Reasons to sack Brian Coleman: he's the Tory candidate!

You've probably seen John Baldy's excellent "101 Reasons to Sack Brian Coleman" blog.

I don't want to take away from that at all. Brian Coleman is a particularly odious example of an arrogant, greedy, etc, politician, who deserves all the personal opprobrium he attracts.

But even if he were actually quite a nice bloke (!) I still couldn't vote for him because, well, he's the Conservative candidate.

As the rubric at the top of this blog should alert you, I'm a trade unionist (though some Conservatives are trade unionists as well, and good that they are) and a socialist. I'm a trade unionist who isn't in it just for the cheap insurance policy, or the press card (ahem).

I happen to think that trade unions are one of the great civilising forces in society. (28 April was Workers' Memorial Day when the trade union movement remembers all those killed or injured in workplace accidents, whose numbers would be more legion were it not for trade unions.)

Trade unions are by no means perfect, always in need of reform, and short-sighted if they only stick to industrial and eschew political issues (and they often do limit themselves in this way). I nevertheless think trade unions are the best hope for humankind to build solidarity, overcome its divisions, particularly class divisions, and organise a rational and democratic society. (Phew!)

I'm a socialist: I fervently hope and believe that we - humankind - can do better than capitalism, build on its achievements, but grow beyond it. So you won't find me in much agreement with the Conservative Party.

For sure, Labour has moved a long way from politically representing its working class base, and Tony Blair and his coterie were as enamoured with the rich and powerful as the Conservatives. But I think we all know that if you want the ruling class, pro-capitalist party par excellence, you still go with the Conservatives.

So, my reason, first, last and everything, for wanting to #SackBrian on 3 May is because he is the Conservative candidate.

If you are really into lists, however, and you want to be reminded just why this current Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government is so worth punishing at the ballot box this coming Thursday take a look at the Haywoods Voice blog. In a recent post Haywood lists no less than "170 reasons not to vote Coalition at the local elections" (the overwhelming majority of them good reasons).

Reasons to Sack Brian Coleman

Although John is up to no.81 on his blog - usefully supplied by his irate wife, who blames John's blogging for ruining their family life - he still needs people to feed him ideas.

You need only send a line or two (if that's all you can manage). John generally does some research and finds a nice picture to go with the story.

Email: johnbaldy123@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnbaldy
Hashtag: #sackbrian