What goes around, comes around
I got a joke via text message in the past week. Well, several truth be told, but one I want to mention read as this:
The Labour Party has decided to change its logo from a rose to a condom, believing it more accurately reflects their policies.
This is because a condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives you a sense of security whilst being fucked.
I’m reliably informed that this joke isn’t that new. In fact, it first started appearing back in 1978, just before the “Winter of Discontent“. A few years before I popped into the world, it has to be said, but clearly people are starting to feel the same for our present government as they did for Callaghan’s administration 30 years ago. Otherwise, this joke wouldn’t have any resonance.
So, how else can we compare the two time periods?
Callaghan was a former Chancellor - Likewise Brown
Callaghan took over after the previous PM resigned (Harold Wilson) - Tony Blair leaving office wasn’t a surprise, but it was a case of taking over from someone.
Callaghan’s government suffered a series of by-election defeats. See Crewe & Nantwich.
The cause of the Winter of Discontent was all linked to below-inflation pay rises. See teachers and police officers.
James Callaghan did however take over a party that had already lost its Commons majority, whereas GB took over a (albeit smaller than previous) fairly healthy position. Furthermore, the below-inflation pay rises were intended and accepted by the Trade Unions due to the inflation problems in the country at that time. So, you can’t draw a direct comparison.
No doubt people can add a few extra similarities though. So, if history does repeat itself, what might happen?
Well, fuel shortages are a distinct possibility. Not because of a Lorry Drivers strike though, but road hauliers and blockades.
Perhaps a Motion of no confidence is very unlikely as there’s still a Labour majority in the house. But, if things get worse and we have a “summer” of discontent ahead of us, it’s not inconceivable that some MPs will vote against their leader in the hope that their constituents appreciate that and keep them in a job.
Callaghan’s decision not to call an early election has been widely viewed, with the benefit of hindsight,
as the biggest mistake of his premiership. Are we likely to see the same opinion with Golden Brown?
This entry is filed under A Northern Monkey Speaks, Gordon Brown, James Callaghan, Labour Party, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Oddly enough i’ve just posted on Sunny Jim myself, rather less soberly. I agree that the poor old codger wasn’t himself to blame: he was shoring up fragments against the ruins of labour (and Labour). No comparison with Brown at all, as a person.