The Golden Strawberry

Hello there,

Here’s just a little more information about this blog. As you may have guessed by now, its inspiration is the Euston manifesto. The manifesto is the starting point for a debate over where the “progressive left” can go from here. The Golden Strawberry is intended to be part of the debate about the issues not covered in the Euston Manifesto (like health, education and crime) as well as those covered (like foreign affairs, liberty and equality).

As Adam says, our political views are still evolving. I attended SWP and RESPECT meetings at university, before realising it’s possible to be a member of the left without opposing everything. I’m still very much a left-winger though. I believe in the nationalisation of key industries, and am unsure if you can reconcile private profit with the public interest on massive schemes like health and education. But don’t be surprised if our views change over the next few weeks, months, (years maybe…?) After all, Clement Atlee was a Tory at university, Harold Wilson a Liberal. So watch this space…

Now to the blog itself. I can’t quite remember where the expression, “Golden strawberry” came from, though it’s definitely an attempt to liven up dull history or economics lessons at college. Don’t ask. The quotation by Elvis Costello at the top is also my idea (I doubt whether Adam would be seen dead listening to an Elvis Costello album). One could say that the quotation represents the contradiction in the blog; with a quotation from one of the great anti-war songs on what you may call a “pro-war left” blog. But it’s only supposed to be a great quote from a great song by a great songwriter. It makes a change from all these George Orwell quotations on other blogs (!) though I have it on good authority Adam is finding a suitable Orwell saying for the top of our blog, to go alongside Elvis.

All that remains to be said is thanks for reading, and enjoy the blog…

Posted by Roy