• Contact
  • About
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
North East Bylines
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • European News
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Science
    • UK News
    • World News
    NUFC foodbank

    Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

    Darlington protestors

    Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

    RMT Union banner

    When do strikes work? History shows the conditions need to be right

    Cartoon of Liz Truss with shopping trolley

    Tory leadership election: policy shopping is no way to treat people

    Border control at Dover

    The moral argument for open borders

    the quilt

    Join Hands for Ukraine at the Royal Albert Hall

    Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 08-06-2021 A man was shot to death in the streets of Juárez, the experts work at the crime scene.

    Mexico: new research shows the historic link between opening schools and falling murder rates

    Andy Preston, Middlesbrough Mayor

    Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston faces calls to resign over damning audit report

    The freight area at Teesside Airport

    The ostrich has landed: an update for visitors to Teesside Airport

    Trending Tags

    • Ukraine
  • Culture
    • All
    • Animation
    • Books
    • Illustrations & More
    • Music
    • Performance
    • Poetry
    • Social Media
    • Theatre
    • TV & Radio
    NUFC foodbank

    Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

    Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

    Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

    Promo image

    Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

    street in Naples

    Five books to read that bring Naples to life

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    Master Chef of Great Britain

    Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

    Prezzo

    Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

    Chef and son

    MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

    Scottish highlands

    The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

    Kleo Tabuku

    Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

    Pop up park

    Pop up to the park in Sunderland

    The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

    The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

    gymnast

    Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

    Kennedy and Rhind

    Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

    Trending Tags

    • Business
      • All
      • Economy
      • Rural
      • Technology
      • Trade
      • Voluntary Sector
      Scottish highlands

      The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

      loo

      A room with a loo

      Newcastle quayside

      Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

      Brexit economics

      New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

      Wetherspoons pub

      Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

      Leon Fussell rehearsing

      Unsung Heroes at Queen’s Hall, Hexham

      Houchen and spade

      Vampire daylight: a week in the life of Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor

      Keir Starmer

      Open letter to Sir Keir Starmer

      London Bridge tube station

      A chance meeting with Mary: homeless and begging in a train station

      Trending Tags

      • Region
        • All
        • Co. Durham
        • North East
        • Northumberland
        • Teesside
        • Tyneside
        • Wearside
        NUFC foodbank

        Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

        Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

        Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

        Darlington protestors

        Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

        Promo image

        Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

        DCFO Peter Heath

        Fire chiefs urge public to behave responsibly amid hot weather warnings

        Pride flag

        Northern Pride: Newcastle proves it’s loud, proud and still fighting

        Litterpick with Chi Onwurah

        Chi Onwurah publishes action plan for rubbish and calls on constituents to help improve it!

        the quilt

        Join Hands for Ukraine at the Royal Albert Hall

        Andy Preston, Middlesbrough Mayor

        Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston faces calls to resign over damning audit report

        Trending Tags

        • Opinion
          Titanic coming out of Southampton

          The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

          There is an England

          There is an England

          Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

          The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

          Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

          TV Agency staff jumping in the air

          The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

          North East of County Dublin

          North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

          North Sea oil rig

          Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

          Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

          Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

          close up on a child's eye

          Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Brexit
          • Education
          • Environment
          • European News
          • Health
          • Politics
          • Science
          • UK News
          • World News
          NUFC foodbank

          Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

          Darlington protestors

          Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

          RMT Union banner

          When do strikes work? History shows the conditions need to be right

          Cartoon of Liz Truss with shopping trolley

          Tory leadership election: policy shopping is no way to treat people

          Border control at Dover

          The moral argument for open borders

          the quilt

          Join Hands for Ukraine at the Royal Albert Hall

          Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 08-06-2021 A man was shot to death in the streets of Juárez, the experts work at the crime scene.

          Mexico: new research shows the historic link between opening schools and falling murder rates

          Andy Preston, Middlesbrough Mayor

          Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston faces calls to resign over damning audit report

          The freight area at Teesside Airport

          The ostrich has landed: an update for visitors to Teesside Airport

          Trending Tags

          • Ukraine
        • Culture
          • All
          • Animation
          • Books
          • Illustrations & More
          • Music
          • Performance
          • Poetry
          • Social Media
          • Theatre
          • TV & Radio
          NUFC foodbank

          Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

          Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

          Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

          Promo image

          Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

          street in Naples

          Five books to read that bring Naples to life

        • Lifestyle
          • All
          • Fashion
          • Food & Drink
          • Health & Fitness
          Master Chef of Great Britain

          Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

          Prezzo

          Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

          Chef and son

          MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

          Scottish highlands

          The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

          Kleo Tabuku

          Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

          Pop up park

          Pop up to the park in Sunderland

          The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

          The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

          gymnast

          Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

          Kennedy and Rhind

          Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

          Trending Tags

          • Business
            • All
            • Economy
            • Rural
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Voluntary Sector
            Scottish highlands

            The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

            loo

            A room with a loo

            Newcastle quayside

            Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

            Brexit economics

            New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

            Wetherspoons pub

            Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

            Leon Fussell rehearsing

            Unsung Heroes at Queen’s Hall, Hexham

            Houchen and spade

            Vampire daylight: a week in the life of Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor

            Keir Starmer

            Open letter to Sir Keir Starmer

            London Bridge tube station

            A chance meeting with Mary: homeless and begging in a train station

            Trending Tags

            • Region
              • All
              • Co. Durham
              • North East
              • Northumberland
              • Teesside
              • Tyneside
              • Wearside
              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

              Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

              Darlington protestors

              Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

              Promo image

              Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

              DCFO Peter Heath

              Fire chiefs urge public to behave responsibly amid hot weather warnings

              Pride flag

              Northern Pride: Newcastle proves it’s loud, proud and still fighting

              Litterpick with Chi Onwurah

              Chi Onwurah publishes action plan for rubbish and calls on constituents to help improve it!

              the quilt

              Join Hands for Ukraine at the Royal Albert Hall

              Andy Preston, Middlesbrough Mayor

              Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston faces calls to resign over damning audit report

              Trending Tags

              • Opinion
                Titanic coming out of Southampton

                The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

                There is an England

                There is an England

                Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

                The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

                Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

                TV Agency staff jumping in the air

                The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

                North East of County Dublin

                North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

                North Sea oil rig

                Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

                Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

                Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

                close up on a child's eye

                Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

              No Result
              View All Result
              North East Bylines
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home News Politics

              Which former Labour leader could win now?

              Dylan Neri takes a look at Labour leaders, past and present, and considers which one would be able to win an election now

              Dylan NeribyDylan Neri
              31-07-2021 06:44
              in Politics, UK
              Keir Starmer, current Labour Party leader

              Keir Starmer, current Labour Party leader by Rwendland Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
              ADVERTISEMENT

              The Labour Party is as moribund as the Anglican Church. Both are founded on supposed fundamental truths, on the side of the Persecuted, the Poor, and the Weak, and on an unshakeable ideology grounded in the teachings of two of the most misinterpreted men in history (although Marx edges it, just.) Both privateered by the politics of identity as a warship in the Culture Wars of the 21st Century. But where the similarities end is in the belief in resurrection. One Man will return to right the wrongs done in His name, while the other is destined for the pile of failed political movements. And so the question must be asked; Whose resurrection now could save the Labour Party?

              “We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly follow’d.” With these two clauses Iago sums up why leaders who never won an election will not be considered. It was not time and circumstance which was their master, but their very nature. This limits our selection to the post-war leaders.

              History representing our own time?

              To best answer the question, we must apply the principles of the scientific method, that is: we seek to generalise a conclusion from previous experiences so that we may predict future outcomes. What are the circumstances of the past which best represent our own time?

              The economy in huge recession; high unemployment; titanic borrowing and the threat of inflation; the Conservative Party led by a very popular leader; a revolutionary shift in jobs, travel, tech; and, a schismatic Labour Party. It is hopefully clear that Mr. Callaghan would only exacerbate the economic and cultural problems, while proving unable to unite the various wings of the Party: Mr. Johnson would undoubtedly rule for nine more years.

              Blair or Atlee?

              This leaves Messrs Blair and Attlee. The former has experience uniting the Party and the country, and has charm and a wit to be envied by many on the left. His economic and immigration policies would certainly not be popular with the current electorate (at least not the ‘traditional Labour voters’), nor would his ideological support for European Union membership. And the Conservative Party of 1997 was hardly the Conservative Party of 2021. All this might be offset by his intrinsic charm and adaptability in leadership if it were not for the unfortunate Iraq-shaped prism through which his time is viewed.

