Rejoicing not desolation

Meltdown cancelled
Exhaustion may be playing a part; but I am strangely elated at the Newport Election results.

Little of the pre-vote foreboding has come true. Talented, creative hard working councillors have been felled by the anti-Labour swing alongwith the lazy useless time-servers. Unfairly and cruelly, it’s all because of issues beyond their control.

Newport has been punished even though it has the third lowest rates in the UK, the highest employment ever, prized green pioneering achievements and a cornucopia of new developments that will beneficially transform the city.

But there is no meltdown. I asked the Tory Leader in Newport this afternoon whether he will resign because of his chronic under-achievement. Labour is likely to end up with 22 seats, Conservatives 17, LibDems 9 and one each for Plaid and an independent.

If the results had reflected the national trends and local history, the Tories would have won 42 of the 50 seats. Only in 1968 was there a similar collapse in trust for Labour. We lost every seat in the city except Malpas.  In 1972, we won every seat in the city but Allt yr yn. Of course, a general election intervened.

We nationally count our irreducible rock solid support, that will stick with us at all costs, as 26%. Yesterday we were subterranean at 4%. Yet with a few deals here and there Labour will retain control.

The nightmare of Tory domination is postponed for at least 3 years. Newport stays green, progressive and vibrant. Thank you voters.

Recount fever
Being a supportive act in this election is as exhausting as being a candidate.

I was around in the wards all day yesterday. Then to the counts at midnight. They  continued to 7.00 am when two recounts were called. They started at 2.00 o’clock today and dragged on for three hours.

In the early of the morning after the first recount Caerleon Labour Councillor Gail Giles was told that she had lost by 5 votes. Exhaustion persuaded her to accept the figure. It was about 4.00 am and we were all exhausted. Who wanted to stay for another few hours? But her Caerelon party stalwarts refused.

This afternoon we went through three pain-staking recounts. The final result was a victory for Gail by 3 votes.

Labour members were there in force in supportive solidarity for a colleague we thought would lose. We were rewarded with a pleasant social get-together with comrades and a rousing celebration at the end of the drama.

Eternal truth
The media vultures are circling Gordon Brown.

Three called  today trying to coax some damaging word gobbets out on me. S'hould he resign?' ' Should his cabinet be sacked?' Maddest of all, ‘Should we have a General election?’ There is a poll of Labour backbenchers on the lines, On the lines of ;Should Labour panic now, tomorrow or next week?'

Comments have arrived on yesterday’s blog suggesting reasons for Labour’s woes from cannabis reclassification to no referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. We all create our own version of the truth.

Nothing should happen. NewLabour is hoist by its own petard of media dependence. Gordon seeks the daily drip feed of tabloid adulation that Blair enjoyed. It’s a trap.

Gordon should do an Attlee and read the papers only to check the cricket scores. It should be head down Gordon, bring on policies that will be loved by our core working class voters. Keep reminding them about the successes of Labour in redistributing wealth.

Every Labour MP should display on their computer home pages the last date in 2010 for calling an election  with the message 'Two years is an eternity in politics.'

The best thing Gordon could do is follow advice I once gave to Tony Blair, ‘Stop taking the tabloids.’

Comments

[David Crowson]

Paul
It is good to read that you are taking such a positive attitude to todays events. Moving on from the feelings of despair that I felt on hearing the election news (especially in my own ward of Stow Hill where we lost an outstanding councillor in Miqdad) I am now determined to play a part in the fightback that you describe. I left the party in response to the war in Iraq - I will now rejoin and play whatever part I can to ensure a Labour victory, both in the next general election and in a future local election.
In the meantime, a big thank-you to Miqdad (and thanks to you Paul for your optimistic example)
Regards
David

[Baneswell boy]

I agree with David. I have lived in Stow Hill for more than 15 years. I never thought Stow Hill would turn Tory. I have always voted Labour and did so yesterday. However, it has now dawned on me that to vote is not enough. In the future I will actively campaign.

Miqudad and Fern, you did nothing wrong. You were let down by local apathy and loathing of the war in Iraq and Afganistan.

Four years of being represented by Tories...I might have to move!

[paulflynn]

Thank you David and Baneswell Boy.

Miqdad and Fern will greatly appreciate your comments. Fern was the subject of a snide, misoginyst attack in the Argus by Barking Buckingham. A lot of Fern's friends commented on the nice picture of her published with the article. On the fatuous malicious sneers that accompanied the pictures, no-one said a word. Probably everyone has given up reading the boring Dad's Army rants of Mad Mike.

It was odd to watch the new councillor for Stow Hill who took to calling himself Lord Routley a short while ago. He was a professional student officer and had a brief previous spell as an embarrassing Labour councillor.

Great to hear David that you are re-joining the party. Iraq was a nightmare decision and there were 139 Labour MPs who defied a three line whip and voted against. Welcome back, David and Baneswell boy.

[Chris Gale]

As far as the elections go the fightback starts now. If Cameron and his crowd of hunt thugs think they are going to get the keys to Downing St then think again.

[paulflynn]

Not sure what point you are making. I have never used the title NewLabour or been a fan. but I am tribally Labour. the party is better and more principled than the others.