The progressive left's appeasement - and in some cases support - for Gadaffi is akin to those British Aristocrats who actively sympathised with Fascism in the 1930s.
The latest relevations in the Times (£) today make shocking reading. Not only was the London School of Economics accepting blood money from the Gadaffi Regime, but it now emerges that the University had agreed to bring to Britain 400 so called "Future Leaders" from the Libyan Elite for "training".
The latest relevations in the Times (£) today make shocking reading. Not only was the London School of Economics accepting blood money from the Gadaffi Regime, but it now emerges that the University had agreed to bring to Britain 400 so called "Future Leaders" from the Libyan Elite for "training".
But what is worse than just the financial links to Gadaffi is the involvement of the so-called progressive left.
Just who are the guilty men - and women? Antony Giddens, author of the Third Way, who wrote a paean of praise to Gadaffi in the Guardian. Professor David Held, who went out of his way to compliment the Gadaffi family. Lord Desai, who is alleged to have supervised Said Gadaffi's PHD. Most astonishing and disappointing of all is Shami Chakrabarti - who was on the LSE Council which agreed to the Gadaffi blood money. No doubt more of this will emerge in the coming days.
Why is it that the Progressive Left, who are so anxious to talk about human rights at home, who are so ready to criticise Israel for any wrongdoing - and call for academic boycotts and the like - are yet so willing to give succour to Middle Eastern Despots, and take their people's money in the process? The LSE scandal follows a long line of leftist figures supporting anti-democratic, anti progressive regimes in the Middle East. Time to re-read Nick Cohen's excellent book, "What's Left".
You can also see this article HERE on the Conservative Home Website.
by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com
Rob, first up I think you are doing an excellent job as our new MP and I don't disagree with anything that you have said in this post. Many in the New Labour / progressive left movement did, in retrospect, get far too cosy with the Gaddafi regime. But I don't think it is worth opening this particular can of worms - I don't think there is any political advantage to be gained long term. People on our side of the political spectrum have also had ties to very odious regimes in the not too distant past, because they thought that they would yield trade deals and jobs.
ReplyDeleteI'm much more interested in seeing the Coalition government deliver some of the real supply-side reforms our country needs to get some economic growth going again! Let's start a going through all of the job-killing, entrepreneurship dampening regulations that the Labour government enacted over the past 13 years line by line, pinning them firmly on Miliband/Balls and working to repeal them! After all, that's why people voted for us! And we need to have a demonstrable track record of economic growth if we are to secure an overall majority at the next general election.