Labour Party Conference 2003

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It'll all be over by Easter, memories are short, a week is a long time. Yes.

But I still believe that come the Labour Party Conference, in (presumably) October 2003, a great many ordinary delegates / members will harbour a great deal of resentment against Tony Blair for what has happened. And if this resentment (to put it no more strongly) is ever going to find an outlet, it could be here. Of all the opportunities that large numbers of progressive people have tried to find to voice their opposition to the war, this might be the one that he finds hardest to avoid.

Leadership challenges, official ructions? Maybe. But how about half the hall, when Blair takes the stage for his big moment, starting to chant (fill in the words of your choice: 'Murderer', 'No', whatever), and not stopping until he's been forced to retire from the podium?

I suppose I don't see it coming to that. Maybe nothing at all will happen. But still - 6 months to go before we find out.

the pinefox, Thursday, 3 April 2003 11:06 (twenty-one years ago) link

Wow - this is looking like being my least popular thread *ever*.

The only one to compare with it is one about Blair which has now DISAPPEARED from ilx!

What is it about my Labour Party threads?

the pinefox, Thursday, 3 April 2003 12:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

maybe there are no Labour Party activists on ILX.

I read that Blair kind of took for granted that a lot of his party would be against the WAR, and almost relished it. Facing down rebellious conferences wins votes for Labour leaders - well that's what I read somewhere, anyway.

DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 3 April 2003 13:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

It seems rather early to guess - six months is a long time, whatever realm you're in (well, not geology or tectonic plates studies or...). The way even fresh history will view the war is far from set by now: a long war with lots of death and a bad aftermath, as compared to an early win and Iraqis being really happy once it's over and SH is out, etc.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 4 April 2003 15:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

three months pass...
3, or is it 2?, months to go

the pinefox, Tuesday, 15 July 2003 11:00 (twenty years ago) link

I'm fucked off they've managed to get rid of the Red Flag; in 2000, it was because Mandela had the closing speech and everyone was a bit luvved up on the guy; in 2001 it was because the conference was curtailed because of TEOSE (WTF????). Didn't go last year, but would presume no Red Flag...

Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 11:22 (twenty years ago) link

they shd replace it with pink flag!!

orders given
books were cooked
on the 4th of the 3rd
how many seen or heard?
on the 12th of the 3rd
how many dead or alive?

mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 11:34 (twenty years ago) link

two months pass...
It's upon us... no Blair as yet obviously but very crafty stuff indeed from Brown - hardly the "knives out" stuff the Standard was banging on about, but rubbing the conference up in exactly the right way, putting clear water between him and Blair (even if in image only) while still appearing to stand shoulder to shoulder with Blair and not contradicting him in the slightest. Complete lack of the phrase "New Labour" was telling as well.

And the assembled throng loved it! Standing ovation and everything. From Brown's point of view, it couldn't have gone better.

Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 29 September 2003 20:25 (twenty years ago) link

The delegates' failure to dismiss Blair from the stage with a WALL OF CLAMOROUS NOISE is a disgrace. So much for them, just like their cowardly MPs on the eve of destruction.

the pinefox, Wednesday, 1 October 2003 21:58 (twenty years ago) link

eleven months pass...
No protests last year. But, protests this year.

the bellefox, Tuesday, 28 September 2004 14:44 (nineteen years ago) link

Brown's speech was hilarious: "I and the Labour Party have done this, I and the Labour Party have done that - while all that jumped up public school twerp over there has done is get us into this crappy war in Iraq"

Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:11 (nineteen years ago) link

But neither of them ever say any such thing. Only journalists do.

the bellefox, Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:17 (nineteen years ago) link

Brown did rather pointedly say "I and the Labour Party have done blah blah blah" several times

Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:19 (nineteen years ago) link

... hence Milburn chucking his toys out of the pram with his "It's no good just screaming louder and louder about our past achievements" speech

Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:21 (nineteen years ago) link

ten years pass...

The unemployed should be forced to take a job after no more than two years on the dole to end stop them spending a 'lifetime on benefits', Labour will say today.

Rachel Reeves is challenging David Cameron to back Labour's plan for a jobs guarantee to limit Jobseekers Allowance to a year for under 25s and two years for older workers.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the shadow work and pensions secretary warned the country cannot afford leaving people 'stuck on benefits for years on end'.

nakhchivan, Wednesday, 11 February 2015 19:26 (nine years ago) link

two weeks pass...

local council candidate knocked on my door on Saturday, she tried to look sympathetic when i told her the party was dead to me but she didn't seem inclined to argue the ish, guess they've already given up

daed bod (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 4 March 2015 01:05 (nine years ago) link

A Labour spokesperson said Blair would be involved in the campaign, adding: “We’re delighted that Tony Blair has given so generously to the local campaigns in the battleground seats our party is targeting at this general election.

“Our campaign is not based on big posters, talking over the heads of voters, or the sound and fury of Westminster politics. It is based on millions of conversations with people on their doorsteps and in their communities.”

poc het ino (nakhchivan), Thursday, 5 March 2015 01:36 (nine years ago) link


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