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Few leaders really know their enemies – 'Et tu, Brute?' Few leaders really know their enemies – 'Et tu, Brute?'
(about 4 hours later)
Shopping lists are excellent, so are daily “to do” lists. But writing lists of your political friends and enemies is good fun (politicians do it all the time), while rarely being a good idea. This is especially true if the list is then leaked to a Corbyn-baiting newspaper, as happened this week with the leak (“core group negative”) to the Times. Shopping lists are excellent, as are daily “to do” lists. But writing lists of your political friends and enemies is good fun (politicians do it all the time), while rarely being a good idea. This is especially true if the list is then leaked to a Corbyn-baiting newspaper, as happened this week with the leak (“core group negative”) to the Times.
Assuming the naughty deed was done by an insider on the Corbynite Good Guys list (or did Michael Gove get a copy?), the list’s compilers may need to do a spot of reclassification following a witch hunt, possibly even a quick purge before lunch. David Cameron, meanwhile, deployed the list at Wednesday’s PMQs to deflect urgently needed criticism and mock the Labour leadership. The Times ran a jolly “politburo” editorial.Assuming the naughty deed was done by an insider on the Corbynite Good Guys list (or did Michael Gove get a copy?), the list’s compilers may need to do a spot of reclassification following a witch hunt, possibly even a quick purge before lunch. David Cameron, meanwhile, deployed the list at Wednesday’s PMQs to deflect urgently needed criticism and mock the Labour leadership. The Times ran a jolly “politburo” editorial.
I know it’s not really funny when Labour needs to get its act together, but it is funny too. Anyone who knows John Spellar, veteran MP for Warley and a former union official proud to be described as “hard right plotter”, also knows Spellar would immediately fashion a badge saying Core Group Negative. It’s the second most severe category (49 MPs listed) after Hostile Group (36 members) classified by the friends of Jeremy, Core Group (19).I know it’s not really funny when Labour needs to get its act together, but it is funny too. Anyone who knows John Spellar, veteran MP for Warley and a former union official proud to be described as “hard right plotter”, also knows Spellar would immediately fashion a badge saying Core Group Negative. It’s the second most severe category (49 MPs listed) after Hostile Group (36 members) classified by the friends of Jeremy, Core Group (19).
Spellar will be offended not to be in the top rank of enemies. Will Emily Thornberry, shadow defence spokesman and Corbyn’s Islington South neighbour, be privately hurt that she’s not deemed to be Core Group, only Core Group Plus, with Lisa Nandy and Owen Smith? That’s another mistake the list writers made, labeling their categories. A, B, C and D would have been better, albeit less fun at PMQs. Spellar will be offended not to be in the top rank of enemies. Will Emily Thornberry, shadow defence spokesman and Corbyn’s Islington South neighbour, be privately hurt that she’s not deemed to be Core Group, only Core Group Plus, with Lisa Nandy and Owen Smith? That’s another mistake the list writers made, labelling their categories. A, B, C and D would have been better, albeit less fun at PMQs.
Lists are a bad idea for several other reasons, the most obvious being that they’re divisive if their existence becomes public. Sectarianism is a recurring weakness on the left, on the right too (the talented Ukip activist, Suzanne Evans, was suspended by the Faragistes yesterday), it’s part of the beleaguered mindset that attracts many people. Unfortunately it also leads to what Douglas Alexander – former Brown ally, later discarded – once called “the circular firing squad”. Lists are a bad idea for several other reasons, the most obvious being that they’re divisive if their existence becomes public. Sectarianism is a recurring weakness on the left, on the right too (the talented Ukip activist Suzanne Evans was suspended by the Faragistes on Wednesday), it’s part of the beleaguered mindset that attracts many people. Unfortunately it also leads to what Douglas Alexander – former Brown ally, later discarded – once called “the circular firing squad”.
