There once was a bloke called Nuttall
who was forced to make a rebuttal:
"The quote I made
was made by an aide."
- which actually means f**kall.
Thursday, 16 February 2017
Paul Nuttall
Paul Nuttall says that he knows Stoke like he knows the back of his head.
Paul Nuttall says that his greatest hope is to represent Stoke-on-Brent
Paul Nuttall says that he's very grateful that BBC Newsnight is not covering his statements on Hillsborough tonight.
Paul Nuttall says that he drives a Nuttall Corsa.
Paul Nuttall says he thought he lost friends at Hillsborough because he's always found it hard to keep his friends
Paul Nuttall says that Stoke is one of the great Yorkshire cities.
Paul Nuttall says that when he said he invented the famous chocolate spread, he meant that he likes it.
Paul Nuttall says that he loved working with Mary Berry on the Great British Bakeoff but will take the brand to Channel4
Paul Nuttall says that when he said that he lost friends at Hillsborough he meant that he lost his glasses
Paul Nuttall says he's very proud that people in Liverpool say, 'He's Nuttall there.
Paul Nuttall says that the best central defence in the top flight English league was Alan Hansen and Paul Nuttall
Paul Nuttall says his great inspiration is Shakespeare's Henry V:
"No, Nuttall these thrice-gorgeous ceremony..."
Paul Nuttall says that his brother is Midsomer Murders star John Nuttall.
Paul Nuttall says that his favourite book as a child was Beatrix Potter's wonderful little book, 'Squirrel Nuttall'.
Paul Nuttall says that the legendary Everton manager Howard Nuttall was his father.
Paul Nuttall says that he remembers when the names on everyone's lips were: John, Paul Nuttall, George and Ringo.
Paul Nuttall says that Nelson's last words were 'Kiss me Nuttall'. Paul Nuttall says that little green men write the comments on his website.
Paul Nuttall says that he lost his hearing in the trenches.
Paul Nuttall says that he didn't lose a close friend, he lost his bottle. Paul Nuttall denies he lost his credibility over the Hillsborough matter, as he's not sure he had any in the first place
Paul Nuttall says he lost an eye at the Battle of Agincourt but found it in the bath where his mum was storing coal
Paul Nuttall says he didn't lose his rag. It's just that he prefers to use paper hankies now.
Paul Nuttall says re his website and who writes what, he's lost track. And cars. Scalectrix eh? Easily done.
Paul Nuttall says that he didn't lose his shirt on the 4.30 at Sundown but in a bare knuckle prize fight in Toxteth
Paul Nuttall didn't lose his bearings. They're still in the ball-race on the car that his father was too poor to buy
Paul Nuttall says he didn't lose his train of thought. It was on platform 4 at Liverpool Lime Street.
Paul Nuttall says that he did not lose his temper. It was in the parlour is his two-up two-down back-to-back terrace
Paul Nuttall lost an argument but found it in Nigel Farage's trousers
Paul Nuttall lost his thread because, he says, Jeremy Corbyn closed the cotton mills.
Paul Nuttall said that he did not lose his hair, it lost him.
Paul Nuttall lost his way on the way to Hillsborough but he found it again when he decided to stand for parliament
Paul Nuttall lost his leg on a midnight hike and found it in the Lost Property Office on Liverpool Station
Paul Nuttall says that his greatest hope is to represent Stoke-on-Brent
Paul Nuttall says that he's very grateful that BBC Newsnight is not covering his statements on Hillsborough tonight.
Paul Nuttall says that he drives a Nuttall Corsa.
Paul Nuttall says he thought he lost friends at Hillsborough because he's always found it hard to keep his friends
Paul Nuttall says that Stoke is one of the great Yorkshire cities.
Paul Nuttall says that when he said he invented the famous chocolate spread, he meant that he likes it.
Paul Nuttall says that he loved working with Mary Berry on the Great British Bakeoff but will take the brand to Channel4
Paul Nuttall says that when he said that he lost friends at Hillsborough he meant that he lost his glasses
Paul Nuttall says he's very proud that people in Liverpool say, 'He's Nuttall there.
