Tom Harris MP

fluffymike Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 03:06:15 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Tom Harris MP



Tom Harris is an MP who contributes frequently to this site, usually to rant against whatever it is that he currently dismisses as 'left'.

If he was your MP would you be looking at spending the next general election holidaying in a constituency nearby? 

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Tom Harris MP | 27 comments (27 topical)

Re: Tom Harris MP (#1)

by otware on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 03:10:11 PM GMT

I don't mean this personally as I don't know the man. But I would not like him to be my MP. If he was, I would seriously consider voting for a 3rd party. I think that the PLP would be better with fewer MPs like him.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#3)

by alexhilton on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 03:26:29 PM GMT

Is this entirely fair? Tom is already accountable to his own CLP. Maybe you could draw a parallel with my piece on Fiona Gordon, but she's unaccountable and her move could impact on the rest of us around the country. The same could be said about Kate Hoey, who has a high profile despite being a backbencher.

Tom on the other hand is expressing views that are reasonable within the Labour umbrella. And this is what I'm trying to achieve with Labourhome - getting you communicating directly with people like Tom.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#4)

by otware on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 03:35:08 PM GMT

Oh I agree that Labourhome's great.

"Tom on the other hand is expressing views that are reasonable within the Labour umbrella."

Interesting that you should mention this when his primary motive seems to be 'destroy the left'. Not very 'umbrella-like' of him at all. Why should the left respect views like his as reasonable if he does absolutely nothing to deserve that respect. I don't mean him in particular, I mean New Labour in general. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#21)

by grimupnorth on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 12:27:57 AM GMT

Tom Harris  is the problem, not the solution.Perhaps  one should admire his chutzpah  - but no I don't. If he were my MP, I would be haring  off to the nearest constituency with a decent MP  and I probably would not vote for him


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#2)

by NeilF on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 03:25:09 PM GMT

Look this is ridiculous post and depressing comment. I think it's great that you've got an MP prepared to enter into dialogue with members and supporters through the site. Sure we might not always agree with each other, but that's the pluralism that comes with political parties. 

The day we start wishing our own side to lose is that time we're really done for. In that case you've got to question what you're in politics for.  I like MPs who know what they stand for and aren't afraid to put forward arguments.  I think Tom's posts are a welcome addition to Labourhome and he should be given respect for taking time out to contribute.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#5)

by fluffymike on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 03:44:42 PM GMT

2 points really:

1) If his posts were discussion points and not sectarian rants then I too would welcome his comments - Grayee makes some equally right-wing posts but they do at least allow for some debate...
 
2) I didn't call for him to lose his seat - my point is as I usually give up a month of my year at election times, I wouldn't find myself able to dedicate that kind of support for someone like Tom so would prefer to find a candidate I did respect and would put my effort into supporting that candidate instead...

and a third point - Tom's post about Nadine somone or other was a bit personal too I felt...


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#6)

by alexhilton on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 04:10:55 PM GMT

Nadine Dorries winds me up into a lather. I can forgive him for being excessively personal about that woman.

Maybe I need to read Tom's stuff again, but while he's a bit right wing for my tastes, he seems to be arguing against an extremist reaction to difficult circumstances rather than an outright crushing of the left.

Most Labour MPs whose positions upset some party members - left or right - are voting the "wrong" way on maybe 10 issues a year.

Even the nicest Tory MP is voting against the interests of the average person in hundreds of divisions.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#7)

by CitizenAndreas on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 04:22:27 PM GMT

I don't agree with much of his "no lurch to the left" rhetoric, but I think it should be appreciated that he is willing to engage with members on this forum.

I don't think there is anything to be gained from giving one of our own a hard time when there are so many Tories far more deserving of our ire.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#8)

by NB on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 04:28:49 PM GMT

This is chrulish!  It's great to have his comments and involvement. Wish more MPs engaged here.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#9)

by matt1986 on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 05:20:08 PM GMT

I can't believe you've written this awful post, and got personal, just because you happen to disagree with some things he says.

I think it's wonderful Tom gets involved on this site, and I really hope it doesn't put off him or anyone else from contributing to LabourHome.

