THE DRAMA OF the dead dad slander continues between Miliband and the whole of the left on one hand and The Daily Mail on the other. Taking umbrage at The Mail claiming Ed’s Marxist dad hated Britain the bien pensants are demanding apologies and treating this bee sting of a charge as the equivalent of a blow to head with a sledgehammer. Getting things in proportion is not the progressive way but watching the fireworks is good entertainment.
As a distraction from the political substance of the charge they’re also dredging up the spectre of antisemitism, implying this was another impulse prompting the slur on old Ralphy (despite the fact that, according to the Jewish Chronicle, “Both the author of the article, Geoffrey Levy, and the paper’s deputy editor, Jon Steafel, are Jewish”). The charge of antisemitism is rich coming from a movement that regularly demonises Israel (and by association all Jews) and is supported by unions and other groups who campaign for boycotts, sanctions and divestment against Israel. I’ll believe their sincerity when they admit that Israel is a beacon of civilisation in a region of turbulent barbarism. And when Jews themselves stop supporting the left and people who would happily cut their throats given the chance.
I don’t know whether Miliband loved, hated or was indifferent to Britain. However, he was a Marxist, and in my book that puts him firmly in the camp of those whose intentions towards the country are not desirable. But using the word “Marxist” as a term of abuse seems not to be acceptable, for some reason, even though a passing knowledge of that dismal philosophy’s consequences would alert the most sensible that it should be avoided in the same way that Fascism and syphilis are.
I PROVOKED A huge argument with two friends the other day about this. Not that they particularly cared about Ralph and Ed. Neither were they bothered about defending Marxism and its consequences in Soviet Russia, China, etc. Their sole approach was to attack “capitalism” and America. It always comes down to slagging off America, doesn’t it? The fact that both of them were shouting at me once, one of them from a standard left position, the other from an anarcho-leftist-Chomskyite position proved I was right.
I shall continue to use “Marxist” as a term of abuse and derision, therefore, in just the same way as the progressives use “right wing”, or “far left” or “extreme right wing” to denigrate anything they don’t agree with. I shall also continue to use it interchangeably with “Fascist”. That really annoys the hell out of them.
The most risible comment I read about the Miliband affair so far, though, has come from Neil Kinnock. At this point I must raise my hands in a mea culpa and say that in the days when I was a Labour Party member I voted for Kinnock as leader. I have to say he was a very good speaker. What bothered me at the meeting he addressed in Jesmond as part of his campaign was the presence of two extremely big minders. They were just like characters from Bleasdale’s GBH a few years later.
Having failed to get himself elected to a position where he could run the country he did the next best thing by landing a job where he could do it without having to worry about anyone voting for him, ie, the European Union. So I have zero respect for his opinions.
Anyway, he and Glenys very concerned about the press’s treatment of poor Ed. Neil reckons Ed is getting worse treatment than he did: “I didn’t think my capacity for amazement was stretchable, but I’ve found it is. I think the form of attack they’re using against Ed is worse than I had.” It’s not remotely true. Kinnock received plenty of brutal treatment at the hands of the media, but nothing Miliband has suffered is equal to that or to the treatment John Major regularly received (man wearing underpants outside his trousers, if you’ve forgotten).
Saying someone’s dad hated Britain is hardly a top grade insult. It’s not even a playground level jibe. I’ve no reason to doubt that Ralph Miliband was a good dad and even a rather nice chap but even if he didn’t actually hate Britain, his politics and those of his comrades and sons are inimical to Britain’s interests.
I think Ed and the ghost of his father have got off rather lightly. A robust, even abusive riposte, would have been fine from Miliband, but demanding an apology is not only tediously predictable but as wet as you can get.
