Saturday 30 January 2016

A piece on Corbyn, written for Tories

I support Jeremy Corbyn but I know that many find the prospect of him in power a scary one. He has been labelled - “an unreconstructed Trot” and a “danger to our national security”. However, many might be surprised to discover that they agree with him much more than they thought.

Are you happy that companies like Google are allowed to “make a deal” with the Revenue to pay a derisory amount of tax? Tens of billions of pounds are lost to the nation by these “sweet-heart deals” and the use of tax-havens, which are only accessible by the very rich. Meanwhile, decent taxpaying British companies find themselves undercut. Successive governments have acted as if we have no choice except to put up with this, like we put up with the weather. This issue is a priority for Corbyn, who is advised by leading experts in the field.

The damage caused by recent floods in Yorkshire would have been prevented if money had not been “saved” in 2011 by not building recommended flood defences. The taxpayer will now pay much more as a result of this false economy. Corbyn has been very clear that while he is committed to reducing the deficit, when it comes to floods: - “Cuts in public expenditure are not the answer. You’ve got to be prepared to invest in flood defences…”

Did you think it was wise - economically, politically and in relation to national security - to invite the Chinese Communist Party into the heart of our nuclear power industry? It would make more sense to borrow at historically low interest rates to invest for the nation and to keep future profits in the UK. This is very much the kind of investment Corbyn advocates. Germany under Angela Merkel does the same. 

Much of the UK rail network is currently operated by the state-owned companies of France, Germany and the Netherlands. Arriva, for example, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, the German state railway company. These companies put up the fares, take the subsidies and then it is the taxpayers of their countries who benefit from the profits. Corbyn wants to bring back the railways into UK public ownership, as and when the franchises come to an end. There is widespread public support for such a policy.

In the last 12 months the estimated cost of the Trident replacement has gone from £100 billion to £167 billion and it is expected to go much higher. Corbyn’s intervention has already ensured that the country will now have a proper debate. His view that there should not be a Trident replacement, is not “extreme”. It is shared by Tories like Crispin Blunt MP, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who has said: - "The price required (to replace Trident), both from the UK taxpayer and our conventional forces, is now too high to be rational or sensible."

Millions of Britons live in poverty. Many are forced to use food banks. These are not “scroungers”: many are people with disabilities; many are children; many live in households where someone is working hard for long hours and earning below the Living Wage. Corbyn’s approach is straightforward - such poverty is unacceptable in one of the richest countries in the world. A one nation Tory like Harold Macmillan would probably have agreed.

Corbyn is not getting a fair and balanced hearing in the media. Partly, this is due to his own mistakes and inexperience and an admirable (or foolish) refusal to make it a priority to please the media. It is also because he is taking on the most powerful interest groups in the country.

Corbyn did not spend years plotting to reach the top. He is principled. Even his political enemies generally acknowledge that he is decent and sincere. He lives a simple, somewhat frugal lifestyle. He does not spin. He tries to answer questions - sometimes to his own detriment. In many respects, he is the kind of politician that people have been saying they want.

Some of the world’s most eminent economists are advising Corbyn on his economic policy. It cannot fairly be described as “extreme”. Corbyn is a far more sophisticated and pragmatic politician than the lazy, abusive label of “unreconstructed Trot” suggests.

Corbyn is not weak on national security. He is wary of launching wars. He alone of current front-ranking UK politicians opposed the Iraq War. The threat from IS can to a great extent be traced back to that disastrous decision. People may not agree with them but Corbyn’s views on national security deserve to be listened to with respect.

Some scoff at Corbyn’s frequent references to a “kinder’ Britain.  But Britain is a harsh place for many and both rich and poor would benefit from a kinder approach.

18 comments:

  1. Shared it on Facebook as on Twitter most of my followers are 'lefty'... but on Facebook I have a few *shy tories lurking around ...

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  2. That's not tailoring an argument to the Tories, that's simply parroting the same old arguments.

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  3. That's not answering the post or any of the cogent points raised therein it is merely a lazy knee jerk reaction

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  4. Michael Deacon of the Telegraph and Peter Smith (Labour Tweeter). A qusestion: Can you prove it was a "Corbynista" who sent Clive James that horrid email ? No really, can you ?? Because you see, Bernie Sanders followers have been accused of similar things. Just want to make sure this isn't the latest attempt of GCHQ JTRIG dirty tricks campaign that's all. Thanks.

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  5. "I've Felt the Bern.And Jeremy Corbyn, you're no Senator Sanders" says the Guardian's Jonathan Freedland today. Although apparently Bernie "''has some serious luggage.." Hopefully the luggage is a different design to his own. And hasn't got "For Hillary - From Sid" stamped on it.

