USDAW backs Blears

howard Mon May 21, 2007 at 06:22:46 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

This afternoon the executive of shop workers' union USDAW met and nominated Hazel Blears for deputy.

The Union also endorsed Gordon Brown for Leader.

General Secretary John Hannett said: “We are backing Usdaw member Hazel Blears as our candidate for Labour Deputy Leader because we believe she has the right blend of energy, commitment and experience to make sure that the party’s manifesto commitments are delivered.”






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USDAW backs Blears | 27 comments (27 topical)

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#1)

by JR on Mon May 21, 2007 at 07:45:33 PM GMT

Hmmm...a union which can actually make a reasonably sensible decision. Makes a change.


Re: USDAW backs Blears (#2)

by Glass House on Mon May 21, 2007 at 07:51:34 PM GMT

JR - you don't do yourself any favours by making ridiculous comments like that. I have a load of reservations about the Unions and have backed you up in a load of discussions around the subject - but you sometimes sound like you think they are some kind of social evil.

The Unions, although sometimes naive, infuriating or just plain lefty, do far more good than harm and the country would be worse off without them.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#3)

by JR on Mon May 21, 2007 at 07:56:55 PM GMT

GH I'm not particularly sure about your 'backing up' quote - I still have the feeling that you're aiming to run for some sort of election and that's why you suck up to the left even though you disagree with them. I'm not like that and I'll speak my mind and I don't need to be filtered thanks very much!

Never said they were a 'social evil', but if I had a penny for how many times I'd heard unions backing a leftie candidate, I'd be a millionaire.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#4)

by Glass House on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:04:51 PM GMT

I'm just disagreeing with you, not trying to censor you. Of course, you should say what you think, I'm just debating whether what you think is right.

I don't think anyone here would say that I ever "suck up to the left" - and, as you say, I disagree with them on a whole tract of policies.

That said, I don't think that refusing to hate Trade Unionism (despite all it's flaws) is a mark of betrayal of the right of the party.

Do you think that the TUs do more harm than good?


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#6)

by JR on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:13:34 PM GMT

No and I have in fact said the opposite on here before.

"I don't think anyone here would say that I ever "suck up to the left"

I'm sorry but that's not true - you would never post comments to people like Mikael as you have to me - even though he hurled some pretty nasty insults at you.

I have no hatred of unions - I fiercely criticise them though to counter-balance the sycophantic crap that the left espouses on here.

GH, if you're trying to get me to 'tone down' just because we're on a similar wave length, then I'm afraid that's a silly thing to do - we all think differently and you and I are not on the same 'team' as it were. I say what is right because it is in the interests of the party to do so - I will not allow the party or even this blog to be dominated by nonsensical ramblings of the left who hope that Blairites will get so sick of it that they won't bother posting on here anymore. If you disagree with this, then that's fine - but I don't need (or want) posts from fellow Blairites telling me to tone down whilst you're quite happy for the left to get away with murder. Sorry, but that's the way it is!


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#9)

by Glass House on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:25:12 PM GMT

What comments do I post to you that I wouldn't post to Mikael?

Listen, I'm not trying to tell to to "tone it down" or anything. I'm just saying that the correct response to unthinking leftism is rational debate - not unthinking rightism or snide comments.

The correct response to people who are sycophantic to the Unions is not to be as anti-Union as possible.

Anyway - that's all i was going to say.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#11)

by JR on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:34:21 PM GMT

How can there be rational debate when people on the left act in an irrational manner? It does not work. Making strong and assertive arguments in return is sensible, not argumentative.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#12)

by Glass House on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:46:22 PM GMT

I just ask myself what I want to get out of discussions on this board.

Most of all I just want to have fun debating, but I also like to reherse my own arguements to see if they stand up to scrutiny, try and persuade others of my point of view, and understand and learn from others' points of view.

None of those can be achieved by hurling insults - so thats why I try to avoid doing so.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#13)

by JR on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:49:35 PM GMT

Criticising ineptitude of the unions can hardly be described as insulting. Telling someone they belong in the National Front and calling them a 'prick' (both of which have been said to me) are insults.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#14)

by Glass House on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:53:37 PM GMT

"Hmmm...a union which can actually make a reasonably sensible decision. Makes a change." That's not a criticism, that's just a snide remark.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#15)

by Wiseman on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:58:24 PM GMT

We all have to work together after this so I don't care if you love Blair (ok I do) or love Brown (the same), but we have to work together to dig this party out of a hole it is in.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#16)

by Wiseman on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:58:55 PM GMT

Honest!!


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#26)

by fluffymike on Thu May 24, 2007 at 09:58:55 AM GMT

Given that Blair and Brown have dominated this party for over a decade, what is the hole you feel the party is in, and how did this hole materialise? Surely the dominance of Blair / Brown might have had something to do with it?


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#27)

by doctordunc on Thu May 24, 2007 at 10:05:06 AM GMT

I think Wiseman may well share your view of that...


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Re: USDAW backs Blears (#18)

by JR on Tue May 22, 2007 at 01:26:47 AM GMT

So what? It's my honest opinion on the matter.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#19)

by otware on Tue May 22, 2007 at 01:30:51 AM GMT

Ahh not the prick saga again. Please, get over it. It's not a major insult for me - but maybe that's just because I'm young and everyone I know just swears at each other. Again, I'm sorry if I offended you.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#21)

by JR on Tue May 22, 2007 at 01:38:43 AM GMT

No need to apologise again, I was only making a point to GH. I won't bring it up again.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#5)

by jkitleft on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:07:32 PM GMT

i refer you to the 2000 London Mayoral Selection. Seems the 'left wing' candidate didn't get selected because of the unions.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#7)

by JR on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:15:10 PM GMT

No need - I carefully avoided saying every union has always backed the left candidate.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#8)

by Sensible Comrade on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:24:52 PM GMT

Question is: do they support her enough to give her some money? Or will she be maintaining her reliance on business donations?


Re: USDAW backs Blears (#10)

by otware on Mon May 21, 2007 at 08:27:52 PM GMT

Is her campaign really being funded by private companies?


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#17)

by Andrea on Mon May 21, 2007 at 11:19:48 PM GMT

According to the Electoral Commission she got money from Wilkinson Star Ltd (£ 10,000.00). It's a company from Worsley (the largest stockist of Welding Equipment, Air-Compressors and Air Accessories in the UK according to them)


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#20)

by otware on Tue May 22, 2007 at 01:32:39 AM GMT

That's nice. Sadly this isn't the Republican Party presidential nominations, it's the Labour Party deputy leadership election.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#23)

by HenryG on Tue May 22, 2007 at 11:06:16 AM GMT

The Sunday Telegraph diary reported a donation to Peter Hain from Loughlin Hickey, head of global tax at KPMG, who advises firms on how to avoid tax.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#22)

by LiamM on Tue May 22, 2007 at 09:02:59 AM GMT

quelle surprise...USDAW backs Blairite...


Re: USDAW backs Blears (#24)

by otware on Tue May 22, 2007 at 01:31:24 PM GMT

Just out of interest, where do USDAW stand on the issue of trade union rights? Supporting trade union rights would the logical thing...being a trade union - but it would bring them into conflict with beloved New Labour.


[ Parent ]

Re: USDAW backs Blears (#25)

by Sensible Comrade on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:14:17 PM GMT

The Blears campaign engaging in Lib Dem-like tactics. See what Kerron Cross has written about it http://kerroncross.blogspot.com/2007/05/hazel-hazel-hazeljust-no.html


USDAW backs Blears | 27 comments (27 topical)