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Got to be GordonAnthony Barnett (London, OK): James Graham tagged me in his response to Matt Wardman's interesting meme on what Gordon Brown should do when he becomes PM. I'm happy to respond as well: *2 things Gordon Brown should be proud of. - Trying to end child poverty - The way he gave independence for the bank of England * 2 things he should apologise for. - Supporting the Iraq war - PFI on schools and the London tube * 2 things that he should do immediately when he becomes PM. - Withdraw from Iraq - Call for a democratic constitutional settlement *2 things he should do while he is PM. - Ensure a united Europe opposes a US attack on Iran - Allow us to vote for a democratic settlement he does not like, to replace our centralised ‘empire state'. I'm also supposed to tag eight other bloggers, who are (in no particular order) Caspar Henderson, Becky Hogge, Pat Kane, Tom Griffin, Slugger O'Toole, Glyn Davies, Tom Waterhouse and Caroline Hunt. Although I agree with many of the suggestions above I feel that he has been at the heart of the decision making of the present regime so should resign as quickly as possible. However as an act of penance before he goes, to quote from the excellent film 'Taking Liberties' he should :-
Restore the Right to Protest Restore the Right to Freedom of Speech Restore the Right to Privacy Restore the Right not to be detained without charge Restore Habeas Corpus Prohibit Torture, or our aiding others that do. Then just before he turns out the lights in number 10, which I hope will be a pleasant and short stay for him, he should introduce the AV+ voting system. Got to be Gordon meme Anthony Barnett has tagged me with a meme on Gordon Brown from Matt Wardman. Here goes: * 2 things Gordon Brown should be proud ofIncreasing spending on health and educationAvoiding a recession * 2 things he should apologise for.Supporting the Love the way you've taken on the teenage 'meme' thing... *2 things Gordon Brown should be proud of. - Increased direct investment in public services - Keeping developing-world debt cancellation and poverty reduction on his and his peers' agenda * 2 things he should apologise for. - His virtually silent assent to the massacre in Iraq - His futile attempts to impose a Presbyterian work-ethic on a thoroughly playful Generation Y * 2 things that he should do immediately when he becomes PM. - Yes, withdraw from Iraq - Reverse his spineless decision on renewing Trident *2 things he should do while he is PM. - Accept that the 'Europeanisation' of the four nations of the Uk is inevitable, and take the necessary measures (electoral PR, preparing for coalition, federalism decided by each of the constituent parts) that go with the grain of history - Look at a 'citizen's wage' and reduction of working hours, which will give us all time and space to be the 'good citizens' he urges us to be It's a running joke on the blogosphere now. NO I will not do the Brown meme. But thank you anyway :) (see I will say thankyou Matt!) [...] avoided foreign policy, and not laboured exclusively on his handling of the economy. I’ve been tagged by Anthony over at OpenDemocracy, so here’s my late offering: [...] Post new comment |
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Matt (not verified) said:
Tue, 2007-06-19 16:25Thanks, but Caroline Hunt won't thank you !