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Owen Jones in conversation with Frankie Boyle
Guardian Live event 17 December 2020
So Frankie Boyle appearing looking like an axe murderer …
Guardian Live event 17 December 2020
So Frankie Boyle appearing looking like an axe murderer …
… whilst Owen Jones was all coy in response to Boyle’s attentions
Over 750 people paid to attend the Guardian Live event.
Let me just repeat that.
Seven-hundred-and-fifty people (roughly £4,500 profit in tickets alone and probably a lot of books sold).
First few minutes OJ and FB were all 'Smashy and Nicey' with each other.
Let me just repeat that.
Seven-hundred-and-fifty people (roughly £4,500 profit in tickets alone and probably a lot of books sold).
First few minutes OJ and FB were all 'Smashy and Nicey' with each other.
OJ was plugging his book “Corbyn: My Part in his Downfall”*. He conducted 160 interviews, many OJ knew well.
OJ’s conclusion is the failure of the Corbyn project is nothing to do with him.
*Ok, it isn't called that. I can't be bothered to look up the real title.
OJ’s conclusion is the failure of the Corbyn project is nothing to do with him.
*Ok, it isn't called that. I can't be bothered to look up the real title.
Boyle and OJ first met shortly after Corbyn was elected as Labour leader. Boyle asked whether the energy created by the Corbyn campaign was best put into Labour?
OJ thought so, but reflected that many anarchists ended up representing the LP (like one Mr J Corbyn himself).
OJ thought so, but reflected that many anarchists ended up representing the LP (like one Mr J Corbyn himself).
OJ said he thought that Corbyn could have been PM in 2017.
Which is strange because this was never a real possibility. OJ repeated this several more times during the webinar. As if repeating it might make it true.
Which is strange because this was never a real possibility. OJ repeated this several more times during the webinar. As if repeating it might make it true.
OJ has come to the conclusion that in order to change the status quo, the LP party actually needs to win a GE.
No shit Sherlock.
No shit Sherlock.
To underline his naivety further, OJ told us that he had worked for John McDonnell for 3 years. They had tried to get McDonnell on the ballot paper for leader in 2007 and 2010 and failed.
In 2015 OJ said Corbyn had no real enemies but also wasn’t taken seriously as a leadership challenger.
OJ stated Corbyn’s main problem was that he is ‘averse to conflict’ and would go AWOL if challenged, esp. in relation to Brexit. Corbyn couldn’t make tough decisions.
OJ stated Corbyn’s main problem was that he is ‘averse to conflict’ and would go AWOL if challenged, esp. in relation to Brexit. Corbyn couldn’t make tough decisions.
Corbyn’s strength that he was ‘very genuine, likeable and very caring’ and apparently has a ‘visceral hatred of injustice’.
Team Corbyn was very united and committed.
Team Corbyn was very united and committed.
Boyle said that the media was very antagonistic towards Corbyn.
OJ put this down to Corbyn’s support of the ‘anti-imperialist tradition’ and ‘decolonisation’ and failed to mention
OJ put this down to Corbyn’s support of the ‘anti-imperialist tradition’ and ‘decolonisation’ and failed to mention
Corbyn’s express support for specific terrorist groups and terrorist sympathisers being the main reason he was unpopular with the public. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02z3x45
Boyle felt that more should have been done to reassure voters and felt Biden’s attempt to encourage the African American vote with his Cornpop story was successful. 
OJ reflected that Corbyn had never been on TV prior to the leadership election (conveniently forgetting his TV presenter gigs with the Iranian state broadcaster Press TV) https://www.businessinsider.com/jeremy-corbyn-paid-iran-press-tv-tortured-journalist-2016-6?r=US&IR=T
and Corbyn had never held a post in shadow cabinet. Corbyn however got people into politics who hadn’t engaged before.
(Did he? Or did the SWP just sign up wholesale into the LP?)
(Did he? Or did the SWP just sign up wholesale into the LP?)
OJ said other problems with Corbyn included that he was anti-charismatic and alienated people when he didn’t sing the national anthem. He also made a mistake over the Salisbury poisonings. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-43775577
Also, Corbyn got annoyed when people asked him about Brexit.
It makes you wonder why OJ was such a vocal supporter for so long.
Boyle wasn’t finished with his idea that there were voters who could have been reached by Labour, if only they could be virtue-signalled to.
It makes you wonder why OJ was such a vocal supporter for so long.
Boyle wasn’t finished with his idea that there were voters who could have been reached by Labour, if only they could be virtue-signalled to.
OJ reflected that some of the behaviour of LP supporters on social media hadn’t helped and complained that he had been on the receiving end.
(By the by, I left the LP after fellow members wished me dead and other abuse. I don't recall OJ condemning supporters at any time.)
(By the by, I left the LP after fellow members wished me dead and other abuse. I don't recall OJ condemning supporters at any time.)
OJ still felt that Corbyn was a cat’s whisker away from being PM but it was the issue of Brexit what scuppered his chances.
OJ can really talk the hinds legs off a donkey and at about half an hour in, I really began to feel very sleepy.
OJ can really talk the hinds legs off a donkey and at about half an hour in, I really began to feel very sleepy.
OJ said that people in Britain had ‘gone through the worst squeeze in living standards since the Napoleonic War’.
Boyle wanted to know if OJ thought that Labour would be electable again? OJ reflected there is less support amongst older voters, who always used their vote.
Boyle wanted to know if OJ thought that Labour would be electable again? OJ reflected there is less support amongst older voters, who always used their vote.
Boyle wanted to know how could Corbyn supporters hold Starmer to account? (Most on the call were Momentum-types.)
OJ said that Corbyn had 10 election pledges from 2019 and that supporters should demand compliance via CLPs. He suggested Boyle should become an MP.
OJ said that Corbyn had 10 election pledges from 2019 and that supporters should demand compliance via CLPs. He suggested Boyle should become an MP.
OJ felt that things were much better for the Left now, what with the stunning success of Momentum and everything.
In typical arrogance, OJ asserted that the ‘Labour Right’ ‘don’t have any ideas, what do they believe in?!’
In typical arrogance, OJ asserted that the ‘Labour Right’ ‘don’t have any ideas, what do they believe in?!’
It’s all to play for, apparently. And put pressure on your MP. Keir Starmer has to keep to his promises, reminded OJ.
People began to drop off fast once the hour had been reached.
People began to drop off fast once the hour had been reached.
OJ bemoaned the fact that Tories still had a polling lead ‘despite 80,000* people dying in a mismanaged pandemic’.
Worse still when everyone gets vaccinated there will be a ‘feel good factor’ which will benefit BoJo.
*OJ generously added 10,000 on.
Worse still when everyone gets vaccinated there will be a ‘feel good factor’ which will benefit BoJo.
*OJ generously added 10,000 on.
OJ and Boyle discussed Twitter. Both of them have blocked huge numbers of users for no reason.
OJ had been trending again that day on Twitter - ‘oh no why am I trending again?’ OJ frequently asks himself.
OJ had been trending again that day on Twitter - ‘oh no why am I trending again?’ OJ frequently asks himself.
Boyle, who had sounded butt hurt throughout the webinar, said a friend had recently texted him to ask ‘why are you trending on twitter? what have you done?’
Boyle had a ‘real panic’ and asked his agent to look up what it was as he doesn’t have twitter on his phone. It turned out it was just someone had said ‘oh I hate Frankie Boyle’ and everyone else was saying ‘yeah, me too’.
People objectify you, opined Boyle, and they don’t always speak to you like you’re human and that it wasn’t good for his mental health.
This is the same man who made this joke.
This is the same man who made this joke.
Here endeth the thread.
