Kester Brewin » Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown Gives ‘Speech of his Life’

KB — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:08:41 +0000

A very very good speech given yesterday by Gordon Brown at the Citizens UK event in Central London, where each leader spoke separately.

Listen, he may be a lame duck, and will likely not be leader come Thursday – but listen to the issues here and ask if you want a Conservative administration that will not support these core issues of wealth dispersion. This is important. It’s more than public image.

Now The Speeches Are Over…

KB — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:21:19 +0000

After three election debates, what have we learned?

Firstly – David Cameron, touted as a master-orator and expected to do so well on live television, was very disappointing. He evaded questions, could back little up with figures, and looked more and more like the shiny figurehead of a party which still wants to reward the rich. Take a look at the cabinet he would be appointing before deciding he’s the change we want to see.

Secondly – Nick Clegg has shown that a third power in politics is a good thing. The inclusion of the third in any system takes you out of the first dimension, and this can only be a good thing. He hasn’t, however really thought his policies through in some key areas.

Thirdly – Gordon Brown knows that despite a pretty good track record in some key areas, he is up for a whipping. The media have decided this and there is little he can do to turn them.

Connectedly, this is all about the media. They have their bright spot-lights, and choose where to shine them. One can only wonder what this sort of intrusion would have done to a Prime Minister like Churchill – a heavy drinker, coarse with his words and economical with the truth when he thought it served his purposes. He would not have survived. And the country would have been worse off.

When we vote we need to turn from the light to see. Shut your eyes now, and your ears. Let the press go quiet while we reflect carefully without their intrusion…

Korea to Iraq… Who’s next?

KB — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:51:57 +0000

A little dated now, but still a great video from Knife Party, with polemic text by Barry Mcnamara, outlining one perspective on American militarism. With Gordon Brown giving evidence at the Iraq inquiry today, it seemed resonant, especially the astonishing statistic that the US has been at war with someone around the world at all times since the Korean war of 1953.

Do I think it’s that simple? No. But nor do I think it’s as simple as counter-texts such as the ‘axis of evil’ speech make out either. And nor do I think that Britain – or any other nation/people who fetishise capital – are any better than the US. It’s not them, it’s us. This whole Iraq war, and the whole concept of a ‘war on terror’ has been a total debacle, and capitalism has been right at the centre of it.