tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post5843412302912104100..comments2009-10-27T17:58:40.035ZRachael Jolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04830594240244312855noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-55976111481674077932009-10-27T17:58:40.297Z2009-10-27T17:58:40.297ZAnthony Barnett has asked me to post the following comment (a persistent technical glitch at Next Left prevents him from doing so himself):<br /><br />Well said. There is an important insight here. A great issue of principle is regarded as trivial. It takes its place in a long line of New Labour derision for issues that allow us to think about how we are governed, from Blair&#39;s dismissal of the Scottish Parliament as a parish council to Alistair Campbell&#39;s joshing and swearing about constitutional reform. There is also a twisted inheritance from a more traditional Establishment philistinism. It is both a technique and an instrument of rule that denies it is any such thing by making a joke of it. Alas most journalists love it.Stuart Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05090728365798166746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-33690982649281944692009-10-27T15:58:11.794Z2009-10-27T15:58:11.794ZAgree. AJ has had a good deal of credibility with liberals given his support for PR. And he has been fairly good on ID cards. <br /><br />But the pix on yesterday&#39;s Guardian front-page do suggest these are questions which ought to be answered.Sunder Katwalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671411534003530927noreply@blogger.com