Labour Conference 'A few lost sheep wandering about'

The Chief Minister Howard Quayle reckons his attendance at things like the Labour Party conference are important and of course - out of step with most people as usual Manx Radio News is they give him a seemingly endless platform to say so.

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/labour-needs-right-image...

Some people see the involvement in these things which only really started within the last decade as meaningless junkets. Indeed some folk see them as of even less value than the parliamentary trips overseas. At least with the letter you get the entertainment value of hearing of Juan Watterson SHKs latest ‘close encounter’ with sobriety.

I would be minded to give Howards view ‘a fair wind’ if he was a platform speaker or indeed the Island hosted several fringe debates but in fact they wander around aimlessly hoping they will catch the attention and ear of someone of consequence. The litmus test is - could Howard come back and specifically name a score or more of MPs who are committed to arguing the Isle of Mans corner - I think the answer would be no. Perhaps Manx Radio News could ask him and treat the listening public with respect by not just serving up Howards stale gruel!

Being familiar with the Labour Party and how it works I doubt if the business of the conference pays even a cursory glance at Mann its Ministers or Manx affairs.

I was a member of the TGWU and it official here for many years. I attended regular meetings sometimes on a bi-monthly basis first in Liverpool at the old TGWU Merseyside Division and then Region 6 HQ. The Labour Party features large in the affairs of the TGWU (now Unite). Over thirty years ago I used to sit across the table from Len McCluskey General Secretary of UNITE in the old Stalinist style HQ of ‘the Merseyside Division’ in Islington Liverpool. Len was a humble District Officer like me back then but he was heavily steeped in the intrigue of Labour politics even then. Now the Unite Union they say bankrolls the Party,

My recollections of Labour then was that it was all about internal intrigue and factionalism particularly leading up to conference. I doubt things have changed and I doubt amidst all that intrigue and plotting there is much room for ‘a few lost sheep from the Isle of Man wandering about’.

If Howard really wants to influence Labour thinking he should have a better rapport with folk like McCluskey perhaps invite him to the Island for ‘a cup of tea and a slice of bonnag’!

Bernard Moffatt