[Tubby Isaacs]

Fucking Paul there. Does he think the Republic of Ireland invaded Northern Ireland or something?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ha ha.

[The Weeping Angel]

Fascinating thread on Maurice Glasman, founder of Blue Labour.

[Youngian]

Wouldn't try that one on in Grimsby.

Blue Labour, the pro working-class, socially conservative campaign group he founded 16 years ago.

Glasman, incidentally, is appalled that Labour wants to banish the few remaining hereditary peers.

Although resorting to militarist Keynesianism is something of an intellectual failure for the left, Glasman is probably right about this. The possibilities of civilain spin offs from high military spending can be demonstrated especially from the US. I think Glasman is a Euro bloc protectionist rather than a nationalist one. It was an idea floating around London Met uni in IR and politics faculties when I was studying for an MA where Glasman was on the staff. Found the ideas a bit cookie back in 2014 but not so much now.

He wouldn’t have chosen Trump to be president. He certainly wouldn’t have chosen to leave the EU. But this whole Ukraine thing has given us the possibility of an industrial strategy thanks to an increase in defence spending. Britain is unquestionably the leading military, diplomatic and political power in Europe. This is going to be the foundation of a complete reorientation!”

[Tubby Isaacs]

The UK ought to do reasonably well out of Defence in the near future, but that won't be because of industrial strategy, it'll be because Europe is massively increasing Defence spending. An industrial strategy is better than no strategy, but its advocates (in Labour, and outside) need to stop talking like it's going to deliver massive growth in the places most convenient for us. I recall Philip Hammond talking excitedly about possibilities in life science and the like. And fair enough, it all sounded more "expand Cambridge to a megacity" rather than "great, this'll get West Bromwich back on track".

[Youngian]

Silicon Valley clusters stretch over five counties the size of Wales whereas places in Britain like Cambridge's hi tech industry hardly burst out of it's city boundaries.
Why I don't know, California isn't known for easy planning permission or advanced transport links.

[Youngian]

OK Mo, the economics stuff makes for an interesting contribution but now you're just getting Jordan Peterson level weird. Where's the exit?

[Abernathy]

“Once again “ ? The bastards.

[Youngian]

Paul Embery's latest brain fart: Why aren't blacks into running?

[Andy McDandy]

Remember, kids. Think before you tweet. As yourself, "Do I have anything profound or important to say? Is anyone actually dependent on me sharing my thoughts? Does anybody really care what I think?".

Weigh up those questions and your honest responses. Then tweet away anyway, you massive narcissistic bellend.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Who knew you could enter the London Marathon without living in London? Black population of the UK is about 4.2%.

[Yug]

So black people don't run. Did I dream Mo Farah winning the London Marathon more than once? Or Usain Bolt breaking world records on the track? Or is Paul just full of shit.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I thought Paul’s thing was that class mattered. Perhaps he might ask himself whether people who’s been run off their feet all day at work are likely to feel like a 6 mile run afterwards? Any connection between being black and working class, I wonder?

[mattomac]

Wish these people were ignored instead of listened to.

[The Weeping Angel]

Is Embery part of Blue Labour? Bluesky is convinced that Blue Labour are running the government.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

My Bluesky isn't...

[Tubby Isaacs]

With the exception of Spain, where the Government are losing in the polls. governments in Europe are generally doing the sort of thing the UK Government is- trying to deter irregular immigration, and deport people with no right to be in the country. Ironically, this is one area where Labour are working closely with the EU, the actual EU, not the fondly imagined EU of REJOIN NOW.

So I think we can overdo the "Blue Labour" talk really. There's very little emphasis on "faith" or "community values", much less than under Blair, who Blue Labour reacted very strongly against. Workers rights is a longstanding Starmer interest, not something he's been talked into by Maurice Glasman, and even Blair did nationalisation (Railtrack, much bigger than Scunthorpe Steelworks).

[The Weeping Angel]

Ah yes the Danish method.

[Boiler]

and even Blair did nationalisation (Railtrack, much bigger than Scunthorpe Steelworks).

I wouldn't use Failtrack as an example... Hatfield (2000) and Potters Bar (2002), anybody?

[Tubby Isaacs]

He nationalised it after Hatfield and created Network Rail.