Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

I thought only nasty evil Torys ate babies? :shrug:

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

Corbyn is an atheist republican. God Save the Queen is a no-win for him from the point of view of the media.

When I attend church services I don't join in the prayers, nor do I bow my head. I lower my eyes, stand still and keep schtum. Am I being disrespectful? Would it not be far more disrespectful for me to stand there murmuring words I dislike in worship of a deity I don't believe in?

Easy target, but perspective is good. I'd love not to have the anthem centred around the Queen and God, but rather the nation and country, alongside changing the tune to one that isn't shared with the Imperial German anthem and doesn't sound more like dirge than a rousing expression of national pride, but it is what it is.

---------- Post added at 09:52 ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 ----------

As I said, a no win. Had he sung it he'd have been called a hypocrite.

To be fair, though, the man could cure cancer, bring world peace, prosperity and a utopian life to all and certain people would still take a pop.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

As a private citizen with no aspirations to lead this country and represent its people around the world, you are free of many of the expectations that hang round the necks of all our senior public servants.

Corbyn is a republican who nevertheless swore an oath of allegiance to the Queen at the beginning of every Parliament he has ever been elected to. Regardless of his constitutional preferences, he judged that using the form of words that allowed him to take his seat in parliament was the better course of action.

The very act of singing the national anthem is a "thing" in itself, rich in symbolism, quite regardless of the actual words. Plenty of people belt out Flower of Scotland at public occasions north of the border, knowing that the song is an explicit call for independence, and yet having voted No last September.

I would invite all those who don't see a problem with this to consider, in the (highly unlikely) event that Corbyn ever gets to be Prime Minister, how is it going to look to the rest of the world when he is filmed *not* singing along with his national anthem at some major public occasion, when all those around him are doing so?

Of course, the reason why this will never happen is that, like all hard-left nut jobs, he holds his principles so high above reproach that he doesn't know how to compromise. That makes him look irritable and uncouth - not a good look for a PM. So the voters won't give him the job.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

I refuse to sing it.

Not because I don't feel privileged to have been born in the UK, but because:

1) I'm an atheist and it's called God Save the Queen.
2) The most commonly sung version says nothing about our country but instead beseeches God to look after our monarch. If that does say something about our country how depressing.
3) It's crap.

Give me an anthem that celebrates the country rather than our state religion and head of state alone and I can definitely get on board.

---------- Post added at 10:03 ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 ----------

Regarding the first paragraph indeed. Isn't it wonderful? :)

The second paragraph is quite unfortunate. The only way in which a republican can properly represent their constituents is to compromise on that belief by swearing an oath of allegiance to the monarch. Another no-win situation.

All in all our country isn't the greatest place for an atheist republican to form a part of the legislature. I don't envy anyone with those views that dilemma.

EDIT: That time when you realise you are far more republican than you gave yourself credit for previously. Yikes.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

If I ever harboured any thoughts of running for office, I remind myself of a decade of opining on this website and the feeling quickly goes away. ;)

It is unfortunate, but it is an unavoidable consequence of our organic, uncodified constitution. Nevertheless, that constitution has contributed to a level of long-lived political stability that is rare in the world, at any point in history, and on the whole I think we are better off with messy compromises and gradual changes (such as, for example, the right to affirm rather than swear, first guaranteed in the Quaker Act).

I had a republican wobble for about six months some time around 2002. The feeling went away by itself. :D

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

:clap:

Land of Hope and Glory does it for me.

Wiki

I'm sure Jezzer will be singing his head off to the "Red Flag" though.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

Well PMQs was a damp squib. I can't see Corbyn's tactic of asking questions without following them up or challenging the answers given lasting too long. Maybe he chose that approach to deprive the PM of the opportunity to comment on some of the considerable problems and dissent he faces within his own party. :shrug:

As quaint as it may seem for a day or two, I can't see what value those who sent in the questions he chose to raise will feel they got from Cameron being allowed to give his Government's view without any challenge. Quite the reverse, in fact. If I felt so concerned about govt. policy that I'd been moved to write to the leader of the opposition I'd expect him/her to challenge that policy robustly, not give the other side what amounted to a free party political broadcast on the subject without a word about how Labour would do things differently.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

Yes I was wondering if it was normal to keep using constituency testimonials. On the other hand it is something of a nice idea.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

He's even disassociating himself from the questions he asks at PMQs!

He's certainly a strange character. He would soon turn from this 'gentle' person into a monster if he ever he got to the office of Prime Minister. I wonder how quickly he could transform these islands into another North Korea?

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

Ben from Dover makes the point that Corbyn's preoccupation with questions might be accounted for by his lack of any credible answers to those questions. :D

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

I think your hypothesis may not be an optimal interpretation of available information, and your worst-case scenario may not be founded in actuality. ;)

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

Not sure N. Korea is realistic but I could see Corbyn recreating Tower Hamlets on a national level if he got the chance.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

We're not talking about you. You are free to do what you want in that situation. Corbyn on the other hand is the leader of the opposition, has sworn an oath to the Queen and might become prime minister. Hell, even Sturgeon sang the anthem.

Re: [Update] Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership
 

Reviewing the BBC reporting of PMQ's today, one thing did spring out at me which I think may damage Mr Corbyn.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-34263142

@13:32 [quote]
Compare that to David Cameron's reply to the question from Mr Dodds Mr Corbyn's not going to have many friends if he keeps giving equivalence to the IRA killings to actions of the Army, imho.