              So we come to Mr. Attlee, who, it must be said, faced many of the same issues the leader of the Party faces today. Go back through the list above and note the similarities with the world of today. A ‘post-war’ world awaits, one which will require bold and daring leadership, and, crucially, reform of the NHS. A world in which the cancer of poverty is spreading through the body of our country; in which class inequality has been painfully exposed. Who better?

              But superstitious fancies about rebirth and resurrection, while amusing, are worthless; it should now be desired by any reasonable person that the two ‘opposition’ parties currently propping each other up with the rigidity of the other’s rigor mortis finally fall and die. And from the corpses, two genuine parties which represent more precisely (or even at all) the divide in this country must be formed.

              It is not surprising that Mr. Johnson wants to ‘mimic’ Mr. Blair’s political strategy (commentators such as Peter Hitchens asserted this back in 2019), nor is it surprising that Mr. Starmer is moving, in his typically unauthoritative and cnidarian style, toward the lure of Mandelson et al. It has been this way for a generation. The only thing that changes is the intelligence of the leaders. And the quality of the polling.

              A one-party state?

              And so the one-party state is reborn, or rather it is recrudescing, after our brief flirtation with the concept of having a socialist leader lead the socialist party. Perpetual centre-ground awaits; and a future in which the political leader is merely a marionette pulled by the strings of the polls, guided not by any individual sense of morality, or justice, or independence of mind, but rather by the consensus view of the moment. “Whip me such honest knaves!”

              Others there are, I am sure, who are trimmed in forms and visages of duty, lying not in the cold utopias of the past, but in the future; if only either party would realise that they are elected to represent the people, and not the people them. And that an opposition party means disagreement for its own sake, not seeking consensus wherever possible.

              Read more by Dylan Neri.

              ADVERTISEMENT
              Previous Post

              APPG on Coronavirus: heartbreaking for key workers

              Next Post

              Oxford and Aylesbury: a pilgrimage with Brendan McBear

              Dylan Neri

              Dylan Neri

              Related Posts

              NUFC foodbank
              Culture

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              byBill Corcoran
              August 10, 2022
              Darlington protestors
              North East

              Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

              byYvonne Wancke
              August 10, 2022
              RMT Union banner
              Politics

              When do strikes work? History shows the conditions need to be right

              byChristopher Massey
              August 9, 2022
              Cartoon of Liz Truss with shopping trolley
              Opinion

              Tory leadership election: policy shopping is no way to treat people

              byPeter Benson
              August 4, 2022
              Border control at Dover
              European News

              The moral argument for open borders

              byDavid Rose
              August 3, 2022
              Next Post
              The Troy maze

              Oxford and Aylesbury: a pilgrimage with Brendan McBear

              Want to support us?

              Can you help North East Bylines to grow and become more sustainable with a regular donation, no matter how small?  

              DONATE

              Sign up to our newsletter

              If you would like to receive the North East Bylines regular newsletter, straight talking direct to your inbox, click the button below.

              NEWSLETTER

              LATEST

              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              August 10, 2022
              Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

              Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

              August 10, 2022
              Darlington protestors

              Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

              August 10, 2022
              Promo image

              Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

              August 10, 2022
              DCFO Peter Heath

              Fire chiefs urge public to behave responsibly amid hot weather warnings

              August 9, 2022
              Master Chef of Great Britain

              Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

              August 9, 2022

              MOST READ

              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              August 10, 2022
              Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

              Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

              August 10, 2022
              Darlington protestors

              Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

              August 10, 2022
              Promo image

              Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

              August 10, 2022

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Audio Beach Brexit Business castle leazes climate activism Co. Durham cost of living crisis Culture defra democracy ducklings Economy Education Environment fire and rescue firefighter Food & Drink food poverty Health Health & Care Home Affairs just stop oil Lifestyle Local Lockdown Northumberland Peace Performance Politics pride month refugee rescue Science Social Media Teesside TV & Radio Tynemouth Tyneside Ukraine volunteer Wearside

              We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in the North East and beyond.

              North East Bylines is a trading brand of Bylines Network Limited, which is a sister organisation to Byline Times.

              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Contact
              • About
              • Letters
              • Donate
              • Privacy
              • Bylines network
              • Shop

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Brexit
                • Education
                • Environment
                • UK News
                • Transport
                • World News
              • Politics
              • Opinion
              • Lifestyle
                • Culture
                • Music
                • Poetry
              • Business
                • Economy
                • Technology
                • Trade
              • Donate
              • Newsletter sign up
              • Boriiis Cartoons
              • Authors

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In