Socialist Britain will not be 'ripped off any more' under Labour: McDonnell

 

John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor, appears on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show in London, Britain May 6, 2018. Jeff Overs/BBC/ Handout via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's main opposition Labour Party wants to radically transform the economy, forming a Socialist society where "we're not going to get ripped off any more", its finance policy chief, John McDonnell, said on Sunday.

 

With Labour almost neck-and-neck in the polls with the governing Conservatives, who lost their majority in last year's election, its leader Jeremy Corbyn and others are setting out their stall ahead of a new election not due until 2022.

 

McDonnell told the BBC that he had been talking to business leaders to offer them clarity on Labour's policies.

 

"Some of them you will like and some of them you won't like, I accept that, but there is nothing up my sleeve," he said of his message, adding: "You'll get a fair rate of return but we're not going to be ripped off any more, simple as that."

 

Asked about his entry in the Who's Who directory of influential people which lists his passion for "generally fomenting the overthrow of capitalism", he said it was a joke about beer-making.

 

But he added: "It's (about) transforming our economy."

 

"I don't think there is (a difference with overthrowing capitalism) ... because I think at the end of the day I want a Socialist society and that means transforming in a way which radically challenges the system as it now is."

 

He also said Venezuela, which is reeling from hyperinflation and shortages, was not a Socialist country.

 

"I think it took a wrong turn when (late leader Hugo) Chavez went, and I think unfortunately since then I don't think they have been following the Socialist policies that Chavez was developing."

 

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Editing by William Maclean)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-21

This time socialism will be glorious, not like all those other times. We don't even expect much of a genocide if things are done well.

With Corbyn, Abbott and McDonnell at the helm, what could possibly go wrong.

14 minutes ago, vogie said:

With Corbyn, Abbott and McDonnell at the helm, what could possibly go wrong.

One assumes less than that with May, Cameron, Johnson and Mogg steering the ship.

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

He also said Venezuela, which is reeling from hyperinflation and shortages, was not a Socialist country.

The socialists always say this about every failed socialist state. Of course, it would be different if they were in charge. (NOT)

How´s that gonná be possible? The con-artist was invented in the UK, and after that it spread to Nigeria.

Get ready for an avalanche of posts from a certain country that knows as much about socialism as squirrels know about gourmet cooking.

You know the one: where left = right of centre and right = neo Nazi

So says a spokesman of the party that ruined Britain under "new labour".

14 minutes ago, grumbleweed said:

Get ready for an avalanche of posts from a certain country that knows as much about socialism as squirrels know about gourmet cooking.

You know the one: where left = right of centre and right = neo Nazi

Wales?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Socialist Britain will not be 'ripped off any more' under Labour: McDonnell

Dianne Abbot, through her latest Immigration Policy message has ensured that no one needs to worry about a Socialist Britain under Labour.

 

It is just not going to happen. She has managed to alienate a huge part of Labour support.

 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"I don't think there is (a difference with overthrowing capitalism) ... because I think at the end of the day I want a Socialist society and that means transforming in a way which radically challenges the system as it now is."

 

"I want a Socialist society"

 

Note it is what "I" want with Socialists.

25 minutes ago, The Renegade said:

Dianne Abbot, through her latest Immigration Policy message has ensured that no one needs to worry about a Socialist Britain under Labour.

 

It is just not going to happen. She has managed to alienate a huge part of Labour support.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

The socialists always say this about every failed socialist state. Of course, it would be different if they were in charge. (NOT)

Where would the apologists for Socialism be without the word "If"?

Something fundamental has to change in how we govern the UK. Socialism may be bad, but what we have now is truly evil. The completely unnecessary indignities that many face on a daily basis are just the tip of the iceberg. People are dying every day because of austerity, while the rich friends and donors of the Tory party continue to quaff their champagne, snort their cocaine and offshore their money like it's the 1980s all over again.

 

The UK has become more crap, more run down, more feral by the day - and all because of Tory ideology. And all we hear is that the left is bad? What will it take for you people to wake up?

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

One assumes less than that with May, Cameron, Johnson and Mogg steering the ship.

 

"Assume" - the mother of many disasters!

 

The current bunch might be crap but they're trying their hardest, albeit for their agenda.

 

The Labor clowns would ruin the country to fulfill their out of date ideas that have been proved wrong, and wrong, over and over. Could you seriously imagine this idiot as chancellor of the exchequer, with a nuclear disarmed pc Britain under comrade Corbyn supporting the PLO, Hamas, and the IRA? And Abbot, almost senile but a racist who thinks "positive discrimination against white people is actually ok as Home Secretary? 

