The incredible disappearing Jim Murphy. At 18.50 on the front (home) page of the Guardian, top left, appeared a story by Libby Brooks entitled “Scottish Labour Leader Criticised Over Proposal to end Football Alcohol Ban”. I clicked and read the story briefly, in which domestic abuse organisations and the police were criticising Murphy for proposing to allow alcohol at football again. I saw the article a minute after it went up, and as yet there were no comments.
I then returned to the home page to see what else was in the paper, and my eye was caught by the normally welcome absence of Jim Murphy. Within three minutes of being put on the front page, the story had been taken off. By clicking back I could get to it again; it was still there. But there was no link to it any more on the home page and no way to find it if you did not know it was there.
There are two points here. One is The Guardian, which with the BBC has been telling us for a week solid that Jim Murphy is the Messiah, could not have a story revealing what a plonker Murphy is, up for three minutes, without burying it.
The second point is Murphy’s dangerous populism. He has already announced he would repeal the Scottish Parliament’s anti-sectarian measures. He now wants to reintroduce alcohol fuelling of football rivalries. It seems that Murphy has correctly identified the level of core Labour support and is pandering to it. The efforts to rectify some of the more glaring social problems in Scotland have been politically brave in the past few years. For a nasty lowest common denominator rabble rouser like Murphy to start trying to drum up Neanderthal appeal, is deeply unedifying.
I saw and read the article without realising that it was the Guardian.Just couldn’t believe how stupid Murphy is,not thinking it was a ploy.
Hopefully the football clubs will keep alcohol out of the grounds.Football has become a family sport with many women and kids enjoying it..even the Old Firm games.
We definitely don’t want to go back to where it was in the 70’s.
Hi Craig. I’m a football fan who thinks the Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation is a disgrace and should be scrapped. I’m not a Neanderthal though and resent the attitude reflected in your article.
Surely this can’t be true. It would mean that Murphy had put his own political ambitions ahead of the interests of the students he was supposed to be representing.
Not exactly the sort of chap you’d want representing you.
“In 1995, whilst Murphy was NUS president the Union dropped its opposition to the abolition of the student grant.
This was contrary to what had been agreed at that year’s NUS Conference, but it accorded with what had become Labour Party policy.
He was subsequently condemned by a House of Commons Early Day Motion, introduced by Ken Livingstone and signed by 17 other Labour MPs, for “intolerant and dictatorial behaviour.
In 1996, upon ceasing to be NUS President, Murphy was offered a position as the Special Projects Manager of the Scottish Labour Party; he accepted the role, dropping out of university in order to do so. He was also selected at this time to stand as the Labour Party candidate in the seat of Eastwood at the forthcoming general election.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Murphy
Oh dear.
“That this House condemns the intolerant and dictatorial behaviour of the President of the National Union of Students, Mr Jim Murphy, who has unconstitutionally suspended NUS Vice President, Clive Lewis, because he took part, in a personal capacity, in an open debate at Queen Mary and Westfield College on the issues raised by the Campaign for Free Education; further notes that along with President Elect, Douglas Trainer, both men have warned NUS Executive member, Rose Woods, that if she attends the Scottish launch of the Campaign for Free Education she too will be suspended from the NUS Executive; reminds Mr Murphy and Mr Trainer that freedom of speech is a right in the United Kingdom, that they have no power to overturn the results of elections that went against their preferred candidates and that, whilst these methods are a common practice in dictatorships around the world, they are not acceptable behaviour from someone such as Mr Murphy who is putting himself forward as suitable for election to the House of Commons.”
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/1995-96/991
Alcohol and gambling are scourges and the policies of past govts of both persuasions in relation to both have been deplorable and shameful.
I believe that alcohol advertising is no longer allowed on UK television? If that is incorrect, then it should be banned.
Likewise advertisements on television for gambling (I have noticed that these tend to occur (late)ish in the evening).
Come to think about it, there should not be casinos or betting offices on the high street either.
On alcohol, public houses should not be able to remain open all day (the old system of opening hours was better).
And finally, alcohol is far too freely available; it should not be available in ordinary shops and supermarkets but only in specific state-regulated shops with limited opening hours (British Columbia system). I believe there was once (?still is) a similar sytem in the UK; they were called “off-licences”).
Eddie,
You are entitled to your view
Rusbridger also rolled over for bent top cop Andy Hayman who wanted embarassing details of a paid police perjurer using the alias “Joe Poulton” buried.
This Murphy chap isn’t exactly highly spoken of by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling.
I know peeps may not think much of these pair, but they’re former Labour UK bosses and wouldn’t be expected to be so publicly dismissive of a colleague on the up.
Curious:
“The former Prime Minister, who announced last night that he is standing down as an MP, reckoned that Mr Murphy, the leading contender to be the new leader of Scottish Labour, had taken over the Better Together organisation for his own benefit.”
