few sane people, I imagine would care, but he is a danger, who ramps up the chaos, the first in line to form a new SS, should Boris give the nod.  

Happily, this time around, the people of the US and the people of the UK are aware of the dangers of fascism and are not afraid to point out it's evils and to fight against it.  But on the flip side, both countries have demographics where education and information just isn't getting through.  They have generation after generation who swear 'the old way (whatever that might be) was better'.  I'm never quite sure if they are referring to Angleland (land of the Angles) or the hat doffing days Queen Victoria.  In the old days, the words 'but we've always done it that way' always featured in my disciplinaries and firings for some reason.  Boris is toast, all his crimes are catching up with him and he is despised by the British public, booed and jeered wherever he goes.  He is not the Emperor, he's not the Saviour, he's not the chosen one, he's a very naughty boy, who should spend the rest of his life standing in the corner for all the lies he's told.  

Mob Boss Donald Trump is being exposed hourly as a 'mob boss', a cheap two bit hood, who would sell out the USA as quickly as he sold out his ex wives and ex friends and yeah, his kids.  I doubt he has a single close friend or family member, his wife clearly despises him, his kids seem to have much to hide.  They are not even attempting to save him right now, even as the world watches every cringing, embarrassing tweet and public appearance.  That's cold.

As much fun as it is watching the downfall of these two present day monsters, I still fear that they each, will somehow survive being caught with their hands in the cookie jar.  They are committing their crimes in plain sight!  Something has got to give.  Bizarrely, at this same juncture in history, the USA and the UK are fighting to hang onto democracy because they have elected to power, leaders crazier than Hitler or Caligula.  Imagine a group of Roman senators, 'so yeah', 'these free un-enslaved people with access to every form of communication imaginable, chose tyranny and corruption over reason, logic and their own personal well being'.  'Go figure' said Seneca.  

These are tense and anxious times for all of us who are watching the news, but the hardest part for me is the 'hope', finally there is a real beacon of light within touching distance.  The UK desperately needs a genuinely strong stable leader who will reach out to every community and bring us all together.  The only leader who respects the rights of all the British people to have the European Union options put before them again.  With Jeremy Corbyn there is no fear that he will sell the NHS, London Bridge, or indeed any of the UK's assets to Donald Trump and Russian Oligarchs.  Hope is literally there, on the horizon, in the form of a Jeremy Corbyn Labour government. Where Boris Johnson has been winging it all his life, never bothering to do his homework, he is up against a man who has spent his entire life studying.  

The UK is potentially on the brink of a whole new beginning just as it was at the end of WWII, with a Labour government ready to introduce sweeping new changes that will benefit the many, not the few.  Jeremy Corbyn differs from the tory politicians who have attempted to negotiate Brexit, because he shares similar values to many of the EU leaders.  On top of which, he is a Statesman, a good communicator, he treats everyone with equal respect, he is the kind of Prime Minister we need right now to clean up the botched job the tories have made of negotiations with our European friends and allies, and to somehow restore the UK's reputation.  We may be a popular destination for hardworking, talented, immigrants who still want to come here now, but that could change.  In centuries, maybe even decades, to come,  other more progressive countries will become more appealing to those hard working, skilled and talented immigrants.  It is not beyond the realms of possibility that in years to come countries will be competing for new citizens because they simply don't have an indigenous population big enough to keep the wheels of industry and society turning over.  It is worth remembering that the Windrush generation were invited to the UK and welcomed into the British workforce.  

Watching the downfall of the US tyrant, and the UK tyrant, simultaneously, gives us a fascinating insight into the goings on of the Western governments.  I very much doubt Trump's 'quid quo pros' are anything new in the backscratching world of international politics.  Not that I want to give Trump's defence team any tips, but if they had any historians among them, it would not be hard to pull 'quid pro quos' from every government that has gone before.  The trouble with Trump's quid pro quos, are that they are blatantly just for himself.  He is also too dumb to realise that going after Joe Biden's son, takes any 'leave my kids out of it' arguments he might have had, as his enemies now hone in on the money his own kids are making out of him being the President.  He really should add Homer Simpson's 'Doh!' to every public statement he makes.  

