M.C. Newberry

LABOUR MILLIONAIRES

by M.C. Newberry

Friday 8th February 2013 4:30 pm

At every turn we're asked to share

The woe of those whose work's not there;

But when it comes to their out-of-work cares,

Where are the Labour millionaires?

When Labour's star was shining bright

Who can deny they did all right,

So comrades...brothers...sisters too...

Why aren't they helping all of you?

I recall one who in an ad.

Boasted of how much he had

Not knowing what to spend it on...

Has benevolence been and gone?

In older days the monied men

Paid for housing, food, and when

Historians came to write their books

None were ever "greedy crooks".

So - has socialism lost its way

Now we're in the modern day;

It's "Make your money for number one

And not another's daughter or son".

When it comes to sharing workers' cares,

What's happened to Labour''s many millionaires?

◄ POLICE POETRY BOOK

THE PERFECT EXIT LINE ►

Comments

M.C. Newberry

Mon 11th Feb 2013 23:41

I worked around the 1960s East End of London - Limehouse, Poplar and the Isle of Dogs. The docks were fading fast: the unions (like the "print") refusing to admit change was inevitable, with Gravesend taking container traffic and shipping no longer a viable trade. The area has been altered beyond recognition since then and is now a famous landmark as "Canary Wharf". The challenge was taken up there too - and the effort and enterprise succeeded.

Chris Co

Mon 11th Feb 2013 22:37

Quote
But there was a distinct sense of noblesse oblige and an increasing acknowledgement of progress and the need to fund the education of new generations- and, importantly, the desire to encourage the INDIVIDUAL and his/her aspirations.
Unquote

For the most part that relates to a conservative nature long since gone! Bar one or two conservatives, this has not existed/was eliminated by Thatcherism.

What you describe is one nation conservatism; Disraeli not Cameron.

Quote
I take the view that despite criticism and a belief in their "bad old ways" that lingers on,
Unquote

It does not live on - most certainly does not live on. Neither Tory, Liberals or Labour reflect this idea/ideal. The last conservative to really reflect this ideal was Michael Hesteltine (limited by Thatcher).

One nation conservatism for the most part is history. And none of the parties out there can claim to be socialist or a modern version of socialism - they have nothing to do with socialism.

Good verse like I said. The issue - you highlight it rightly and well. My only issue is that none of the parties are or can claim to be socialist - modern or otherwise.

Hypocrisy and corruption care not for labels or where someone sits in a chamber. The lot of them are questionable and self serving. Far too few politicians of principle anymore.

P.S

Hesteltine was the only person that actually made a difference in the regeneration of Liverpool. The only person that fought for the city and got regeneration of deprived areas, as opposed to dock-lands, shopping centers and libraries.

I know - I was there.

Chris

Yvonne Brunton

Sun 10th Feb 2013 00:24

Hera, hear, brother.

M.C. Newberry

Sat 9th Feb 2013 16:54

Chris - I don't dispute the point that the Tories were originally the party of the Shires - the old landowning gentry when land meant wealth and influence (no more, I fear!). But there was a distinct sense of noblesse oblige and an increasing acknowledgement of progress and the need to fund the education of new generations- and, importantly, the desire to encourage the INDIVIDUAL and his/her aspirations. I take the view that despite criticism and a belief in their "bad old ways" that lingers on, that it is now Labout (New or otherwise) having "got the foreman's job at last", happily defends its own financial aspirations within shifting definitions of "socialism". "New" Labour seems to have adapted to suit a changed society and "stole" where it suited them. Many well-off folk proudly define themselves as "Labour" and wouldn't vote "Tory" to save their lives. But where are they when the needs of the "brothers" are so publicly promoted and paraded? If the belief is "collective", then why not the actions and expense that the ideology appears to demand? Spread it around!!

tony sheridan

Fri 8th Feb 2013 19:00

Love this!! Take care, Tony.

Chris Co

Fri 8th Feb 2013 17:57

Well written verse, with a clear and honest question.

Politically I would say - Blair and everything since are about as Labour as a Ten gallon hat is English. New Labour are a centrist party or Tory lite as I would term them. They're not of the left and certainly, they're not socialist.

The working class have been disenfranchised - nobody represents them anymore. Beyond activists, unions and sentiment, there is no left; left.

None of which is to say that anyone claiming to be for the people can't be a liar from the beginning or a sellout on the way. We've all read Animal Farm in reference to the corruption of an ideal. And Champagne socialists have also often bubbled to the top. But that has never meant the aims and ideals were wrong.

let's be clear; the Tory party or New Labour are not morally equivalent to labour of the past or to socialism.

Socialism has achieved a great many things for the common man. Failings were there of course, but failings are failings. Tory's are wrong by desire and design - not via failings. They are a party of vested interests and socially divisive.

The hypocrisy you question is there - but it is New Labour. Hammer them with words - quite right. But bare in mind scale too. New Labour are not on quite on the same level as the Torys.

Great debate starter...and I did enjoy the rhythm and continuity of the piece.

Best

Chris

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