The Labour Party leadership contest hotted up as more runners declared. In addition to the two Millibands, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and John McDonell threw their hats into the ring. McDowell, described as the veteran left winger, has a pedigree dating back to being Ken's deputy at the GLC, but sadly given the make up of the PLP and the current culture in trade unionism, his chances are slight. I sense as well that over the past 15 years many on the left have grown disillusioned with New labour and disgusted with Iraq and have like me, left the Party. As a result to quote the Independent the contest is essentially the sons of Blair versus the sons of Brown. The problem is that the battle between Blair and Brown was about personality and presentation rather than substance, as a result the 4 forty something men sound alike and probably advocate remarkably similar policies.
Meanwhile Cameron decides o take on the 1922 Committee . Clearly this is a battle for power and influence within the Tory party. Backbench MPs have met independently of the party leadership since lloyd george was ditched at the Curzon Club in 1922. Seems to be a strange decision to alienate those whose support will be needed by the CON DEm coalition in the weeks ahead.
Clegg on the other hand has shown he can exaggerate with the best described the political reforms that the coalition hope to usher in as the largest political change in the country since 1832. More important than universal manhood suffrage, then Nick. It makes you wonder if some politicians have ever eally studied history.
Away from politics the Fabregas transfer saga inches closer, and suggestions that it could be done by the end of the week. If completed Fabregas' last real action for Arsenal will be scoring from the spot against the club he has decided to join.
Summer always brings forth attempts to destabilise players, starting yesterday with Manchester City announcing that they have offered £20m for Villa's James Milner, who you'd hope might be focussed on England's world cup campaign.
I finished Chris Mullins "Tales from the foothills" in the morning. A late start at work allowed me two hours to read the concluding sections leading up to the 2005 election. Mullins spent the months before as Minister for Africa at the Foreign office. Reading of his travels to states where corruption, death and poverty were commonplace was on a number of levels rather depressing to say the least. On the theoretical level it reinforcd all I felt about the ability of power to corrupt even those who may start with noble intentions. Nevertheless it left me asking what can be done ? The task seems so vast, yet the alternative is to walk awayleaving millions to suffer and die. The legacy of colonialisation is very much still with us.
Travelling to Kingsmeadow in the evening for a meetings on AFC Wimbledon communications, a chance to talk about what we do well and what needs drastic improvement, not surprising most attention was given to the oficial website. Issues that I'd raised two years ago.
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