I don't think we should write blog entries just to slag off and insult individual contributors. I havn't seen anything like this before.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#10)

by Tom Harris MP on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 05:59:36 PM GMT

Hi, it's me. Look, I really don't want to encourage sectarian divisions within our party. The point of today's post was simply to challenge some of John Harris's views which, as far as i know, have been pretty constant, whether we were ahead in the polls or not. I certainly don't want to "destroy the left".

If some party members feel I've been over-zealous in my defence of New Labour, I accept that. But if some feel i've been offensive, I apologise.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#11)

by otware on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 06:22:20 PM GMT

I'd just like to point out that although I really don't agree with a lot of what this government does, and as such your position on some issues, I am glad that you are posting on here. It's definetly a good thing!


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#12)

by fluffymike on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 06:32:44 PM GMT

Hi Tom

I too am glad that an MP posts openly on here, but whereas we could have some interesting debates about why you think certain NuLab policies are good and why we should carry on in the same vein, and what benefit they will bring to the party and the public, the overall theme of your posts has come across as highly negative and sectarian to many of us:

Your blog have included:

Lurch to the Left? Gosh, that's original! - and attack on those of us who feel that NuLab needs some more supposedly centre-left-wing policies

Why I didn't vote Labour - an attack on the Labour Party in 1983 arguing people shouldn't have voted Labour then

and Thoughts on opposition: it's rubbish  - describing any 'left-wing' move as electoral suicide.

Your other blogs have been about Israeli Academics, an interesting one about Henley, and an attack on Nadine Dorries - who I don't share any particular sympathies with but which I thought justified a slightly more personal post on this occasion.

What would be interesting is why you feel continued privitisation of public services is a good thing, why you feel that council housing shouldn't be stepped up, why you feel that there shouldn't be a higher rate of income tax for higher earners... if these actually are your policies .



[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#17)

by otware on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 09:55:35 PM GMT

This is what I have been trying to ask. Please Tom: Justify your policies so we can have a debate.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#13)

by LabourStill on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 06:54:53 PM GMT

I hope you continue to post on labourhome. I don't understand why there is so much hostility to the comments of a Labour MP (OK, many of which I don't agree with) when what drives me round the bend is the huge number of people who post on here (probably the overwhelming majority) who have clearly never voted Labour in their lives


Re: Tom Harris MP (#14)

by NorthernMonkey on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 07:11:20 PM GMT

This is a silly, personal unnecessary post.

I for one appreciate Tom's comments on here, and on many occasions agree with them. Keep posting here Tom.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#15)

by AngryVoter on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 08:07:07 PM GMT

He's also the Only MP at the moment actually publishing to this site, he's a Blairite and knows that by keeping Labour slightly to the right [Perhaps with Purnellism] you won't get anihalated at a GE. Camron and Clegg's relentless push against Brown out of the centre-ground is killing you in the polls and Harris seems to realise this.

 

If you "comrades" are that concerned about him, encourage more MPs to start posting on this website. ConHome has a set of heavy hitters contributing on a semi-regular basis, send an email to Brown [Seeing as we know he actually reads them these days] Or to members of the cabinet and get more influential people onto the site instead of moaning at the people that actually do.


Re: Tom Harris MP (#16)

by lastword on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 09:31:23 PM GMT

I think his political views are appalling and I also think he celrely doesn't have enough to do in his day job to always be on this message board!


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#19)

by SamRussell on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 11:14:36 PM GMT

Yet if Tom wasn't sharing his thoughts with us, or writing a blog, people would say he is out of touch or can't be bothered to look outside the Westminster Village.

Tom Harris can't do right for doing wrong - one way or another he is going to be criticised. Some of the comments in this thread are pretty low - its almost as if Tom were a Tory, some of the criticism he is taking...

If I ever make it to Parliament, I would hope I would make the effort to engage as much as Tom is, even if people don't always agree on what is said...


Sam Russell

PPC, Hertsmere 


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#20)

by otware on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 11:44:36 PM GMT

I agree that his political views are shockingly right wing. But I think it's good that he posts here.


