Comments | loganberrybunny: Jeremy Corbyn again

loganberrybunny

Jeremy Corbyn again

Sep 15, 2015 19:08

Public

I'm not entirely sure what to think about this. Jeremy Corbyn did go to the Battle of Britain memorial service, and wore a tie too,1 but during the National Anthem he stood quietly rather than singing. His argument is that, as a committed republican, it would have been hypocritical to sing a song explicitly praising the Queen. And yes, you ( Read more... )

labour party, politics, royalty

Comments 7

riath September 15 2015, 19:31:52 UTC

I personally don't care if he sings or not. All that matters is that he's respectful and he was. Of course I come at this being an American who frequently got told off for refusing to sing the national anthem or put my hand over my heart and recite the Pledge. I'd stand with everyone else and just remain quiet.

I think people are going to snipe at Jeremy no matter what he does, poor bloke just can't catch a break there.

loganberrybunny September 15 2015, 20:08:00 UTC

I don't think he did anything wrong at the service (though the Privy Council thing nags at me a bit), but to win a general election you can't only appeal to people who already sympathise with you. I could easily see Corbyn enthusing naturally leftish people (like me), but aside from Scotland I'm not sure that's going to make a big difference in terms of seats in 2020.

I'd rather have a "proper Labour" government than a Blairish one, but I'd rather have a Blairish one than the current lot. So Corbyn needs to be able to win over people outside his natural constituency. Can he do it? I really don't know.

riath September 15 2015, 20:16:07 UTC

Yeah, I get what you're saying. And he seems to be big on compromise and talking to people you don't agree with. Maybe the Privy Council decision is his compromise? But I don't think him not singing the national anthem is going to alienate people, however much the papers would try to make out otherwise.

loganberrybunny September 15 2015, 23:10:09 UTC

You're probably right. I suppose I'm still bearing the scars of May 7th...

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loganberrybunny September 16 2015, 19:20:24 UTC

Yep, though that's part of the landscape (unfortunately) and Corbyn will have to learn how to deal with it. I hope he can.

alexf0x September 16 2015, 10:00:45 UTC

I think the Privy council thing is a thing that they "have to do" by law in order to sit in westminster. A lot of old old school Labour MP's (like Corbyn) are also republicans but in order to sit within the house of commons (I know that there are a LOAD of issues concerning Shin Fein MP's for NI who refuse to do this outright, and as a result can't sit ( ... )

loganberrybunny September 16 2015, 19:21:21 UTC

All good points. I don't like the NA either, and wouldn't even if it were about something else. It's a boring tune. France, say, has a far better anthem. So does Wales.