When I made a passing reference to the new magazine Total Politics being a right-wing journal earlier today, the publisher of the magazine got a bit tooty and pointed out that I was wrong, and to prove it, he said, Denis MacShane has written an article for it. Would that be the Denis MacShane who today in that left-of-centre broadsheet The Telegraph wrote this left-wing piece? The answer’s obvious: cut taxes and spending:
And how can tax cuts be funded? By cutting spending. Take Labour-run Bolton Council. It decided on a zero council tax rise this year and was rewarded, rightly so, at the ballot box. When Mrs Thatcher imposed rate capping and told town halls to curb spending, a new generation of Labour council leaders rolled up their sleeves and worked within cost-cutting rules. Unlike their tax-greedy comrades of the Left in London councils, the municipal socialists of Leeds and Manchester, of Birmingham and Salford created a new style of local government by making less money go farther and finding innovative partnerships with the private sector to begin the renaissance of the great cities of England.
Who said the age of satire was dead?
Interesting. I just referred to him as Mac No Shame and simultaneously wondered what on earth will a tax and spend old Commie like Blood Red Bob Piper make of the idea of outflanking the Conservatives on the right? I enjoyed the passing reference to over paid Council officials for example. Seriously though ,you cannot be in government for this long and then complain about rampant waste ? Can you ?
I wonder if , now his political life is a busted flush he is working on his TV career as an amusing and centre -ish commentator . Other media types have slithered adroitly rightwards notably Andrew Marr .
Nice
I also thought it was a disgraceful piece. No matter what one’s views on spending may be, the fact is that Mac No Shame has been a part of the current regime for years. To attempt a volte face because the electoral maths is turning is absurd.
I disagree with you completely, Bob. I am a tory non-troll. I admire, however, anyone who stands by his or her beliefs when the tide is turning. Such is the mark of a conviction politician and such is the cause of Denis’s shame.
As I’ve said before…
Total Bollocks.
I remain to be convinced otherwise.
Anything from the left that appears in Total Politics is sure to be window dressing, just as it was at the doomed 18 Doughty Street.
But for me, it’s having the serial liar Iain Dale as publisher that undermines its credibility most.
That, and its status as junk mail.