{"id":18896,"date":"2024-07-05T08:41:29","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T07:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=18896"},"modified":"2024-07-07T09:28:31","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T08:28:31","slug":"politricks-general-election-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=18896","title":{"rendered":"POLiTRiCKS: General Election, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5274.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18892\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5274.jpg 640w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5274-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">No wonder he\u2019s smiling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, well, well\u2026 a Labour landslide!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My first thoughts &#8211; after a hallelujah &#8211; are along these lines; Labour inherits a dis-United Kingdom that has been thoroughly trashed by decades of \u2018neo-liberal\u2019 casino style disaster capitalism, aka modern Toryism. So <em>don\u2019t expect a quick fix<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5275-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18893\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5275-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5275-1-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5275-1-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5275-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5275-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eugh!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst the mere existence of Farage\/Reform is <em>very<\/em> worrying, I\u2019d like to thank these loathsome folk and their \u2018orrible supporters (more on this below) for taking votes away from the Tories. Every cloud has a silver earring, as Count Arthur might say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few things Labour needs to do now they\u2019re in office:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start the process of rejoining the EU.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nationalise utilities, such as water and electricity. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bring public infrastructure back into public ownership: nationalise trains. Invest in road repairs, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make good on Corbyn\u2019s promise to bring free internet to all. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hold criminals to account. I\u2019m talking about Tories profiteering whilst others die: Covid, the NHS, Grenfell, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Root and branch reform in public institutions, such the NHS, schools, etc. Root out PFI style Tory (or even, sad to say, New Labour) arrangements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Invest in and expand the NHS. Bring dentistry back into the fold. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crack down on gambling, and the whole utterly repulsive casino culture so ardently fostered by Toryism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work at rebuilding an intelligent culture. Something years of populist Toryism &#8211; maybe more their lapdog media, perhaps, than the party (?); definitely a truly toxic partnership &#8211; has so sedulously worked against. The massive growth of yob culture &#8211; in which people are proud to be stupid (!?) &#8211; needs to be arrested and put in reverse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst I\u2019m elated at seeing the Tories out, we don\u2019t want a repeat of Blair-ism, where the left is so far to the right it often out-Tories the Conservatives (stand up Blair, and even more so, Brown).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m filled with foreboding, along the lines that 75 years of mostly very destructive right wing rule (rendering the name \u2018Conservative\u2019 a prime example of Orwellian Newspeak!) cannot be remedied in one term in office. The damage Toryism, esp\u2019 post-Thatcher, has wrought is so massive, it\u2019ll take ages to repair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5272-1-696x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18894\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5272-1-696x1024.jpg 696w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5272-1-204x300.jpg 204w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5272-1.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My locality is (almost) as Tory as ever.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly the Tories still won in our constituency. Unbelievable! I can (almost) understand farmers remaining staunchly Tory. They are after all landowners. And &#8211; adopts Patridgean tone &#8211; inbred idiots. But all the working class Tories? Insane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good number of these Daily Mail reading cretins have voted Reform. Makes one shudder. But, returning to a previous theme, at least these dullards have taken away from the Tories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"926\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5282-1-926x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18895\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5282-1-926x1024.jpg 926w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5282-1-271x300.jpg 271w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5282-1-768x849.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/img_5282-1.jpg 948w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andrew Parker, of Bishops Stortford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Andrew Parker was filmed by Channel 4 News while canvassing for Reform UK, calling Rishi Sunak a \u201cf****** p***\u201d and advocating using migrants arriving in the UK by boat as target practice for the Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk\/news\/amp\/stortford-man-embroiled-in-reform-racism-row-stays-tight-lip-9372911\/\">Bishops Stortford Independent <\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s pretty sobering &#8211; or should be frightening, maybe even sickening? &#8211; to realise that most of the folk you live amongst are sub-bovine morons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as the more obvious hordes of tracky-wearing shaven-headed tattooed pinch-faced racist Gammonry, there are those who look fairly normal and respectable, but are still essentially pus-filled sacs of right-wing bile, fed at the poisonous teats of our red-top gutter press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I just hope, pray even (atheist tho\u2019 I am!), that, 1) We get a real Labour\/left-wing government, bold enough to really reverse the many ills of Toryism, and 2) that they are given the great deal of time that real radical change will require. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly I think in our current cultural climate brains are rotten, and attention spans too short. We shall see\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Farage\u2019s response? He tried to blame it on the media, saying it was \u2018a total and utter set-up\u2019, claiming Parker is an actor, insinuating this was a paid role. Ofcom are <em>not<\/em> investigating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s let Parker, a true meat n\u2019 potatoes Reform-ist have the last word:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>He [Parker] said it was about time \u201cwe got rid of this Third World filth that\u2019s over here, about time British values come first\u201d, adding: \u201cIf you don\u2019t like it, f*** off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also aimed abuse at the LGBTQ+ community after saying it was \u201cabout time the British people could fly their Union Jack holding pride\u201d. He added: \u201cTalking about pride, you f****** lot can f*** off as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bit more of Andrew Parker\u2019s eloquent Reform-ist \u2018straight talk\u2019. From the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk\/news\/amp\/stortford-man-embroiled-in-reform-racism-row-stays-tight-lip-9372911\/\">source<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Well, well, well\u2026 a Labour landslide!? My first thoughts &#8211; after a hallelujah &#8211; are along these lines; Labour inherits a dis-United Kingdom that has been thoroughly trashed by decades of \u2018neo-liberal\u2019 casino style disaster capitalism, aka modern Toryism. So don\u2019t expect a quick fix! Whilst the mere existence of Farage\/Reform is very worrying, I\u2019d &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=18896\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;POLiTRiCKS: General Election, 2024&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paGwUa-4UM","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18896"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18896"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19051,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18896\/revisions\/19051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}