 

If you want to see the UK broken up, it's constituent nations become minor impoverished countries with no world significance, the GBP and FTSE tank, and with punitive taxes on income, capital gains, AND new property owning and land value taxes, vote Labor and enjoy their socialist utopia where workers that don't work, are inefficient and ineffective become state employees and receive better salary packages - paid for by squeezing those that do!

 

 

2 hours ago, grumbleweed said:

Get ready for an avalanche of posts from a certain country that knows as much about socialism as squirrels know about gourmet cooking.

You know the one: where left = right of centre and right = neo Nazi

The U.S. is more complex than that. The Pacific Coast, New Engand, southern Florida and other oases are probably more left than Manchester in England.

2 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

The current bunch might be crap but they're trying their hardest, albeit for their agenda.

Trying their hardest? They are trying hard to kill the weakest in society, sell off the NHS, privatise the police service, illegally manipulate the public through social media,  etc etc etc - it may be bad things they are doing, but you are giving them a pass for effort?

 

4 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

The Labor clowns would ruin the country to fulfill their out of date ideas that have been proved wrong, and wrong, over and over. Could you seriously imagine this idiot as chancellor of the exchequer, with a nuclear disarmed pc Britain under comrade Corbyn supporting the PLO, Hamas, and the IRA? And Abbot, almost senile but a racist who thinks "positive discrimination against white people is actually ok as Home Secretary? 

We have a Tory party now that is propped up by terrorist sypmathisers; only last week the PM appointed a former paramilitary to the lords - but he is the right flavour of terrorist, apparently.

 

5 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

If you want to see the UK broken up, it's constituent nations become minor impoverished countries with no world significance, the GBP and FTSE tank, and with punitive taxes on income, capital gains, AND new property owning and land value taxes, vote Labor and enjoy their socialist utopia where workers that don't work, are inefficient and ineffective become state employees and receive better salary packages - paid for by squeezing those that do!

Corbyn might be a soft supporter of independence for Scotland, but he is also a pragmatist - he knows that without Scotland, Labour will never regain Westminster in his lifetime. That is  why, in Scotland, Tory and Labour stand together. They are hand in hand across the country.

6 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Something fundamental has to change in how we govern the UK. Socialism may be bad, but what we have now is truly evil. The completely unnecessary indignities that many face on a daily basis are just the tip of the iceberg. People are dying every day because of austerity, while the rich friends and donors of the Tory party continue to quaff their champagne, snort their cocaine and offshore their money like it's the 1980s all over again.

 

The UK has become more crap, more run down, more feral by the day - and all because of Tory ideology. And all we hear is that the left is bad? What will it take for you people to wake up?

 

Correct. The current Tory government / party seem to be pushing the polarization of rich / poor as their more right wing elements have control. Brexit played right into their hands, as intended. 

 

Socialism certainly isn't the answer though, especially the 70's brand touted by Corbyn. It's been tried and failed so many times in so many countries. The UK was lucky to recover from it in the 70's, many others were buggered beyond repair. 

 

We really do need new forms of governance, and the capitalist model is no longer delivering. But so far, no one has come up with a better idea. And the answer of many governments and political parties to the issue is to oppress their citizens and rule them rather than serve and lead.

 

 

20 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Something fundamental has to change in how we govern the UK. Socialism may be bad, but what we have now is truly evil. The completely unnecessary indignities that many face on a daily basis are just the tip of the iceberg. People are dying every day because of austerity, while the rich friends and donors of the Tory party continue to quaff their champagne, snort their cocaine and offshore their money like it's the 1980s all over again.

 

The UK has become more crap, more run down, more feral by the day - and all because of Tory ideology. And all we hear is that the left is bad? What will it take for you people to wake up?

I quite agree!

 

1 hour ago, chippendale said:

Wales?

Never mind politics; I think I'm in love with your avatar girl.

We need to get rid of this "never had a real job" political class on all sides of the house. While these people are making statements like "people will just have to work longer" when the retirement age is currently 67 and the actuarial age of loss of mobility is 70, then we need more realistic people to address problems.

4 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Trying their hardest? They are trying hard to kill the weakest in society, sell off the NHS, privatise the police service, illegally manipulate the public through social media,  etc etc etc - it may be bad things they are doing, but you are giving them a pass for effort?

