polly toynbee. here’s another ‘progressive’ journalist with a rather simple role. render what is and isn’t acceptable and lead it all back to the labour party. here are a few devices toynbee uses to try and nullify opposition:
1) when talking about an issue which isn’t explicitly economic, attack the left for not paying attention to the bigger moral problem of inequality.2) when talking about inequality, always point out there’s people worse off and talk about a “pecking order of pain”. if you’re talking about the poorest, make sure to say it’s children who are hurt worst. use this to attack (do this on the eve of a march because solidarity, eh?)
3) argue that labour could be doing more. let a few criticisms in. but also uphold almost everything labour does (uphold privatization when you’re not writing in the guardian). be sure to attack critics of labour as decadent, immoral and self-righteous
4) VOTE LABOUR. VOTE LABOUR. VOTE LABOUR. VOTE LABOUR. VOTE LABOUR
again: these people aren’t your friends
VOTE SDP.
The Graun opposed the founding of the NHS, hated Aneurin Bevan and opposed Attlee’s re-election. It was for Suez; blamed the protestors for Bloody Sunday and supported internment without trial; was for the Falkands War and handed a brave whistleblower, Sarah Tisdall, over to the authorities and a prison sentence; was for the first Gulf War and the second, decrying those who called Colin Powell’s UN speech on WMDs exaggerated. There is no issue of importance to the British state in the last century where it did not - as long as it was allowed its narcissistic caveats - loyally toe the line.
Licensed dissent receives its permissions not as a reluctant concession from the state but enthusiastically because it also loyally serves.
If Bradley Manning had released British diplomatic cables, how many do you think would have made it to the Graun?
