On Jan 6, 10:58*pm, The Real Doctor wrote:

Deep down I think the left prefers being in opposition. It's so much fun
than being in power,

Not only that, but it allows you the luxury of adopting morally and
intellectually pure policies, safe in the knowledge that you'll never
have to either implement them or defend the consequences to the
electorate. Their pragmatism is why the Tories are the natural party
of stable government; their idealism is why Labour are the natural
party of futile opposition. Watching Labour utterly fail to make the
slightest impression in the Tory standing, in a manner which make
Michael Foot 1982 look like Clem Attlee 1945, would be amusing were it
not so tragic, and shows up the aberration of Tony Blair's
electability for the once-in-a-century wildcard that it was. Winning
elections, which meant they had to make the compromises of power, is
something Labour could never forgive Blair for, and as soon as they
had the opportunity they installed an election-losing political
incompetent to return normal service. Putting Brown in charge of the
Labour Party (disastrous electoral defeat, massive internal division,
a legacy of spite and back-biting that will last a generation) may
look insane to the outside observer, but for the typical Labour Party
member, it was perfect: no more compromise! No more selling out! The
arid purity of opposition!

ian