As for our own PM, logic and reason would dictate that the tousled white head of Boris Johnson will not be emerging like a phoenix from the ashes.  He is engulfed in proven lies, personal scandals and the revelation by his own sister that is working on behalf of billionaire backers.  But I will leave the last word to the lovely lady trending on twitter so eloquently put it 'he's a filthy piece of toe rag'. She speaks for all us.  

TORY GOVERNMENT DRUG ADDLED

Boris Johnson is behaving like a raving lunatic now, to be fair he was always unstable, but his recent meeting with the tyrant in chief, seems to have ratched it all up a few notches.  He is desperate, in the fullest sense of desperate, for the UK to leave the EU on 31st.  It's almost as if his life depends on it, like he will end up dead in a ditch if he doesn't.  

OK, there is no evidence that the mob boss in the White House actually has people killed (Epstein?), but it would appear that there is no level he won't sink to in order to get leaders of other countries to do as he wants.  Just putting this out there, but Trump is the former owner of a model agency that imported European girls to the USA, he also owned the Miss Universe Pageant.  He also has quite a sniffing habit himself.  I expect he knew a lot about kompromat even before he began courting Putin. Dumb enough to get caught in it himself, but there you go.  The Ukraine wanted/needed the assistance of the USA to keep the Russian forces out of their country.  Naturally, he used this to manipulate them.

With the UK, it's maybe not so clear.  Obama advised us to stay in the EU, so is Trump in toddler mode, by saying we should leave?  I doubt he had anything on Theresa May, she's so feckin boring, I doubt anyone has.  With Boris Johnson, it's like Trump's henchmen have just been handed a sack of duplicitous mad frogs.  Digging dirt on Boris Johnson is like being handed a trolley for a supermarket sweep.  Now this is where I will give Trump credit for the only talent he has.  He knows how to hone in on an achilles heel.  Whatever hangup his opponent (or even potential friend) has, will become Trump's obsession.  It's his way of grabbing men by the balls, he wants men, white men, above all, to admire him.

Of course, the biased BBC and the biased mainstream media, have probably hidden or buried, the juicier, more outrageous of Boris Johnson's antics, he has been the Establishment's PM in waiting forever.  Nice boy, went to Eton you know.  Unfortunately for him, Trump is not known for his observance of society's rules, seeing his new friend Boris squished under the wheels of bus, will probably fill him with glee.  He is probably the only person in the world who can truly empathise with Kim Jong Un.  They are probably already planning a joint 'lets blow up everyone we don't like' party.

Boris Johnson's need to leave the EU on the 31st October, is beyond reason and logic.  He is trying to lead the UK into a charge off a cliff.  Why is he so desperate?  He lies when he says he wants to deliver Brexit for the people.  Only, 17.5 million voted to leave, out of a population of 66 million.  He is clearly not doing this for the people, he is doing it for himself and for those who are putting pressure on him.  

I'm not letting him off the hook in saying that, but Boris Johnson is the posh equivalent of Trump's Hill People.  Because he can't be arsed to listen or learn, he only hears the key points as they pertain to him.  Ie. a MAGA hat would really suit you and think of all the money you will make from a chain of Trump/Boris Towers in every UK City?  Trump's way of bedazzling other narcissists, is to let them know he understands them and will cater for their every need.   So what has he got on Boris?  As horrible as he is, on which we are all agreed, including his brother and sister, what has Trump got that equates to a gun pointed at Boris Johnson's head?  Boris is sweating like a man on death row, he's already said he has no other option but a ditch.  I hate the man, but I think he should be on suicide watch.  I'm now trying to think what's worse than Trump's pee tapes?  Yuck!!!!!!