“The book, by Alan Cochrane, the Telegraph’s Scottish editor, also states that Alistair Darling was “very disparaging” about Mr Murphy’s abilities and did not think he was “up to much”.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown/11265925/Gordon-Brown-believed-Jim-Murphy-used-No-campaign.html
Bit of a pattern, eh.
Were I a Scottish chappie, I’d be thinking this Murphy was just using his Scottish position to further his own larger political ambitions, without much care for the interests of the Scottish voter.
Ciaran,
You may intend another meaning by that avatar but it looks offensive.
It really does show what state the branch office of Labour in Scotland are in, when a Westminster Blairite has been parachuted in to run the shop.
Murphy on Clyde 2 radio this morning constantly repeating, that if you vote for SNP it will allow David Cameron back into number 10 again, which will allow the Tories to make huge austerity cuts.
What Murphy failed to say was that if you let Labour into 10 Downing Street, Labour intent to pursue the Tories huge austerity cuts, as if they were their own policy.
When questioned on Clyde 2 about the up hill struggle Labour faces regaining voters for the 2015 GE, Murphy said he and Labour need a 1% swing towards Labour every month between now and May to make an impact.
Murphy isn’t a new Messiah in Scottish politics he’s just another, Labour leader who’s destined to fail.
The Grauniad (sic) has subsequently emphasised (in a tweet) that the article can now be found at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/21/jim-murphy-criticised-lift-ban-alcohol-scottish-football-matches. Perhaps the cock-up theory can explain this part of it.
As for the other aspect, there were good reasons for the alcohol ban in the first place, and I am not sure if they have gone away, or not (the article implies rather than confirms that things are unchanged). I agree however that Murphy is using the issue, evidently believing that there are enough votes here to warrant publicly supporting the idea, whether it is a good idea or not.
I think the cleverest thing about it is that it is largely an unknown, it is arguable, and therefore you cannot say with certainty that he is wrong.
He also has not gone ‘gung-ho’ over it and has suggested a trial period. Therefore arguing with the merits is a matter of pros and cons and if you attack him personally over it, you could easily be seen as going overboard, and be dismissed.
If his intention is to start a debate on the matter, then fine, and he’ll get one. He’ll no doubt make hay from being a prominent part of it, and even if any such debate concludes that lifting the ban is a bad idea, then he can turn around to his supporters and say he tried.
I do find it an interesting choice of an issue for him to publicly support. He must have been aware that he would alienate some with this, so exactly who is he trying to woo – and is it worth it?
Or perhaps he wants to be seen as having a firm commitment to a controversial issue – which is unlikely to bite him back that hard, if at all.
It certainly strikes me as a ploy rather than a belief that he is advocating, but given that it is an issue unlikely to make that much of a difference at the polls, it seems to be more about the long-game; image, air-time and headlines.
Radio Jammor
If it was just this on alcohol, I would agree, but a couple of weeks back the billboards in Edinburgh were all about him wanting to repeal the legislation on sectarianism. He has obviously decided to target a particular demographic.
Alcohol and gambling are scourges and the policies of past govts of both persuasions in relation to both have been deplorable and shameful.
I believe that alcohol advertising is no longer allowed on UK television? If that is incorrect, then it should be banned.
Likewise advertisements on television for gambling (I have noticed that these tend to occur (late)ish in the evening).
Come to think about it, there should not be casinos or betting offices on the high street either.
On alcohol, public houses should not be able to remain open all day (the old system of opening hours was better).
And finally, alcohol is far too freely available; it should not be available in ordinary shops and supermarkets but only in specific state-regulated shops with limited opening hours (British Columbia system). I believe there was once (?still is) a similar sytem in the UK; they were called “off-licences”).
………………………………..
Eureka! As Archimedes of Syracuse would say, Habb produced a comment that was neither condescending nor parasited from someone else, and it isn’t even Hanukkah yet.
……………………………
I have to agree about the availability of alcohol, and none more so than these greedy fat useless troughing b*stards, taking the piss.
………….
Taxpayers coughed up more than £7m last year helping to subsidise Parliament’s bars and restaurants, a Freedom of Information request has found.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/13/parliament-bill-bar-taxpayer-subsidy_n_3748073.html
[craigmurray.org.uk – delayed in spam filter]
Whilst I’m no big fan of Rusbridger, he did play a key part in the Snowden stuff. The entire British mainstream media ignored mass surveillance and the police state. Only the Guardian kept on with it; and now Greenwald over at the Intercept seems to be the only main remaining voice.
I mention this because, like the rampant child sexual abuse in the British establishment (well covered by the likes of exaro.com), if the public really knew just how corrupt and vile it all is the Scots would vote for independence tomorrow. I say this as an Englishman with no genetic connection to Scotland, and I say it because I want my country to be saved from the neocon loons. At the moment Scottish independence is the only way that I can see of giving the English public a much needed reality shock.
