I wouldn't credit Hannan's 'opinion' - propaganda more like, but the fact that it sounds even credible is a tragedy.
I think about this quite a lot because what the Conservative government has done and is doing is so destructive. Leaving aside the corruption and equality issues the financial damage done by Brexit, on some estimates, already equates to all the net contributions we have ever made to the EU. Even Margaret Thatcher, hostile as she was to the idea of the EU, was very much in favour of the single market.
Although Labour made progress electorally under Corbyn in 2017 it was clear that he would never win a general election. There are simply too many people who won't stomach him and his infantile fans whatever the appeal of Labour policies. I was happy to see Starmer defeat the gormless Long Bailey and Burgon for the leadership, who thought it was a good idea to put Burgon on the front bench?
Starmer is a good man and capable, but looking at the polling now, when the Conservatives are mired in sleaze and incompetence, he isn't going to win one either. It can't all be the vaccination triumph.
For so many, blustering Boris trumps serious Starmer even when Starmer by rights should have Johnson pinned under a fusilade of forensic questions. The poor bloke always looks as if he is about to burst into tears.
Many CLP officers are idiots, undermining Starmer being top of their agendas. Ditto the outgoing GenSec of Unite, McCluskey.
Inevitably this will change, but who knows when? PMs like Attlee, Heath, Wilson, Thatcher and even the flawed Blair, were giants of intellect and integrity compared to the selection we have had since 2010. Burnham is positioning himself for a comeback but I'm not sure he's the one. Yvette Cooper should be a prospect but she seems happier on committees.
I wish I, and even more so my children, qualified for an EU passport. Unfortunately our Irish connections are too distant. Perhaps a move to NI before Ireland reunites, or Scotland pre-independence, would get us in the back door!
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