Again, no sympathy, Boris has sailed through school and his parliamentary career, by mimicking.  He mimicks every posh old fecker he has ever known and admired.  He has nothing original.  Not one iota of the home haircut, blustering, faux philanthropist character is real.  No-one is buying it.  OK, they did for a while but, now the country is calling on his deep, imbedded, character, there isn't one.  He is a pretentious man in a pretentious world.  He cites the people as though he were one of them, a rebel against the establishment. As if!  He has been fed, clothed, nourished, taught to speak posh and groomed to be PM by the establishment!  When did he last go visit a foodbank?  Has he ever visited a foodbank?  He is not a man of the people, he is a product, designed and produced to appeal to a popular audience.  Look how well Trump did with his mad hair, we've got a winner here, said Dominic Cummings.

Sadly my mother (who I have said many times was crazy) loved Boris, for purely shallow reasons I might add.  It was the hair, the playful faux rebel.  We argued often, obviously.  She was a babyboomer, an immigrant from Ireland, voting tory was a sign she had moved up the social ladder.  She was a product of her past, her background, her environment.  Added to which, she was extremely cantankerous and quick to anger.  I jest, with me she took the time, and I have stored her wisdom, which I should add, mostly consisted of the right occasions on which to use the word 'feck'.  With some people the only words they understand is 'feck off'.  Don't bother explaining, don't bother teaching, just say 'feck off' and walk away. Wise words indeed.

Those few remaining tories who are now the government of the UK are a shambles and some of them are using some pretty hard drugs to perform.  Yeah, I know, explains a lot.  Jacob Rees-Mogg treating the HOC front benches like an opium den and take a close look at Gove struggling to stand still, sniffing and grinding his jaw.  Classic signs of cocaine use, I am reliably informed.  If any nurse, lorry driver, factory worker or employee of any kind turned up for work off their tits on coke, there would be repercussions.

These are the people leading us off a cliff!  

THE CASE FOR JEREMY CORBYN

Sadly, I too, was among those eejits who thought I knew all about politics, but didn't really.  For me Margaret Thatcher represented a bravo step in the right direction for feminism.  I was that stupid.  Now I could give you a gritty, kitchen sink drama about my slow awakening to socialism, but a General Election may soon be upon us, so I will try to get straight to the points I often hear raised.  

1.  I've got the foreman's job at last, so the working class can kiss my arse.  OK, rarely verbatim, but among the fecks, you get the gist.  

Answer:  Sadly a Labour government creates Tories.  Sounds a bit of an oxymoron, but ordinary people do well under a Labour government, and move up to the middle class level of the social ladder.  Tory now, but their favourite line is 'I was born in a Council house'.  Pointing out that said Council house was probably provided by a Labour government, rarely goes down well.

2.   Jeremy Corbyn is an anti-Semite

Answer:  Usually put forward by people who do not understand what anti-Semite means.  Opposing Israel's inhumane treatment of Palestinians has no connection whatsoever with the antisemitism of Europe in the 1930's, those who try to make a connection are despicable.  What happened in WWII does not excuse Israel's cruel and barbaric treatment of the Palestinians.  Those turning a blind eye to it and shouting anti-Semitism should be ashamed.  Nice Jews, and there are millions of them, also oppose what Israel are doing.

3.  Jeremy Corbyn will go on a spending spree

Answer:  Oh God, yes, yes and yes.  Ffs, we have had 9 years of Tory inflicted Austerity, we have seen our country, our infrastructure and our NHS run into the ground by a government more concerned with paying off bankers' debts than the health and wellbeing of it's citizens.  Pumping money into the economy revives the economy, it gives it the kick start it needs to boost every industry a thriving society needs to flourish.

4.  It is the Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party's fault we have been put on trial by the Benefits Agencies, had our money sanctioned and been subjected to humiliating interrogations.

