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Aaron Bastani Profile picture
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30 Sep, 5 tweets, 2 min read
Fair play to Paul for getting the New Statesman to publish what reads like a confused diary about the consequences of his own actions.

I don’t think there’s a single paragraph I agree with here! newstatesman.com/comment/2021/0…
This is patent nonsense. The big dividing lines in Brighton were (eventually) on party democracy, public ownership and a £15 minimum wage. There’s consensus on climate policy and individual rights among members - as anyone who speaks to them knows… Image
A politics of ‘denunciation’ is calling everyone you disagree w/ a ‘Stalinist’. Members can disagree with strategic insights of McDonnell or whoever else. That’s point of mass party. Image
For Paul/NS it is useful to paint left as whacky and id-pol obsessed, but it’s wrong. Just look at the motions passed! And 90% of people are very affable (I had done great conversations with people who don’t politically agree with me).

The guy will be another Hitchens.
I was surprised at extent to which people want to remain in the party (which I think is wisest strategic choice for left). Paul, as ever, has induced some universal Copernican law from a tiny event (in this case people heckling him 🙄).

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More from @AaronBastani

Aaron Bastani Profile picture
2 Oct
This is right from Cummings (for wrong reasons).

We have 2 parties fixated with defending permanent bureaucracy of state because the system blocks heterodoxy. Britain will be stuck with ineffective government until it changes its electoral system or parties have primaries (1/2) Image
European elections with PR somewhat broke that (allowing UKIP through), as does regionally concentrated votes under FPTP (Ireland a century ago, Scotland today). But entire set up is undemocratic, when that cracks (see Corbyn) establishment goes nuts because it’s a malfunction.
This system means problem solving & offering novel ideas is actively avoided and incentivised against both individually & collectively 🤯

The means by which body politic & society can reinvigorate itself doesn’t exist. Does Biden go left happen without primaries? Arguably no.
Read 5 tweets
Aaron Bastani Profile picture
21 Sep
The Tories switching all English elections to FPTP mirrors Starmer's moves to consolidate power among MPs & away from members.

Both are about strengthening cartelisation of power at Westminster & ensuring no alternative emerges. The experiments of last decade can't be repeated>
For Tories that means ensuring another UKIP - where a party to their right emerges because of PR - is impossible. For Labour it means shutting out members.

NOBODY other than politicians thinks more power should be at Westminster. England needs a democratic revolution>
I favour primaries within parties, like US. To illustrate how archaic our 19th C political & media class is, this is described as 'Stalinist'.

I also favour PR so legislatures reflect vote. The raison d'etre of both Tory & now Lab leaderships is to take power not distribute it.
Read 4 tweets
Aaron Bastani Profile picture
10 Sep
Really remarkable that the Scottish Greens not adopting the IHRA definition would discount them from being able to form a government in a democracy.

I think that is quite 'extremist'. I don't think people realise how dangerous a path this is.
The idea that certain political parties could be excluded from government on the basis of not adhering to a certain set of guidelines or definitions is remarkable. It's post-democratic liberalism in its clearest form - one for political theorists to think about!
I think its outlandish this is conceivable in a democracy. Sadly it was given too much truck by Labour left, who frequently placed short term media management over right thing. That will have long term consequences for any sensible debate on this stuff
Read 4 tweets
Aaron Bastani Profile picture
9 Sep
As the Tories increase national insurance in an effort to deal with social care, it's time to identify the scale of the problem.

In the short term (before 2050) demographic ageing is as big a challenge to our economic model as climate change. Thread 1/

novaramedia.com/2021/09/09/an-…
How big is that crisis going to be, and how soon?

In Britain the over 65s is set to increase by 40% between 2016 & 2036, while those over 80 will double. That's a massive shift in care needs.

(2)
The relationship between ageing & age-related conditions is exponential rather than linear, meaning the social costs of ageing are extraordinary. The chances of suffering from Alzheimer’s roughly doubles between the ages of 70 and 75, doubling again between 75 & 80 & so on.

(3)
Read 18 tweets
Aaron Bastani Profile picture
9 Sep
This is great, and cycling in London is an undoubted good news story, but for the rest of country (beyond places like Oxford & Cambridge etc) this image is unthinkable.

In the UK bikes are 1% of all vehicle miles and the number of miles cycled is still below even the mid 80s >
It’s like buses. Using them has gone up in London but....down in the rest of the country (because the infrastructure and prices aren’t as good). This is so bad more bus journeys are now made in London than the rest of England combined! Image
On moving away from cars the U.K., with a few exceptions, is failing. London shows that’s because of resources & political will, but because the capital does well it’s easy for those there to think real progress is happening. Nationally it isn’t.
Read 4 tweets
Aaron Bastani Profile picture
27 Jul
Outstanding piece on how ⁦@Keir_Starmer⁩ dealt with the suspension of ⁦@jeremycorbyn⁩

😡 Starmer broke his word, & has u-turned 3 TIMES

🤥 Starmer put the blame on Morgan McSweeney

😳 Starmer defied EHRC recommendations on day of report! novaramedia.com/2021/07/27/her…
The night before the report was published Corbyn and Starmer were allegedly in direct contact. The next morning the Labour did the dirty and broke his word. Not for the last time.
Blaming others is a habit for Starmer, it even extended to his chief of staff. He comes across as dishonest and dislikeable.

How on earth did he run the CPS?!
Read 6 tweets

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