I first encountered Jim Murphy over 20 years ago. I got a phone call from him where he shouted at me for 10 minutes, telling me that I couldn't have two of the speakers that were due to be at a conference we were running in Bradford University. It was a conference on campaigning, and it was going to be a big one. I'd invited Jim because he was the NUS president, but before the phone call, I'd never spoken to him personally.
The two speakers who he disapproved of were from the campaign for free education. I knew them personally, knew they were good speakers and that their message was important. Jim saw them as a threat to 'Labour Students', who were moving in very right wing direction during the Blair leadership.
Murphy had sold the students out over the campaign for free education, and didn't want it pointed out. The way he swore and shouted at me, trying to bully me into changing the speakers was truly frightening.
I didn't back down, and the conference was a success - Murphy had threatened to 'destroy' the conference, and make sure no one came - but he failed. He even came himself to keep up appearances, and was as rude and obnoxious as expected.
The second time he deemed it important to ring me, was when the NUS failed to back our rent strike. He called me to tell me to call it off, as it couldn't win and was showing the student union movement in 'a bad light'.
We won the strike and set off a wave of strikes throughout the country. He never spoke to me again.
He was a thug them, and has proved himself to be a bruiser for Blair over the years. A smooth political operator, he's now the leader of the failing Labour group in Scotland.
He is one of the many reasons why many left wing activists like myself end up staying clear of the Labour Party - how does it allow such nasty folk to rise to the top? My prayers are with the Scottish Labour Party. They deserved better than this.
This is information that should not be brushed under the carpet as yet another 'move along' scenario.
ReplyDeleteOf course, its bad news indeed for Murphy but it will be suppressed and watered down by his 'allies' and spinners, however mud sticks, and he has a veritable load of such clabber dripping off his shoulders and it will see to him getting well and truly stuck.
That is, if indeed, right is might!
I have been a lifelong Trade Union member but I stopped paying the Political Levy shortly after the Last Labour Government came to power under Blair and Brown, when I realised that they were even further to the right than Maggie Thatchers Tories! This man's performance during the referendum was nothing short of sickening. Trying to scare the elderly and vulnerable into voting no. Well he, and Brown and Darling, as well as the "Three Amigos" succeeded in retaining the Union..... This time!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that he will make whats left of Scottish Labour an admirable Leader............as he leads them into oblivion!
I have been a lifelong Trade Union member but I stopped paying the Political Levy shortly after the Last Labour Government came to power under Blair and Brown, when I realised that they were even further to the right than Maggie Thatchers Tories! This man's performance during the referendum was nothing short of sickening. Trying to scare the elderly and vulnerable into voting no. Well he, and Brown and Darling, as well as the "Three Amigos" succeeded in retaining the Union..... This time!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that he will make whats left of Scottish Labour an admirable Leader............as he leads them into oblivion!
I changed from being a life long member of the Labour Party to SNP a few years ago and would never vote for them again, especially with such a "leader"...
ReplyDeleteI used to be a member of the labour party in the late 70s(sounds like an addicts meeting). What always struck me was the thugish behaviour of the 'elected' officials, How they disregarded all their own rules whenever it suited them but could quote chapter and verse when it suited them. perhaps I was unlucky to join at that particular time when a cabbage with a labour sticker could be voted in because there was just no opposition to the, then, two party state.
ReplyDelete