Answer:  Oh no it isn't!  Jeremy Corbyn throughout his long political career, has opposed every tory benefit cut.  Among his new policies is a Legal Agency of specialist lawyers to represent the sick and disabled to ensure that everyone gets the benefits they are entitled to.  The Tories have waged war on the sick and disabled, Jeremy Corbyn has opposed them every step of the way but he hasn't had the power to stop it.  As PM, he would.

5.  I don't want a Socialist/Communist/Nanny State.

I hear you my friend, and neither do I.  I'm already locked and loaded, should any do gooders try to bring in sugar and alcohol taxes.  Imagine the poor kid in a sweet shop with his rich mate buying whatever he chooses.  I was behind a little lad in a sweet shop last week, who didn't have quite enough to pay for his carefully chosen hoard.  The shopkeeper took one sweet back, and my heart was touched. Oh give it to him said I, I'll pay for it.  'Fanks' said the little lad, 'I only had 3p left'.  'We've all been there' I assured him, whilst feeling very pious and making a mental note to tell everyone about my good deed.  My fantasy however was shattered less 30 seconds later, when I exited the shop and saw the little git refusing to share his sweets with his friends.  I was tempted to go over and shout, 'oy, I did you a good turn, now pass it on'.

But I digress.  Labour's hardest job right now is getting through to those who do not spend their lives on social media.  For those of us who use it constantly, that is hard to imagine, but it's very real, and it is a huge demographic that is largely being ignored.  Probably because it involves actual legwork as opposed to the hope of creating a tweet that goes viral.  The 'grey vote' may swing elections, but it is not enough to drag wannabe political media stars away from their laptaps.  A 1,000 likes means more than 100 votes yeah? or we'll pretend it does.  UKIP, the BNP and all like minded nutters, do at least go out and knock on doors and take the time to reassure the old dears and all those away with the fairies, that Britain First is the only way to go. 

Tony Blair was the first Labour Prime Minister to stop listening to the grey vote.  He represented the Young Upwardly Mobiles, the Yuppies, the PLU (People Like Us), the generation born in Council houses, but who went to University.  He didn't work his way up through the docks, mines or unions, he was a career politician, born and bred for a leadership position.  He changed the face of the Labour Party, from donkey jacket wearing Michael Foot, and corduroyed trouser wearing, pipe smoking Tony Benn and bearded, hand knitted sweater wearing Jeremy Corbyn to sharp suited American Psychos that they named New Labour.  

New Labour quickly discarded all those working classes who protested against the tory systems that oppressed them.  In fact they took up those very same oppressive systems and improved on them.  It wasn't the Tories who brought in ATOS, it was Tony Blair.  Something Blair supporting MPs Tom Watson and Jess Phillips should be reminded of.  Often.  Happily those Tony Blair days are gone now, and in the past they should remain. The people have voted overwhelmingly, twice, for Jeremy Corbyn, a man who truly represents ALL the people, not those seeking personal advancement from being in government.  

I urge all those who's impression and understanding of Jeremy Corbyn is based on tabloid headlines and biased media reports, to take a few moments to watch and listen to Jeremy Corbyn and base your judgement on that.  There is a good reason for the young people to sing 'Oh Jeremy Corbyn' wherever he goes.  They are inspired by him because they know he will do everything in his power to ensure they have a brighter future.  This terrible era of Tory oppression is so close to it's end, we must all do everything in our power not only to vote, but to make sure all fair minded, forward thinking friends and neighbours get out to vote too.  Our children's futures depend on it.  

I'm delighted the Lib/Dems have decided on one policy, because 1)it appears they have only one policy (Remain) and 2)even the most staunch remainers do not want to take the choice away from everyone else.  They are being as undemocratic as (Leave at any cost) Boris and his few remaining far right chums. Probably for the first time in his life Jeremy Corbyn finds himself in Centre ground, even Tony Blair is praising him.  More for his genius political strategy than his philanthropic agenda I'm sure,  but praise nevertheless.  