The second drawback is that such lists are usually inaccurate, wildly so in some cases. Ask Julius Caesar: he knew who his enemies were, didn’t he: “Et tu, Brute?” As one Labour insider (a real one) told me on Thursday, not unkindly, “this particular list appears to be linked to Jeremy’s team and shows they have no idea what their colleagues are thinking.” Correct.The second drawback is that such lists are usually inaccurate, wildly so in some cases. Ask Julius Caesar: he knew who his enemies were, didn’t he: “Et tu, Brute?” As one Labour insider (a real one) told me on Thursday, not unkindly, “this particular list appears to be linked to Jeremy’s team and shows they have no idea what their colleagues are thinking.” Correct.
After all, we all know people who suck up to any passing boss but aren’t sensibly to be trusted by any of them. We also know others who don’t flaunt their loyalties, don’t much want anything from the boss of the moment, don’t care for ostentatious displays of grease. They’re the sort of people who don’t sign loyalty pledges, even if they sympathise, because they know such devices can be very counterproductive. They sometimes call themselves “non-joiners”.After all, we all know people who suck up to any passing boss but aren’t sensibly to be trusted by any of them. We also know others who don’t flaunt their loyalties, don’t much want anything from the boss of the moment, don’t care for ostentatious displays of grease. They’re the sort of people who don’t sign loyalty pledges, even if they sympathise, because they know such devices can be very counterproductive. They sometimes call themselves “non-joiners”.
In this instance – you can read where your MP sits at the foot of this article – I raised an eyebrow at several names in various camps. John McDonnell and Diane Abbott in the Core (Corbyn) Group? Fine. MPs assure me that the shadow chancellor isn’t after Jeremy’s job, though it sometimes looks as if he is. But Dennis Skinner and Jon Trickett are independent-minded men, and someone told me the other day that Clive Lewis, outspoken new MP for Norwich South, has the makings of a really good mainstream politician in time.In this instance – you can read where your MP sits at the foot of this article – I raised an eyebrow at several names in various camps. John McDonnell and Diane Abbott in the Core (Corbyn) Group? Fine. MPs assure me that the shadow chancellor isn’t after Jeremy’s job, though it sometimes looks as if he is. But Dennis Skinner and Jon Trickett are independent-minded men, and someone told me the other day that Clive Lewis, outspoken new MP for Norwich South, has the makings of a really good mainstream politician in time.
That’s another thing about politicians, all but those who love ideological purity more than the pursuit of power, evolve over time and in response to events. In the 50s, Harold Wilson resigned with Nye Bevan over NHS charges (which category would Nye have put him in?) but moved towards the centre and became prime minister four times. Tony Benn, as he then wasn’t, voted for Winchester College’s Hugh Gaitskell, not for Nye the Welsh miner, as Attlee’s successor in 1955, then moved left at an ever faster pace. Remembered by many with affection (though not by John Spellar), he had a very good innings but never got to the top. His children have moved in the other direction, so that in 2016 Hilary Benn is listed CGN. That’s another thing about politicians, all but those who love ideological purity more than the pursuit of power – they evolve over time and in response to events. In the 50s, Harold Wilson resigned with Nye Bevan over NHS charges (which category would Nye have put him in?) but moved towards the centre and became prime minister four times. Tony Benn, as he then wasn’t, voted for Winchester College’s Hugh Gaitskell, not for Nye the Welsh miner, as Attlee’s successor in 1955, then moved left at an ever faster pace. Remembered by many with affection (though not by John Spellar), he had a very good innings but never got to the top. His children have moved in the other direction, so that in 2016 Hilary Benn is listed CGN.
“We’re all on a journey,” one kindly MP explained to me when I asked her how her constituency party is coping with an influx of young £3 members and the return of assorted leftwingers who fell away or were expelled for Trotskyism and other folly in the 80s when Neil Kinnock led Labour on the road back to power.“We’re all on a journey,” one kindly MP explained to me when I asked her how her constituency party is coping with an influx of young £3 members and the return of assorted leftwingers who fell away or were expelled for Trotskyism and other folly in the 80s when Neil Kinnock led Labour on the road back to power.