Paul Nuttall says that the best central defence in the top flight English league was Alan Hansen and Paul Nuttall
Paul Nuttall says his great inspiration is Shakespeare's Henry V:
"No, Nuttall these thrice-gorgeous ceremony..."
Paul Nuttall says that his brother is Midsomer Murders star John Nuttall.
Paul Nuttall says that his favourite book as a child was Beatrix Potter's wonderful little book, 'Squirrel Nuttall'.
Paul Nuttall says that the legendary Everton manager Howard Nuttall was his father.
Paul Nuttall says that he remembers when the names on everyone's lips were: John, Paul Nuttall, George and Ringo.
Paul Nuttall says that Nelson's last words were 'Kiss me Nuttall'. Paul Nuttall says that little green men write the comments on his website.
Paul Nuttall says that he lost his hearing in the trenches.
Paul Nuttall says that he didn't lose a close friend, he lost his bottle. Paul Nuttall denies he lost his credibility over the Hillsborough matter, as he's not sure he had any in the first place
Paul Nuttall says he lost an eye at the Battle of Agincourt but found it in the bath where his mum was storing coal
Paul Nuttall says he didn't lose his rag. It's just that he prefers to use paper hankies now.
Paul Nuttall says re his website and who writes what, he's lost track. And cars. Scalectrix eh? Easily done.
Paul Nuttall says that he didn't lose his shirt on the 4.30 at Sundown but in a bare knuckle prize fight in Toxteth
Paul Nuttall didn't lose his bearings. They're still in the ball-race on the car that his father was too poor to buy
Paul Nuttall says he didn't lose his train of thought. It was on platform 4 at Liverpool Lime Street.
Paul Nuttall says that he did not lose his temper. It was in the parlour is his two-up two-down back-to-back terrace
Paul Nuttall lost an argument but found it in Nigel Farage's trousers
Paul Nuttall lost his thread because, he says, Jeremy Corbyn closed the cotton mills.
Paul Nuttall said that he did not lose his hair, it lost him.
Paul Nuttall lost his way on the way to Hillsborough but he found it again when he decided to stand for parliament
Paul Nuttall lost his leg on a midnight hike and found it in the Lost Property Office on Liverpool Station
Monday, 13 February 2017
Labour shortages? What? But you said immigration is 'too high'...
Well, well, well if ever you wanted an example of what we Marxists call the gap between 'ideology' and 'conditions', this is it! For years, those in power have let it be known that there is something undesirable about immigration. In short, they say that immigrants are a problem - even 'the' problem. If you (the people) are in any way worse off (mentally, emotionally, materially) the fault is immigrants. That's been the story and the press have loved it. We've even had the repeated bogus business of interviewers rushing off and talking solely and obsessively to 'people on the ground' (nearly always old and white) and letting them 'voice their concerns' - ones that the media and government have stirred up over and over and over again even to point of objecting that immigrants speak their own language (what a crime!), practise their own religions (crime again!) and do the lowest paid jobs with the worst conditions whilst simultaneously sponging off 'our' benefits system. All this has been 'ideology' ie a consistent set of untruths, half-truths and a deliberate attempt not to present the whole picture of how immigration supports the kind of economy that the UK has.
Meanwhile, there are the 'material' conditions. That's to say, the organisation and cycle of work, production, distribution, and the making of profits. Quite clearly, immigration has been essential for this in a variety of ways. So there is a gap between what government and press have been saying and what has actually been happening. That's why Cameron talking about 'bringing down the numbers' was always hooey. He would have been told over and over again by employers' organisations (natural supporters of the Tories) that their businesses were only sustainable on the basis that young workers were coming in able and willing to do those jobs.
So now having 'won' the ideological battle: hooray we can 'control our borders' (euphemism for 'keep foreigners out') they're losing the material one ie businesses are short of labour.
This is an extraordinary moment. We'll have to see how serious it is, but a Tory government is going to find it extremely difficult to turn round to an electorate primed up to think that 'bringing down immigration' (or even telling immigrants to 'go home') was and is a 'solution' for something (it isn't), whilst at the same time maintaining the same levels of immigration.
Watch this space.
Sunday, 12 February 2017
"What do you do at Goldsmiths, Michael?"
