MILITARY historian Alan Clark’s work The Donkeys was savage in its criticism of World War One generals – the "donkeys" who shamelessly led thousands of "brave lions" (young servicemen) to their deaths. It was, so the tale goes, incompetent leaders that caused the carnage and chaos.
It stains the metaphor, but I was reminded of the ongoing embarrassment that is the Labour leadership contest. Just yesterday the High Court ruled that party apparatchiks illegally barred 130,000 new enthusiasts from voting in the contest. The new members, who have poured millions of pounds into the party, will now have that money spent on a further legal appeal – with their own leaders fighting to deny them the right of a vote. Pathetic.
I tried to ignore the cowardice and contempt of Labour MPs who used the Brexit result as an opportunity to try to dislodge Jeremy Corbyn. At first they tried to keep him off the ballot. Then they tried to rig the race. Now they pour poison into the ears of pet right-wing journalists, threatening a split in the party.
Many voters in Scotland are long past holding sympathy for Labour’s self-inflicted wounds. I understand that – but I do feel sympathy for the hundreds of thousands of Corbynites, whose political hopes are being torpedoed by the donkeys at the wheel.
Activists created a social movement with idealistic principles – democracy, equality, and a just role in global affairs. In each leadership election so far they have defied the doubters and sceptics. But when it comes to Scotland, I fear they’re being conned.
The futile task of "winning back Scotland" has become a key point of dispute in the party’s proxy-war. Establishment candidate Owen Smith blundered on that issue at the weekend offering up a "flags and federalism" sandwich to a public hungry for political change.
From one side of his mouth he claimed Scottish Labour didn’t get “patriotism”. From the other side he ruled out any deals with the SNP – even if that resulted in another Tory government. I don’t think leaving Theresa May in charge is the kind of "patriotism" people are after.
Elsewhere Smith claims he’s been fighting for "federalism", whatever that means this time. During the referendum, the Smith Commission, the Scotland Bill, can anyone remember him saying anything new about more powers to Holyrood? Nope, me neither.
Smith’s attempts to blame Corbyn for Labour losing Scotland are shoddy opportunism, although the current leader shouldn’t be let off the hook. In almost a year in his post there has been no clear strategy to appeal to voters in Scotland. Promises to play a high-profile role in May’s Holyrood election never materialised. While activists in England have been enthused by his principles, developing a clear media and policy approach to persuade voters has been absent.
A senior Corbyn advisor told me they had given up presenting ambitious constitutional reforms. He blamed rebellious colleagues, who could present any significant constitutional proposal as unpatriotic and undermining the Union. So change for Scotland was shelved. It just hasn’t been a priority.
Another ex-Labour advisor, attempting to explain the vacuous nature of the contest when it comes to Scotland, added: “Any strategy focused on winning a region like Scotland [that is] smaller than north-west England [is] bound to be self-defeating.”
Given the deep divisions in the party, it’s hard to see any outcome other than defeat at the next election. I hope those investing hope in the party’s future wise up to the state of politics north of the Border, and realise that without a change in strategy Scotland is set to leave the Westminster circus behind.
Arms firm's claim to boost safety is no joke
EVERY year the funniest joke of the Edinburgh Fringe is selected.
It’s usually sharp and witty. Last year it was: “I just deleted all the German names off my phone. It’s Hans-free.” Pretty good.
I’ve found an early leader for worst joke of the festival season from an unexpected source. I read it yesterday from a comedian called Raytheon, a giant US arms company that makes more than $20 billion a year.
Intrepid investigative journalism in Scotland and the Middle East has linked Raytheon, and its missile guidance plant in Glenrothes, Fife, to the Saudi bombardment of Yemen.
UN reports have said there is serious evidence that war crimes are being committed, and the UK Government is facing legal action to halt the missile sales.
The war is a humanitarian disaster, with schools and hospitals bombed, thousands of civilians killed, and 21 million people in need of emergency aid.
The UK Government has hid from its moral complicity in this horror – but the companies profiting from the bloodshed should be challenged too.
When Raytheon was asked to comment on its arms sales, the firm responded: “Raytheon’s capabilities contribute towards making the world a safer place.”
That’s definitely the worst joke I’ll hear this August.
Michael Gray is @GrayInGlasgow
Labour's death throes: fury as party plans to use members' cash to block them from voting
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here