 

We have a Tory party now that is propped up by terrorist sypmathisers; only last week the PM appointed a former paramilitary to the lords - but he is the right flavour of terrorist, apparently.

 

Corbyn might be a soft supporter of independence for Scotland, but he is also a pragmatist - he knows that without Scotland, Labour will never regain Westminster in his lifetime. That is  why, in Scotland, Tory and Labour stand together. They are hand in hand across the country.

 

The NHS was a wonderful idea, implemented by socialist politicians of great vision and integrity. The fkuced up by socialists who thought cleaners and canteen staff were as important as doctors and medical staff. They, aided by Tories, sought to solve their fkc up by adding a combination of layers of bureaucracy, layers of unwanted and ineffective management, and countless "consultants" who sucked large amounts of money out for solving bugger all. 

Now the Tories want to sell if off, whereas Labor think their usual throwing large sums of someone else's money will solve all woes. 

Privatize the police service - is that all 48 police forces, all services? What is your understanding of that?

Illegally manipulate through social media - you think only the Tories do that? Remember the illegal use of data base when the SNP sent intimidating letters to EU nationals resident in Scotland warning them voting Tory would get them kicked out of Britain?

If you think "trying their best" is the same "as pass for effort" then that's your interpretation. 

 

And we have terrorists that are elected to parliament and refuse to take their seats. Only these are supported by the leader of the Labor party and his cronies. Whose what he'd do to appease them.

 

Corbyn hates the very fabric of the UK, it's history and what it stands for. The only surprise is why he hated the EU so much, though presumably that's because he always preferred the USSR and Warsaw Pact.

 

 

10 minutes ago, mokwit said:

We need to get rid of this "never had a real job" political class on all sides of the house. While these people are making statements like "people will just have to work longer" when the retirement age is currently 67 and the actuarial age of loss of mobility is 70, then we need more realistic people to address problems.

 

That's because they never want to retire themselves - the gravy train is much to lucrative and addictive!

 

And they don't care how much they screw the people to maintain that.

22 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Corbyn might be a soft supporter of independence for Scotland, but he is also a pragmatist - he knows that without Scotland, Labour will never regain Westminster in his lifetime.

Has Scotland ever been a deciding factor in what Government is elected in the UK ?

 

An electorate of some 2 - 2.5 million are never going to swing a National election.

1 hour ago, mokwit said:

"I want a Socialist society"

 

Note it is what "I" want with Socialists.

 

Re-educate the people. They must think like us, want what we know is best for them! Labor never change.

 

Labor were into trying to reshape "thinking" through direct interference with the education system way way before social media.

6 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Corbyn hates the very fabric of the UK, it's history and what it stands for.

Just like Sturgeon.

 

2 sides of the same *rse

5 minutes ago, The Renegade said:

Has Scotland ever been a deciding factor in what Government is elected in the UK ?

 

An electorate of some 2 - 2.5 million are never going to swing a National election.

I believe never, but with the polls so close at present, an extra handful of Scottish labour MPs would aid in forming a broad coalition, or in shoring up what might otherwise be a weak and wobbly Westminster majority.

3 minutes ago, The Renegade said:

Has Scotland ever been a deciding factor in what Government is elected in the UK ?

 

An electorate of some 2 - 2.5 million are never going to swing a National election.

 

Good point.

 

Usually Scottish independence supporters claim that the Scottish vote is irrelevant and one of the reasons they want independence. But of course, as we see here, they can change their mind and say the opposite when it suits!

 

Traditionally though, a high % of their 59 seats at Westminster would be filled by Labor, a few Liberals and the odd nationalists. That changed when the SNP took many seats from Labor. Without those seats, Labor struggles.

On a positive note, it is refreshing to  see an honest politician. By honest, I mean that he has clearly expressed what he intends to do. Voters will have a choice; to either accept a socialist state or to reject it. One certainly did not see such transparency from previous  Labour or Tory bigwigs. However, I anticipate that  at some point he will have his Preston moment.

 

Speaking of Preston, I believe that the UK would be better served if the panel of Nevermind the Buzzcocks was running things. Simon Amstell and Noel Fielding would certainly do a better job than the whole lot of them

 

5 minutes ago, The Renegade said:

Just like Sturgeon.

 

2 sides of the same *rse

There is a Sturgeon/Scottish independence thread specially placed to catch all the bile, phlegm and other unwarranted abuse that you may want to hurl at her and us uppity jocks. Best concentrate your vitriol there rather than drag this one off topic needlessly.