What has happened to Labour's political instincts?

Rhoda Klapp

I couldn't make out how the Basra link meant he was very wrong. What happened in Basra was not a success for the army. Was Dannatt responsible? What was the best way to handle the situation? Because we didn't do it, whatever it was. Unless you mean let the militias run riot then get the yanks to fix it and hand it all to them, all the while with our troops being mortared without fighting back.

Sheila

“Once he’s gone, we can have a go at him. He can write his book and talk all he wants, but he’ll be fair game then.” I can't get over the arrogance of them. There's the McBride-style poisoning, the Harperson 'equalities' spite, their core vote hates them so much they're turning to the BNP in desperation and they all carry on as if it's business as usual.

Enjoy it while it lasts, chum. Those Labour heartlands won't be coming back any time soon to a political party that wants them bred out of existence.

logdon

Political insticts? More like political stick insects.

paracelsus

When you scrape the bottom of the barrel, what do you expect to find?

Labour MPs are so tribal and party led nowadays that they simply revert to petty attacks at the first opportunity. They are whimpering in a corner, and lashing out at anyone who voices the slightest complaint against them or their party's policies.

It's fun to watch from a purely selfish point of view, but hugely damaging for the reputation of the country and its well being in general.

Vulture

Worth remembering that Dannatt's retirement job is to be Constable of the Tower. He should use the post to revive the Tower's Tudor function as jail and torture chamber for fallen and failed Ministers.

Ian Walker

Regarding the rather craven defence of "we don't know which Labour minister it was", when repeating this unattributed quote, would it not be too difficult to give each one a ring and ask them to go on the record as having not said it?

You could then publish the list of who would and wouldn't commit to leaving Gen. Dannatt alone.

TGF UKIP

John Gilbert on The World at One has just been bitingly scathing and blunt about Labour's reptile behaviour and deficiencies on the Armed Forces.

Indeed, as bitingly scathing and blunt as the fanzine hacks in general, but you in particular, James, should be about your beloved Cameron Tories and their shameful and disgraceful refusal to undertake to rectify Labour's neglect.

Stop the cheerleading for once, kick them up the arse and tell them to face up to their duty.

Hawkeye

I'd trust the General before I would trust those weaselly scumbags in the Cabinet.

I suspect that many in the population would do similar. The sight of a public figure - whose "staff" (soldiers etc) are being killed daily - standing up for his men and his organisation and then being smeared by spineless politicians for telling the truth will not go down will with the public.

Ultimately, the General will win.

Turkeybellyboy

Has anyone worked out that the catastrophic mismanagement of the UK's finances started when GB took office, and that we're now (literally) all paying for that?

All that 'investment' in Public Services didn't raise productivity, and didn't go to the Armed Services.

GB may kid himself that he's "reformed" the Public Services, but he's living in a deluded world of make-believe.

Basically we're now skint, and things haven't improved. Just ask a soldier.

Steve.W

“What has happened to Labour's political instincts?”

Did it have any, when was that?

Dr.A

Indeed, this is what an honorable man can expect for standing up for his men who give their lives on a daily basis fighting wars the men who he is now defending them from chose.

might make the good framework for a book of some kind

I have it on good authority that our troops out there are still known to the americans under their nickname of "the borrowers", nothing has changed in 8 years except the death toll. On both sides.

My hats off the general and indeed my belief that in any war of public opinion it would be less a war and more a slaughter

Could the ruling par- sorry, dictators, sink any lower? watch this space

HairyNoddy

By the time the election comes round, the UK Parliament will be redundant. All mcsnotty is hanging on for is to see power transferred from the incompetent, corrupt and fraudulent socialists currently running the UK Parliament to the incompetent, corrupt and fraudulent socialists running the European Parliament.

Ricky

There is something quite poisonous about this dying government. There is no grace, no moral high ground, no elegance. Just a toxic command and control bully fest, laced with deceit and spite that leaves behind a quite unpleasant odour.

Tumbleweednumpty

Pa McRuin-Broone and Pals have lost their 'Politcal Instincts' when Teflon B'Liar was kicked out due to the continous whinings from McDoom.

McDoom and his Pals the Kerchingchucks and Meddlesomes of the UK have all been well rewarded for their 'Judas Moments' with their '30 Pieces of EU-SSR-land Siller' for selling the UK down the swanee.

(all allegedly of course)

The nightmare continues until June 2010, assuming McDoom allows the Peasants of the UK to have an election. He might just cancel them using the the 'Civil Contingencies Bill 2004'

Moira

Labour lost it's political instincts when it allowed itself to have an unelected (incompetent as chancellor) Leader, who was then inflicted on the nation as PM. He, in turn, then appointed and ennonobled an unelected Peter Mandelson as the country's Business Secretary. From then,comes the unelected Mrs Kinnock,and Mr Sugar, both then ennobled for the benefit of Mr Mandelson, on behalf of TONY BLAIR, who in turn hopes to be EU president. Just where does it end?