Diaries, 12th May 2024,

Isobel

May 12

John Smith died thirty years ago. The Labour party history is full of people called the best prime minister we never had. I certainly feel that about John smith. It felt like the earth had stopped turning when I heard the news of his death. Walworth, where I live, was home for around twenty years to the Labour Party HQ. When Smith died the building was named John Smith House, and a silver rose decorated the facade. Now it's a hostel for students visiting London.

The local election results saw the Tories suffer a trouncing, not that they are interpreting it like that. You would almost think it was a huge success from the interviews given afterwards. We almost won, was the comment I liked best. I don't mind if they almost win when the general election is held. I just want them to lose. Fourteen years of their ideology led incompetence has brought this country to a state I could never have imagined growing up. Then Keir Starmer did an extraordinary thing, he welcomed a right wing Tory, a former member of the ERG for goodness sake, a Brexiteer into the Labour party. She crossed the floor last Wednesday. what to make of that I do not know.

Fortunately the weather has been kind all week which always makes things seem more positive. I've been busy with work and also cultural (!) pursuits. Two trips to the theatre. On Friday night I was at the Purcell Room on the Southbank to watch Masterclass. Mesmerising and jaw dropping to learn in the post show talk that the outrageous things the person playing the acclaimed director was saying were taken from actual masterclass talks. Misogyny, control, privilege and patriarchy are all alive and well. The company is Brokentalkers, based in Dublin. they said they would be touring this play throughout Ireland. Oh good, I thought, I shall recommend it to my pals in Belfast. Unfortunately throughout Ireland appears to exclude the north. Hey ho.