I’m bringing back the Labour Catastrophe Bulletin which we ran on Reaction during the summer, mainly because there really does seem to be so much going wrong for what is theoretically Britain’s main opposition party. Those people not in Liverpool who are paying almost zero attention whatsoever to Labour party conference could do with a one-stop shop short briefing where they can learn about the assorted calamities.
Here is today’s Labour Catastrophe Bulletin:
1) Clive Lewis, shadow Secretary of State for Defence, was humiliated by the leadership when his speech to conference was altered at the last moment by the leader’s media chief without it being discussed with Lewis himself. He found out that the key section on Trident had been dropped in a message received when he was already on the stage. The moment was captured on film. It seems Mr Lewis, who admirably joined the Territorial Army and served in Afghanistan, had been a victim of “friendly fire” at the hands of Seumas Milne, who in Team Corbyn plays something akin to the Pyotr Nikolayevich Pospelov role.
2) Trade Union leaders are furious that Jeremy Corbyn has announced that “when” he is Prime Minister he will ban fracking. Banning fracking is a mad idea and the steel unions want the industry to thrive as it will mean lots of orders for steel. The Daily Mirror has the story.
3) John McDonnell announced in his speech that “when” he is Chancellor he will reintroduce “sectoral” collective bargaining, or national pay bargaining. That is another mad idea, which would threaten a return to trade union dominance and national strife. Iain Dale rightly highlighted it as a huge shift. Alongside the ÂŁ500bn of extra spending McDonnell has announced, which would mean a doubling of income tax and VAT according to sensible Labour MP Chris Leslie, McDonnell also proposes to abolish property rights when it comes to companies. Owners will need the permission of staff to sell. Again, “when” he is Chancellor.
4) Broadcasters have hit upon the idea of going around interviewing the voters and asking them what they think of Jeremy Corbyn and his chances of becoming Prime Minister. Michael Crick did it for Channel 4 News this evening and found, shall we say, limited enthusiasm for the idea. A man from the BBC News Channel did something similar the other day and I had to turn over at one point, so dismissive were the responses. It was simply painful to watch.
5) And finally. Emily “patronising” Thornberry has been all over the radio for what feels like hours. That is today’s Labour Catastrophe Bulletin.