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  6. Helpful and excellent piece

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  7. This does not appeal to Conservatives.

    - Tories are not anti-business. They do not want to punish business with high taxes.
    - Tories do not want to borrow and spend. Most want to see further cuts to public spending.
    - Tories want to open up investment to the world. They are pragmatic, and realise that changes in human rights don't come by ignoring emerging economic powers.
    - Tories do not want to bring businesses into the public sector.
    - Tories want to keep our nuclear deterrent.
    - Tories do not want a weak, dovish foreign policy.

    This article is not written to ease the concerns of Tory voters, it is the same regurgitated preachy left wing nonsense that lost you the general election.

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    1. Corbyn did not stand under the Policies from New Labour he stood as a Labour Candidate with his own manifesto and has been returned at every election with an increased majority.

      Your pathetic excuse for a reply is nothing but Extreme Right Wing dogma, it has no basis in the truth (but then all Tories are strangers to the truth)
      - Tories destroy industry - Miners, Steel, Ship Building to name 3
      - Tories dumb down investment to the lowest possible standards that destroy lives, put workers at risk from unscrupulous employers who want to abandon all health and safety. H&S at work act has cut construction deaths to almost 0 per year from 1 a day pre H&S introduction.
      -Tories want to destroy the Public Sector some services have to be managed by Government or local Gov' because they are mandatory under law, private companies cannot comply due to adverse effects on profits. There is no profit in Social Care it is an essential service for everyone (even you in your dotage)
      Tories - want to spend £billions on an outdated and dangerous weapon system that can never be used.
      Tories - do not have a foreign policy they have a "bomb anyone who does not agree with us policy"

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    2. I will enjoy drinking your tears in 2020 when the left suffer an even more crushing defeat than in 2015.

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    3. I trust you are a millionaire, as if you are not then I feel it is only fair for me to tell you that you are just pointless vote and cannon fodder to your lunatic political heroes.

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    4. Maybe one day you'll grow up and realise that not everyone who disagrees with you has been brainwashed.

      Your niche political views don't hold sway with the general public not because the right wing media is manipulating everyone's minds, but because your opinions are generally quite silly.

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    5. The Tories let big businesses get away with not paying their fair share of tax, but small businesses don't get that privilege.

      Tories have barrowed more in the last 6 years than Labour did in 13 years.

      The UK does not have a "nuclear deterrent".

      Corbyn does not want businesses into the public sector.

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  8. I enjoyed this article - Thanks Tom. I notice most replies that disagree with the sentiments either don't answer the points &/or are rude.

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  9. I agree with your comments Tom

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  10. The current Government is currently filling their own pockets (more than 20 of them hold shares in private companies that will benefit by the privatisation\destruction of the NHS)and filling the pockets of their friends (by selling shares in PUBLIC SERVICES & RBS to "privileged partners").

    The Conservative fraudsters continue to inflict an extreme form of COGNITIVE DISSONANCE on the British public, by telling us of the "dangers" that Corbyn presents; when most of the horrors they speak of are things they clearly have planned, OR HAVE ALREADY DONE TO US!

    Whilst inviting China to carve off a slice of Britain's future prospects; along with numerous other International corporates taking a bite; the toffee nosed FRAUDSTERS are picking through the BONES of what's left, and compliantly overseeing the DISPOSESSION of the British people, of all that once belonged to us, as a Nation!

    Since our paedophile PM, Ted Heath, and the removal of the gold standard, the fraudulent Neo-Liberal project has been in action. Governments of all stripes have funded their rises to power, by feeding us back the profits, from selling us National assets; which as a Nation WE ALREADY OWNED..!!

    For 40 years, Britain has been subjected to FRAUD; whilst Government has failed to install any long term economic or industrial plan; instead creating a "service industry" which specializes in selling us back WHAT WE ALREADY OWNED!

    So, the Conservative idyll now hoves into view; a Right Wing Dickensian "dream", which just happens to be a living nightmare for the rest of us.

    Hard Times!
    Keep them poor, feed them little, make them thankful!
    The Conservative way, anyone?

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  11. Helpful, clearly set out.Seem to be some odd comments above but essentially you have nailed it!

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  12. The worry is the way that Corbyn went for a out of the EU, to we will stay, he was a staunch believer in getting out for over 45 years. Then back he's for us to stay, now the MP's and MEPs got to him as a leader , so what happens if they do with say welfare or Trident by a simple command from the right.

    I'm now worried that Corbyn can be changed

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