People sometimes ask me what I do at Goldsmiths, University of London.
I have a job there: I am a professor of children's literature, working part-time throughout the academic year, co-teaching two terms of seminars on our MA in Children's Literature: 'Theory and Practice of Children's Literature' and 'Children's Literature in Action'. I helped to co-devise the course and we tweak it each year in response to students' comments.
The 'Theory and Practice' term looks at the kinds of critical approaches one can take towards children's books - e.g. psychoanalytic, historical, from the point of view of genre and so on. The 'Action' term asks students to devise a project, taking children's books to children themselves and observing what happens. It can be school-, home- or library-based (or any other environment) which brings children and books together.
I tutor most of the students doing their 5000 word assignments for each of these two terms - they receive two half-hour one-to-one tutorials and I mark these assignments.
I also give one-off lectures, occasional seminars with BA students on their education courses, and offer some supervision of MA dissertations.
People doing the MA in Children's Literature at Goldsmiths can choose between three pathways: Critical, Creative, and Illustration. I only teach on the Critical pathway. Why not the Creative? Because I'm not very good at it. I have enough trouble teaching myself how to edit my own creative work!
The course is open to people who have a good first degree and can show interest in the subject. Those who want to follow the Creative and Illustration pathways have to present evidence of their work.
I have a job there: I am a professor of children's literature, working part-time throughout the academic year, co-teaching two terms of seminars on our MA in Children's Literature: 'Theory and Practice of Children's Literature' and 'Children's Literature in Action'. I helped to co-devise the course and we tweak it each year in response to students' comments.
The 'Theory and Practice' term looks at the kinds of critical approaches one can take towards children's books - e.g. psychoanalytic, historical, from the point of view of genre and so on. The 'Action' term asks students to devise a project, taking children's books to children themselves and observing what happens. It can be school-, home- or library-based (or any other environment) which brings children and books together.
I tutor most of the students doing their 5000 word assignments for each of these two terms - they receive two half-hour one-to-one tutorials and I mark these assignments.
I also give one-off lectures, occasional seminars with BA students on their education courses, and offer some supervision of MA dissertations.
People doing the MA in Children's Literature at Goldsmiths can choose between three pathways: Critical, Creative, and Illustration. I only teach on the Critical pathway. Why not the Creative? Because I'm not very good at it. I have enough trouble teaching myself how to edit my own creative work!
The course is open to people who have a good first degree and can show interest in the subject. Those who want to follow the Creative and Illustration pathways have to present evidence of their work.
"Strong Economy" - strong for who?
"Strong economy"
NHS cuts
"Strong economy"
Cuts in school budgets
"Strong economy"
Wages not keeping up with inflation
"Strong economy
Punitive sanctions system with benefits
"Strong economy"
Rise in zero hour contracts
"Strong economy"
Bogus 'self-employed' contracts so as to avoid workers' rights
"Strong economy"
Unequal pay
"Strong economy"
Bogus apprenticeships
"Strong economy"
"Strong" for who?
Thursday, 9 February 2017
Revelation: Corbyn is not God.
How about run the alternative scenario as of the referendum result forwards? The country votes for Brexit. A huge time and effort is put in explaining that the main reason for the unexpected swing etc etc is because millions feel 'left behind' especially by the 'metropolitan elite' which the media interpret as 'especially Jeremy 'Islington' Corbyn. So Corbyn was neither very pro-Remain or very pro-Brexit. So what? The nation itself was neither very pro-one or the -other. There are very good reasons to be not very pro-one or the -other. So, the question arises as to what a political party does with the result. Ignore it or go with it or abstain. The SNP have the 'alibi' of saying they are a 'country'. Corbyn has no such 'alibi'. If he chose 'ignore', let's pause a moment and imagine the chorus of hate, abuse, misrepresentation and mockery that would come down on 'Jeremy 'Islington' Corbyn's shoulders. "Corbyn Ignores Labour Heartlands' 'Corbyn Runs with the Luvvies' etc etc.
