The longest suicide note in history

[Spijed]

Gerald Kaufman, another old school MP dies

[evensteadiereddie]

???

[Rowls]

It was Kaufman who described Labour's '83 manifesto as "the longest suicide note in history".

[mdd2]

Referring to the Foot election campaign and Party manifesto for the 1983 General Election.
It included giving up our nuclear deterrent amongst other things. Gerald Kauffman called the Manifesto the longest suicide note in history which of course it was. It ensured a crushing defeat at the polls given this was immediately post Falklands.

[Spijed]

Referring to the Foot election campaign and Party manifesto for the 1983 General Election.
It included giving up our nuclear deterrent amongst other things. Gerald Kauffman called the Manifesto the longest suicide note in history which of course it was. It ensured a crushing defeat at the polls given this was immediately post Falklands.

At the moment, it seems history is repeating itself.

[evensteadiereddie]

Ah, slightly tenuous but got it. Didn't take long for this to morph into yet another pro Tory/anti Labour thread.

[Wexford_Claret]

I am really upset by this. As some on here may know, I spend part of the year in Wexford, and part of it in Manchester.

Sir Gerald was my MP over here, a very down-to-earth guy and a good politician. Only last month I contacted him over a political matter and he replied at once, understanding and reassuring. A number of people in my Manchester community knew him well, and will be incredibly saddened to here this.

RIP Sir Gerald, a kind, trustworthy and inspirational man.

[LeadBelly]

"Old School MP" who tried to claim £8,000+ on expenses for a B&O TV. Even the extremely lax expenses claims arbitrator wouldn't allow that one (though he did get away with £1,850 for an imported antique rug).
By election in Gorton coming up then. With the majority Labour holds there, they should win comfortably despite all their current troubles.

[RalphCoatesComb]

Once met him at his house in Whitefield. Genuinely nice guy !

R.I.P. Sir Gerald

[dermotdermot]

An extremely honourable man. RIP.

[mdd2]

At the moment, it seems history is repeating itself.

Don't tell Redbeard he is a disbeliever in history

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Don't tell Redbeard he is a disbeliever in hostory

or History

[IanMcL]

Hats off. Good Labour MP and inside Labour right back to Harold Wilson's day.

[Clarets4me]

Ah, slightly tenuous but got it. Didn't take long for this to morph into yet another pro Tory/anti Labour thread.

Kaufman's description of the manifesto is what he's best remembered for, as well as being " The father of the House " at the time of his death. Incidently, if Ken Clarke had not stopped for an extra glass at a reception for new Conservative MPs in 1970, Kaufman would never have been accorded the honour, as Clarke would have been sworn in first as they were done in alphabetical order...Clarke was sworn in, having joined the back of the queue. His speech in the House, on the day of tributes to Margaret Thatcher, was quite brilliant..

I tend to find the political threads on here contain a balanced selection of views, each, no doubt fervently held by each poster which make quite entertaining reading... Hatfield, Imploding Turtle, Rowls and John McGreal would make for a lively evening's debate around the Dinner table !

[If it be your will]

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