tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post1451173290906972481..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Too complacent by farJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-35382595727551776072016-02-16T23:36:50.883+00:002016-02-16T23:36:50.883+00:00The thing about Referenda is that they often becom...The thing about Referenda is that they often become less about the question on the ballot than a verdict on the government and prime minister of the day.<br />The most certain short-term consequence of a Leave vote would be David Cameron's resignation. For many non Tories that makes Leave look awfully tempting and in particular it makes most Labour people reluctant to back Remain all that strongly; a reluctance enhanced by the damage done in Scotland as a consequence of Labour's participation in "Better Together".<br />It's an open secret that Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are privately as virulently eurosceptic as Bill Cash or Jacob Rees Mogg (Corbyn voted No in 1975 and has consistently opposed ratification of pretty much every EU Treaty since his election to parliament in 1983). He understandably sees the EU as a barrier to the pursuit of a radical socialist economic policy. Unlike Trident Corbyn knows he has no chance of changing Labour's official policy since none of the Labour affiliated unions would agree to it. He will however have nothing to do with Labour's own "IN for Britain" campaign, which he's ensuring is starved of resources. It is rumoured in Labour circles that he and McDonnell both refused to add their names to the weekend 'recantation' letter signed by Benn (Hilary), Beckett, Blunkett, Kinnock and Straw. It's futile in short to hope that Labour will come to the rescue of Cameron's Remain campaign in any significant way.<br />The Unions may be a different matter, but given the attacks on them via the Trade Union Bill and other legislation the government appears to be doing its utmost to alienate the TUC on the domestic front which can only make it all the harder for broadly pro-European General Secretaries to swing their organisational machines behind any Remain campaign that looks and sounds like it's being directed from Downing St.<br />As in Scotland two years ago the only real winners, regardless of the result, of this referendum look likely to be the 'nationalists', this time in the shape of UKIP.<br />Democritushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06749137742833103823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-11417164361016011372016-02-16T22:02:09.082+00:002016-02-16T22:02:09.082+00:00Yesterday’s poll caused a stir among voters but di...Yesterday’s poll caused a stir among voters but did it have any effect on our complacent Welsh ruling class? <br /><br />I suspect it’s too late for the EU Remain camp and for the future of the Welsh Assembly, with UKIP on the march anti Assembly rhetoric will be rife over the next term and Assembly abolition will become mainstream.<br /><br />And while its while its correct to blame UKIP for spreading hate, turning people against each other and successfully exploiting the platform the BBC gives them, its Welsh politicians of all parties that are to blame for the mess Wales is in. <br />Specifically Labour ones who’ve taken Wales for granted for so long that the only option the Welsh electorate see for change is a Faustian pact with extreme right wing English xenophobes running riot in the Assembly, followed by voting Leave the EU in big numbers.<br /><br />In the face on this onslaught Scotland found its confidence and is slowly working its way to independence, Wales has fallen in to the trap and is slowly but surely being assimilated in England, grim times ahead. <br />welsh politics observernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-70589108245806790182016-02-16T21:17:05.998+00:002016-02-16T21:17:05.998+00:00Agree entirely.
Good analysis, well written and ...Agree entirely. <br /><br />Good analysis, well written and good to know that even if we don't agree on many things we do agree on this particular issue. <br /><br />Any thoughts on what we can do to ensure the 'real issues' get proper attention? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com