Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

For people who voted Green, what are our Green councillors for?

In the last century I remember a humorous writer who penned 2 lists before 2 General Elections. One was "Why I am voting Labour". The next: "Why I am voting Conservative".

It was probably in the New Statesman (NS) magazine. Which I haven't read since last century.
My uncle Bert, a Cabinet maker and a Socialist, gave me a gift subscription In my teens. I was coming out with Left wing and irreligious views.

I read it when I went to college, near its offices in Great Turnstile, Holborn. Crisp new issues of the N.S. were on sale on Kingsway.

I don't recall the lists. Perhaps the last entry in the Labour List was:
"Because deep down I am a Conservative".
The last entry in the Tory List may have been a sexist reference to Joan Hunter Dunne.

* * *
Now I want to read and compile a varied Green List.

From reading Hol contributors I expect gems like:

I loaned my vote to the Greens because I am far right and hope they are so hopeless that Nigel's lot get a landslide next time.

Mark Blake had the best photo and smartest suit.

Green councillors won the timed reply to emails on paddling pools.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Justin Guest 4 hours ago

Interesting post this Alan, yours is normally one of the more balanced views on anything political, and I for one appreciate them for that balance while still trying to make your point.

First reaction to this is I do not see your usual calm rhetorical flair here.

Forgive me, as I am sure I am not going to play the game by the rules you set out here, but I will make two points that you might turn into something to add to your list, I would welcome your suggestions:

1. Many people lent (lent is a key word here) their votes to the Greens because they actually realised there was an alternative and they were sick of then current administration- they wanted to see change. How long had the Labour group held Haringey? I come from a part of the world that they used to put a red rosette on a pig and people would vote for it. Sadly such blinkered voting bred complacency and contempt by the Labour political class in my home town, almost bordering on entitlement- it is now a Reform council and Dan Jarvis is looking over his shoulder come the next election! Those voted in forgot they were there to represent the views of and execute on the wishes of their constituents- not to do what they pleased once in office!

2. Perhaps our Labour friends will see this as a well deserved kick up the arse to step back, reflect and work out how they are going to bring voters back to the fold. See this as an opportunity to ask why we are even taking about paddling pools in the first place, and how they might get it right if they are given a chance again in the future. Perhaps we should not be blaming the Greens if Reform get in but ask how Labour have allowed them to get a toe hold, and what they are going to do about keeping them out!

Maybe next time we do this in the form of a haiku?