So Corbyn says that he'll go with the referendum. For this, he gets barrel loads of abuse from Labour-supporting Remainers most (not all) of whom hate him anyway and will do anything to get him out. Anything. And this paper gives them all the airspace they want and more. Meanwhile on the ground, Brexit voting voters 'in the north' (perhaps Labour or ex-Labou) are told every day that Corbyn's deserted you and only cares about refugees - even though he's just voted with them! The people who've 'deserted' them are the Remainers who are still 'Remaining' but who themselves say that they are the true Labour people - Owen Smith etc.
Corbyn says that now we fight. Which is exactly what is what would have happened had Remain won. The same issues are on the table: wages, conditions and services. Only crystal ball experts can say for certain whether the fight for these was going to be harder or easier given the two options that were in front of us at the time of the Referendum. I, for one, am prepared to put hand on heart and say, I couldn't discern which of those two options looked for certain (yes, for certain) offered the better option for working people and the unwaged poor. There were, and still are, too many variables to tell. And just because politicians talk about 'good for the economy' doesn't mean it's good for working people and the poor. In fact, there is everything to indicate that no matter what trade blocs we are in (or not) the future of capitalism is about increasing amassing for assets and wealth (not just income variation) in the hands of a tiny few, while the mass of working people are kept on as low as possible an income. Anyone looking at the segment on automation on the TV the other night,could see that the size of investment required to keep pace with the rate of automation, and the sheer amount of automation offer a frightening prospect for working people. How that would be different according to whether we are in or out of the EU is highly debatable.
So, Corbyn went with the referendum result in part perhaps to avoid the shit-storm. But as shit-storm is what it's been deemed he should have, he gets it anyway. Meanwhile, as he says, there is tomorrow: same old fights. All those flinging the proverbial at him, are you going to sign up for the fight for jobs, conditions and services, or simply go on and on and on and on and on saying that Corbyn is crappier than crap?
Corbyn says that now we fight. Which is exactly what is what would have happened had Remain won. The same issues are on the table: wages, conditions and services. Only crystal ball experts can say for certain whether the fight for these was going to be harder or easier given the two options that were in front of us at the time of the Referendum. I, for one, am prepared to put hand on heart and say, I couldn't discern which of those two options looked for certain (yes, for certain) offered the better option for working people and the unwaged poor. There were, and still are, too many variables to tell. And just because politicians talk about 'good for the economy' doesn't mean it's good for working people and the poor. In fact, there is everything to indicate that no matter what trade blocs we are in (or not) the future of capitalism is about increasing amassing for assets and wealth (not just income variation) in the hands of a tiny few, while the mass of working people are kept on as low as possible an income. Anyone looking at the segment on automation on the TV the other night,could see that the size of investment required to keep pace with the rate of automation, and the sheer amount of automation offer a frightening prospect for working people. How that would be different according to whether we are in or out of the EU is highly debatable.
So, Corbyn went with the referendum result in part perhaps to avoid the shit-storm. But as shit-storm is what it's been deemed he should have, he gets it anyway. Meanwhile, as he says, there is tomorrow: same old fights. All those flinging the proverbial at him, are you going to sign up for the fight for jobs, conditions and services, or simply go on and on and on and on and on saying that Corbyn is crappier than crap?
Remember the Number 322
Remember the number
322
Three hundred and twenty two
That's the number of the MPs
who voted against guaranteeing EU citizens
the right to stay in the UK.
322
Three hundred and twenty two
elected representatives have said to their
neighbours, "If they come for you in the morning
I am one of those who has given all the power
needed for them to take you away."
You won't need to have done anything wrong,
you won't need to have broken any law.
All you need to be is 'European'
That's what 322 MPs think is wrong with you.
That's what 322 reasonable, rational MPs have done.
If they come for us in the morning
remember the 322.
Three hundred and twenty two
322
Three hundred and twenty two
That's the number of the MPs
who voted against guaranteeing EU citizens
the right to stay in the UK.
322
Three hundred and twenty two
elected representatives have said to their
neighbours, "If they come for you in the morning
I am one of those who has given all the power
needed for them to take you away."
You won't need to have done anything wrong,
you won't need to have broken any law.
All you need to be is 'European'
That's what 322 MPs think is wrong with you.
That's what 322 reasonable, rational MPs have done.
If they come for us in the morning
remember the 322.
Three hundred and twenty two
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