She meant that some of the Corbyn surge will fall away after failing to storm the proverbial Winter Palace (the Tsar’s place in St Petersburg), some will adapt to more electable politics – I’d love a “three pounder” to become a Labour prime minister in decades to come – and others may need some help to concentrate on their allotments.She meant that some of the Corbyn surge will fall away after failing to storm the proverbial Winter Palace (the Tsar’s place in St Petersburg), some will adapt to more electable politics – I’d love a “three pounder” to become a Labour prime minister in decades to come – and others may need some help to concentrate on their allotments.
It’s all part of the process and I could be wrong, though probably not. I’ve seen this movie several times and while the ending never changes, it always comes as a surprise to some people in the cinema.It’s all part of the process and I could be wrong, though probably not. I’ve seen this movie several times and while the ending never changes, it always comes as a surprise to some people in the cinema.
All the same, I’d worry about Rosie Winterton’s name being in the Hostile group along with Pat McFadden, a quietly clever man who should not have been sacked, and Sadiq Khan. Labour’s candidate for London mayor in May can look after himself: he has to be tough and his own man to win – despite Jeremy – against the media media-glam figure of Zac Goldsmith. All the same, I’d worry about Rosie Winterton’s name being in the Hostile group along with Pat McFadden, a quietly clever man who should not have been sacked, and Sadiq Khan. Labour’s candidate for London mayor in May can look after himself: he has to be tough and his own man to win – despite Jeremy – against the media-glam figure of Zac Goldsmith.
But Winterton is Labour’s chief whip and a hardcore party veteran, former union official and protege of John Prescott. A leader needs a good and trusted chief whip to keep the troops happy and reasonably on side. Look what harm Cameron and Osborne have done to their own standing by not taking enough trouble to stroke the backbenchers and the activists. For different reasons, Corbyn, the backbench rebel of decades, risks making the same mistake.But Winterton is Labour’s chief whip and a hardcore party veteran, former union official and protege of John Prescott. A leader needs a good and trusted chief whip to keep the troops happy and reasonably on side. Look what harm Cameron and Osborne have done to their own standing by not taking enough trouble to stroke the backbenchers and the activists. For different reasons, Corbyn, the backbench rebel of decades, risks making the same mistake.
At a rather later stage of her career, Margaret Thatcher made the mistake of entrusting the chief whip’s job in 1989 to an Etonian smoothie, Tim Renton, an ally of Geoffrey Howe’s, some Tory MPs were quick to point out. When she fell, dispatched by Howe’s lethal speech – IDS is not quite in the same league of resigner – and a cabinet revolt, some loyalists blamed Renton for not pulling the stops out.At a rather later stage of her career, Margaret Thatcher made the mistake of entrusting the chief whip’s job in 1989 to an Etonian smoothie, Tim Renton, an ally of Geoffrey Howe’s, some Tory MPs were quick to point out. When she fell, dispatched by Howe’s lethal speech – IDS is not quite in the same league of resigner – and a cabinet revolt, some loyalists blamed Renton for not pulling the stops out.
John Major made him arts minister and later confided a small list of disloyal cabinet colleagues to ITN’s Michael Brunson. We never did find out exactly who those Eurosceptic “bastards” were, did we? But it caused years of recrimination.John Major made him arts minister and later confided a small list of disloyal cabinet colleagues to ITN’s Michael Brunson. We never did find out exactly who those Eurosceptic “bastards” were, did we? But it caused years of recrimination.
So it’s important for any leader to have an inner council of trusted pals, though best if they include a couple of blunt-spoken candid friends as well as courtiers. If you don’t rate Winterton, Jez, replace her.So it’s important for any leader to have an inner council of trusted pals, though best if they include a couple of blunt-spoken candid friends as well as courtiers. If you don’t rate Winterton, Jez, replace her.
But don’t let the toadies create divisions where none may exist. You know where you stand with John Spellar, he wouldn’t have it any other way, but there are plenty of shades of grey opinion in between. The best way to rally the troops into a single unwritten list is to do better.But don’t let the toadies create divisions where none may exist. You know where you stand with John Spellar, he wouldn’t have it any other way, but there are plenty of shades of grey opinion in between. The best way to rally the troops into a single unwritten list is to do better.