Blairism foreseen 50 years ago ! (text)
so what ? | 28.08.2002 13:53
A while ago I found a text written in 1957, which seems to confirm the notion of Blairism as inherent in Labourism. For this reason, it remains relevant and needs to be considered. I tried to post it a couple of times without success, which I hope was NOT as the result of the IMC and any Labour sympathies they may personally hold...
Written in 1957 by Dr Tunje Otegbeye, a Marxist from Nigeria, the article is reprinted in his autobiography "Decade of Turbulence", dealing primarily with Nigeria in the 1960s.
As a student in London at the time, Dr Otegbeye writes:
"My political stand was reflected in an article titled "Bevanism on Trial, written as a funeral tribute to the great man, Aneurin Bevan. The article ran as follows...
The right wing of the Labour party , an offshoot of intellectuals who embraced or appeared to embrace socialism, but who at heart were liberal- conservatives, got hold of the trade union movement which by then had received recognition from the power that be. This group of right- wing socialist, who lacked the background of the working masses...
their new quest today [is] to acquire wealth by virtue of their priveleged positions. Little surprise then, that today we have in the Labour movement people who are opposed to nationalization of industry, and who will kick against effective socialist measures... this new breed of gentlemen emulate the exalted positions of the gentery...
The right wing of the Labour party were able to keep control of the party machinery. There seems to be little doubt that now the shepherd has died [ie, Bevan], the sheep will fall prey to the wolves- the conservatives and right- wing socialists. Political ideology will cease to exist in practical politics. The difference between the Labouyr party and the Conservative party will narrow down> The Labour party may find it difficult to forge any separate personality and may in effect become the shadow of the liberal conservatives..."
That, to remind you, was written in 1957, not 1997. It seems to settle the debate about from whence came Blairism, for very few ideologies reside in one personality alone. I personally have thought the rot set in in the 1980s with Kinnock, and others note the similarities between now the last Labour regime of the late 1970s (breaking strikes, rubbish in the street, in league with the IMF &c &c.. But it now seems incontrovertible that Blairism appeared from the Labour party itself, being there long ago. Sorry, you Labour supporters out there, but time to 'leave home' as it were.
As a student in London at the time, Dr Otegbeye writes:
"My political stand was reflected in an article titled "Bevanism on Trial, written as a funeral tribute to the great man, Aneurin Bevan. The article ran as follows...
The right wing of the Labour party , an offshoot of intellectuals who embraced or appeared to embrace socialism, but who at heart were liberal- conservatives, got hold of the trade union movement which by then had received recognition from the power that be. This group of right- wing socialist, who lacked the background of the working masses...
their new quest today [is] to acquire wealth by virtue of their priveleged positions. Little surprise then, that today we have in the Labour movement people who are opposed to nationalization of industry, and who will kick against effective socialist measures... this new breed of gentlemen emulate the exalted positions of the gentery...
The right wing of the Labour party were able to keep control of the party machinery. There seems to be little doubt that now the shepherd has died [ie, Bevan], the sheep will fall prey to the wolves- the conservatives and right- wing socialists. Political ideology will cease to exist in practical politics. The difference between the Labouyr party and the Conservative party will narrow down> The Labour party may find it difficult to forge any separate personality and may in effect become the shadow of the liberal conservatives..."
That, to remind you, was written in 1957, not 1997. It seems to settle the debate about from whence came Blairism, for very few ideologies reside in one personality alone. I personally have thought the rot set in in the 1980s with Kinnock, and others note the similarities between now the last Labour regime of the late 1970s (breaking strikes, rubbish in the street, in league with the IMF &c &c.. But it now seems incontrovertible that Blairism appeared from the Labour party itself, being there long ago. Sorry, you Labour supporters out there, but time to 'leave home' as it were.
so what ?
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