I do try to supress my inner bitch, but I am happy to make an exception in the case of Jo Swinson.  Jo Swinson gleefully joined up with the tories for a coalition government and voted with and alongside them for the cruellest of the tories' cuts and sanctions to the poorest in our society. She has blood on her hands just the same as those Eton boys she is so happy to team up with.  I couldn't be happier that she and her ill-informed party cohorts are going with just the one stance on Brexit.  As nice as it would be to put it all to bed once and for all, it would be much nicer, and fairer, to see what Brexit might look like with Jeremy Corbyn at the helm.

VIEWS ON NEWS, MEGHAN AND PATRIOTS

Good to see Boris Johnson being given what for as he travels around the country pretending all is well.  Strange how the Conservative government have gone from no magic money tree, to having billions suddenly available to invest in the country and the NHS.  Well done that lady in Doncaster for pointing out the devastation of austerity, and asking why, they [tories] suddenly have money available.  'I'd rather have a Labour Brexit' than a 'Tory Brexit' she said, pointing out that Labour will take care of the workers.  Politician Boris then, unfortunately, took control, but not before the damage was done.  And take note Labour PR, that brave lady's 'rather have' statement works.

My fondness for William and Kate and Harry and Meghan, is a complete contradiction of my usual Marxist leanings, but I was so profoundly touched by the image of the two young Princes walking behind the coffin of their mother, that I have felt maternally protective towards them ever since.  This generation of royals, maybe steered by their mother's philosophy, are using their positions for genuine good.  I would like to give a huge hug to Meghan.  Finally, the royals have a family member with a mind of her own.  They are having to adapt to her, instead of the other way round, and I love it.  She is kind of like Princess Diana, in the rebel sense, but with confidence and attitude.  That is probably what's upsetting the establishment and sycophants like Piers Morgan.

I applaud Meghan's fashion initiative in passing good clothes onto people in need of good clothes.  Having to fork out for an evening gown out of a fixed monthly income presents many problems.  I'm not being ironic or sarcastic, I did at one time work for a very sociable company, poor me, that put on many 'do's' throughout the year.  It's nice to know too, that items of clothing we own that hold many happy memories, can be the source of happy memories for someone else.

It's easy to be snobbish and patronising about fashion, as if there are far more important and meaty issues to discuss, especially for socialists.  So I am hugely impressed that Meghan who cannot avoid the fashion police, has been able to use the interest in what she wears to create a philanthropic and charitable cause.  That was a stroke of genius.  And for the first time, the royal family have a woman who will not be bound by the codes, conventions and 'that's how we've always done it' rules of Britain's ancient royal court.   And good job too, it's high time someone stuck a firecracker up the tartan kilt of Balmoral, they have long needed a good dusting off.

Six million Jews were killed in the name of patriotism, Charlie Chaplin replied when asked if he was a patriot.  Sadly, patriotism so quickly takes those extra steps into nationalism, white supremacy yada, yada, yada, we must kill all foreigners.  It becomes frightening.  It is not enough to be British, you must fight for your little bit of soil, see off the threat of marauding continental invaders, especially the brown ones.  Imagine a great big melting pot with a pinch of white man wrapped in black skin.....  keep it stirring for a hundred years or more, and turn out coffee coloured people by the score.  Oops, went off into a song there.  The horror, the horror.

I'm not a fan of extreme patriotism or nationalism, maybe because I don't particularly have a country to vow to.  My father was Scottish, my mother Irish, and I was born in England.  I have to say I have never particularly felt English, whatever that means, I am more inclined to say feck it, than Oh dear, and I have always loved partying to excess, so I call myself a Celt.  When the troubles in Ireland came over to England, my ex used to say 'your lot again', I think he and 'his lot', saw me a mad Irish woman with links to the IRA.  Not true.  Though I have never agreed with the occupation of Ireland by the English, any more than I would have agreed with the occupation of England by the Nazis. That should bump up my enemy list.

