Diane Abbott shows that she knows very little about … well … anything really.
This Labour leadership race is a stark reminder of just how important it is to make this Coalition work. Sure, some elements may not be ideal, but the prospect of any one of Labour’s unsavoury bunch getting back into power should be enough to quieten the staunchest of anti-coalitionites. The run-in looks certain to be a family affair, but what jobs have the aspiring leaders got their sights on within the shadow cabinet? The losing Milliband will presumably be in the running for a top post, Balls has his beady eye on the shadow treasury and Burnham will be happy just to be on a bench. Any bench. But what of Diane Abbott–the self proclaimed “alternative”? Which post does she have the talent to command?
Judging by Monday’s interview with The Guardian, the outlook’s not terribly auspicious. For those of you who found 12 whole minutes of Abbott and Poly Toynbee slobbering over each other too much to bear, here are the highlights:
On the economy: Simple. Rebalancing spending with tax increases. Apparently drawing her inspiration from Obama and Norman Lamont (et tu Norman?!), she proposes that spending cuts and tax increases are split 50:50. Thus followed a breathless three minute rant: make the 50% tax rate permanent, bring the threshold down to £100,000, increase capital gains tax, impose a financial transaction tax, double the banking tax, impose a new wealth tax, impose the mansion tax, tax assets more… etc, etc. Miss the part about public spending cuts? Me too.
Foreign Policy: “Withdraw the troops”–the priority is to get out before the US, regardless of the nuances, we must beat the yanks to the departure date. What to do about the Afghanistan? Not a problem, send in the UN, they’ll sort it out. “I have a lot of faith in the UN”, she reassures us.
Next up: torture and rendition. Not an issue. The problem isn’t Labour’s record on abusing human rights–it’s the audacity of the Tories to launch an inquiry into the subject. Clearly a shallow attempt at defaming Labour MPs.
Social Justice: this one’s easy, obviously it’s the fault of the bankers–increase taxes.
Education: Not really interested in talking about this, or the issue of her son attending a private school. This isn’t really about education, she laments, it’s about “being a women in public life–all anyone is interested in is shoes and family”! Even Poly baulks slightly at this, but no Abbott is certain, she has no case to answer because she’s a woman. Harriet Harman eat your heart out.
Finally, on her fellow leadership contenders. Nothing. Not a thing. She can’t even declare who she has more in common with Dave or Ed. All we get is a “nice suits, nice red ties, nice hair-cuts” quip.
So back to my original question- where next for Ms Abbott? Presuming that there has been no-one since Tony Benn crazy enough to let this tax-devouring-fiend anywhere need anything of economic importance, the main jobs at the treasury, home office, BIS, and pensions are out. Trusting the UN to resolve anything shows a fairly basic misunderstanding of international affairs, so out are the FCO, Defence and DfID. Education or Health? Nope. Justice? Probably best not.
In truth, it’s hard to see just what exactly Ms Abbott could do. Her ascendency bears testament to just how far playing the “persecuted-black-single-mum-from a poor background” card can get you in politics. The Millibands will be laughing all the way to the ballot box.
Tags: Diane Abbott, Labour party