England at the moment is like an echo of Germany in the 1930s.
History does repeat itself. It’s called human nature.
RoS The Hannukah Prezzies have already been handed out here….
Pretty much agreed with everything Habba said.
The liquor store thingy doesn’t really work…. forces people to bulk buy,just in case.
And I’m sure you know how difficult it is to hang onto a single Malt collection.
World Service fears losing information war as Russia Today ramps up pressure
Former director calls for more cash to fight propaganda saying BBC is being outgunned by Kremlin-backed news channel
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/21/bbc-world-service-information-war-russia-today
‘We shouldn’t be pro-one side or the other, we need to provide something people can trust’ he says. Oh yes! Sounds just like the BBC output.
Horrocks is pleading underfunding when there are so many supernumeraries all claiming large salaries and expenses.
His own salary is over £249k pa plus expenses
http://www.bbc.co.uk/corporate2/insidethebbc/managementstructure/biographies/horrocks_peter#heading-salary-and-total-remuneration
Wings over Scotland have noticed that Murphy had been running one of those fake astroturf thingies:
http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-jim-murphy-fan-club/
whilst Craig Murray has pointed out that the very same Murphy is a member of some Torture supporting outfit, the Henry Jackson Society:
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/12/jim-murphy-torture-aplogist/
Newsnet Scotland looks at Murphy’s expenses, letting out properties for which he’s claiming expenses:
http://www.newsnetscotland.scot/index.php/scottish-news/6083-labour-mp-jim-murphy-caught-up-in-new-expenses-row
and Liberal Conspiracy claim that Murphy has been making false allegations against fellow Labour party members:
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2013/09/07/will-jim-murphy-retract-his-allegations-against-unite-over-falkirk/
Patterns patterns, everywhere.
Sounds like a bit of a Stalinist.
Sorry above wrong thread.
The Independent: Child abuse inquiry: Three MPs and three peers named in paedophile dossier handed to Scotland Yard: An additional dossier on an alleged cover-up of VIP paedophile rings, created by former police officers, is to be handed to the Met:
(Emphasis added.)
“The liquor store thingy doesn’t really work…. forces people to bulk buy,just in case.”
…………………….
Donny
Nobody forces anybody to buy bulk alcohol.
BBC has it too.
Jim Murphy backs alcohol at football stadiums
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30568135
‘Police Scotland has also said it will continue to oppose any relaxation of the alcohol ban, which has been in place since a riot at the Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Celtic in 1980, unless a nationwide public consultation proves its benefits.’
Reading on, Murphy appears to be speaking for the club managements as well as wanting to pose as a populist.
He is a phoney.
“If it was just this on alcohol, I would agree, but a couple of weeks back the billboards in Edinburgh were all about him wanting to repeal the legislation on sectarianism. He has obviously decided to target a particular demographic.”
Which is what? Football supporters who like a drink so much that they want to have one at a match and fans who like to throw abuse (amongst other things) at each other?
Doesn’t that strike you as an odd demographic to support? I can’t help but think there is something more subtle to it than that.
RoS
My arm gets twisted all the time.
Lysias et al, restrain your righteous enthusiasm re child abuse enquiry:
http://www.exaronews.com/articles/5438/theresa-may-to-scrap-panel-for-inquiry-into-child-sex-abuse
ITV, Guardian, BBC all believe this enough to carry it.
Looks to me like some findings might have emerged before the election….
This scandal is growing. It must break soon.
‘Paedophile’ dossier naming MPs and peers handed to detectives
Labour MP John Mann’s dossier seeks to unmask five Westminster paedophile rings. It includes the names of three serving MPs and three members of the House of Lords
Theresa May opens way for beefed-up child sex abuse inquiry
Five Westminster paedophile rings probed by Scotland Yard
Claims emerge of a complex web of child abuse at the heart of government, as leading MP in campaign for justice hands list of 22 names to police
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11306575/Five-Westminster-paedophile-rings-probed-by-Scotland-Yard.html
When are the victims going to receive justice?
Surname begins with a G.
With respect to the paedophile ring(s) and Leon Brittan’s role in squelching the investigation some 20 years ago, I am reminded of the plot of Quatermass II.
Sorry, that was a typo. Should have been “some 30 years ago”.
Found the Gruniad article easily using Google; it’s had quite wide coverage.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/21/jim-murphy-criticised-lift-ban-alcohol-scottish-football-matches
Never mind, Craig. After Rusbridger sinks contentedly into
the Isisan academic sinecure at Oxford (where else? He has served its political alumni long and well)…http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/12/what-on-earth-qualifies-alan-rusbridger-for-an-academic-position/
…who will be his replacement? Polly Toynbee? There are some unsettling possibilities out there, and you may look back nostalgically at the Rusbridger era.