I refer to extreme patriotism, because right now it seems to be the core issue with those who insist we leave the EU on 31st October.  They talk as if our whole way of British life is threatened by our membership of the EU.  Our culture and heritage are threatened by belong to a group of other nations they claim.  As if the EU has banned bowler hats, cricket and strawberries and cream.  That these nationalists feel threatened is a source of amusement to me.  Our traditional Englishness will be around as long as the people who practice it.  For example, had Hitler declared Morris Dancing seditious and illegal, it would not have stopped those men with their bells.  The European Elite cannot interfere with our love of tea and crumpets and a fish and chip supper on Fridays.  Happily those with a love of their nation's traditions carry those traditions with them wherever they might be - see Days of the Raj, but in good ways too.

It is sad that there are people who actually believe these mythical threats to our culture and heritage actually exist.  It is the weakest of the Leave arguments. Are they so feeble and lily livered that they would immediately abandon all they hold dear on the directive of EU Elites?  A rule that decrees they eat spaghetti on Sundays, not roast beef perhaps?  I'm citing the ridiculous to demonstrate that it is not logistically feasible to ban culture, tradition and heritage.  Even if anyone wanted to, it wouldn't work.  Our culture is not now and never has been under threat.

If leavers took the time and trouble to study the history of Britain, they would see that we have been invaded many times before and our bowler hats and flag of St. George remain intact.  If your identity is strong enough, how can you lose it?  Our culture and ethnicity does not make us enemies, that lays squarely with 'fear'.  Fear of the unknown, fear of what we do not understand.  All those who have battled fear however, know the way in which to win is to confront that very fear.  Look at the worst case scenario with a logical mind. No-one is now or ever planning, to stop you from waving your Union Jack.  Stop believing the mad rantings of dishonest brokers with their eye on the profits.  Come back to reality.  

In an unstable world with an unstable Commander in Chief, we need all the friends we can get.  Trump welcomes the chaos of a no deal Brexit, because being the vulture he is, he can't wait to swoop down on the carcass of the once Great Britain.  He doesn't wish anyone well, not even the faux copy of himself in No. 10.  As he falls, he will take all his sycophant friends with him, and the PM of Great Britain will be a great distraction.  His legacy will be 'the biggest loser', but hang on, Boris is even worse.

To all those who want to hang on to their British identity, I suggest they look towards the heroes of World Wars I and II.  Those fighting men and women who gave their lives to holding onto our freedoms and our 'Britishness'.  The right not to be dominated by Nazis.  Britain has historically welcomed all those strangers to our shores, and we are richer and more enlightened because of it.  Immigrants from Europe and the Far East, have brought the food, fabrics and culture of their far off homes to our doorstep.  And we have loved it.  Their hard work and initiatives have brought different tastes, sounds, art and order to new industries that we have welcomed.  Are we so ignorant that our culture now must be of British origin only - put your books away academics, we don't want to learn anymore. 

Unfortunately, the masses who chant 'make American Great Again' and 'Britain First' have no idea of what they are actually demanding. I get that Britain First want to put 'brits' at the front of the housing queues and benefit systems.  I get that brits want to keep all the goodies to themselves and never share.  But do they get the isolationist part?  The fact that our small island will be all alone in this great big world of sharks?  Sadly, I have encountered people of that ilk all my life, I am sure we all have.  They err towards politicians with nasty policies, it's the only time they feel empathy.  Happily, most of us don't want to be shut in by fences and border walls, figurately or otherwise.  To shut marauders out, means to shut the indigenous people in.  This is where the blame lies if our descendants discover an island of inbreds in the far off future.

But I will finish on an uplifting note, we are not born with hate and fear in our hearts, that's something we are taught.  See my short video of the week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0IPAgi5PwI