Monday 10 August 2015

Back to Clause 4, the state owning everything, a return to coal mining - Corbyn keeps the pressure up

Say what you like about Jeremy Corbyn. His manifesto of promises and throwbacks to the 1970s, indeed the post war years is blowing his rivals out of the water. Burnham seems only memorable for his Armani suits, as told to GQ magazine and his failure to have a job - any job ever - outside of politics! I am still unaware of any of Yvette Cooper's actual beliefs after 5 years facing her in the commons. She was a Blairite, then a Brownite, then a Milifan. The impression is of someone without any real views.
 Corbyn’s interview with the Independent on Sunday’s Jane Merrick that he wants to bring back clause IV seems pretty clear:
‘I think we should talk about what the objectives of the party are, whether that’s restoring Clause Four as it was originally written or it’s a different one. ‘I would want us to have a set of objectives which does include public ownership of some necessary things such as rail.’
So Clause 4 which,of course, was got rid of by "the virus that is Tony Blair" over 20 years ago reads as follows:‘To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.’
Those on the other side of the party say this is unaffordable and it will make Labour even more unelectable than it proved to be in May. But Corbyn is doing well, when some of his rivals seem so be struggling. One thing is clear. You could not make this up.