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Re: Tom Harris MP (#22)

by NorthernMonkey on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 04:19:56 AM GMT

Shockingly right wing? Come off it otware.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#24)

by otware on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 10:44:27 AM GMT

relative to the Labour Party. The way I see it the government is broadly centre-right in position.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#27)

by jkitleft on Wed Jun 04, 2008 at 08:44:26 PM GMT

I'm not so sure. Absolutely, the government must be more progressive. But it's attitude is more right-wing than its policies. Left-wingers are pissed over several issues, so ignore the progressive achievements. When right-wingers challenge the government on their progressive achievements, they mumble, and quietly introduce these policies.

What's the truth of Brown's pension raid? He hasn't bankrupted our pensions system. He took money from upper middle-class earners, to facilitate funding for SureStart and tax credits etc. Labour has redistributed by stealth. So, low-income single working mums have largely benefited. I believe this redistibution must be spread out for all low-income earners.

Baby bonds, in theory, insure at least £500 is there for all kids when they turn 18. They will match them pound for pound, of money put in. We must improve our NHS, of course. It is till not perfect. But it is no longer awful, and we are spending more than the Swedes in percentage terms.

Homelessness has crashed by two-thirds. If you don't believe me ask Shelter. On the NHS, likewise, if you don't believe me, ask the BMA. They are complaining that since the average wait for an operation of 18 months, to just 4 weeks, private hospitals are going bust.

One of Labour's greatest legacies, like the femenist Barbera Castle before them, is to ensure that equal rights cannot be reversed. Gay rights, will never be reversed.

On the homelessness issue, they have persued with a liberal drugs policy. One of the authoritarian Blunkett's policies was to downgrade marijuana. By providing heroin prescriptions, many addicts can now have respectable lives, and jobs.

We must be more progressive though. Make prisons and care homes as big a priority as schools and hospitals. Open up a shore of Kid's Company centres, getting the exemplary Camilla Batmanjalidh to run them. Significantly tax short haul flights, and SUV's and Hummers, and use evry penny to subsidies public transport. An ethical arms policy, further devolution, council housing and co-determination. Brown could win the next election with a bill like this: 1) Implementing universal childcare. 2) Allowing mums to stay at home to look after sick kids. 3) Upping maternity leave to Swedish levels.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#18)

by jkitleft on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 11:02:20 PM GMT

I disagree. The support for Blair was because of a genuine new found infatuation with Labour. Right now people are just angry at Labour, mostly our former core voters who have said, "Enough's enough". I have outlined why I think the public is becoming more left-wing. Besides, the precise reason why we are being slaughtered is because we have failed to address left-wing concerns. It is Blairism, that while coasted us to victory in 2 elections, that I believe is now leading us to defeat.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#23)

by Just Labour on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 08:26:31 AM GMT

This is meant constructively. I think this post is symptomatic of why this site is failing, in my view. I enjoy reading the comments but regular posters number a dozen or so - not nearly as good as competitor sites for Tories. We get a new poster - an MP no less, and we basically tell him to shove off. I think that's lamentable. If Tom opts to post elsewhere, I dont blame him and may well do the same myself.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#26)

by doctordunc on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 09:29:27 PM GMT

I never really get this 'failing compared with competitors' thing - Conservativehome is AWFUL!  I've never stayed on it for more than a few minutes because it's such a mess.  Other Tory ones, like Dale or Fawkes, are a completely different kettle-of-fish because they're one person's 'wry' comments (or inanities).

I'm sure Tom Harris has a thick enough skin to keep posting here despite criticism.  We all get plenty dished out here, really!  In the last few weeks I've been called a 'trot', I've been accused of wanting Labour to lose, and I've had it suggested I should leave the party; I hope nobody's suggesting that there should be a different set of expectations for the treatment of MPs, just because of their status?


[ Parent ]

Re: Tom Harris MP (#25)

by Free Radical on Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 11:30:41 AM GMT

In my view it's a silly post and much too personalised. Of course we would like MPs to contribute to a site such as this.


Tom Harris MP | 27 comments (27 topical)