youngian wrote: McDonnell and Corbyn are to fulfil their ambitions to replicate the economic miracles of Hugo Chavez.
If an Owen Smith supporting member of the Labout Party describes McDonnell's economic plans as those of Hugo Chavez the suggestion is that his argument put forward previously that "it's not about the policies" is disingenuous.
Moreover, it also suggests that Owen Smith's assurances that he is indeed on the left (just slightly less left) is equally disingenuous: Only somebody right of centre would conflate the current leadership's political position with that of Chavez.
Finally, it has been observed that their economic policies do not differ that much.
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If Owen Smith also views McDonnell's economic policies as an extreme left ones, surely he would distance himself him from them. Unless, of course, he knows that if he were to be honest where he stands on economic policy (i.e. "austerity is right") he would stand no chance at being elected.
It has long been suggested here that Labour should say anything to get in power and then do what they wanted to do all along. Now we see that this can be applied to its own leadership elections.
I once asked Rupert Murdoch why he was so opposed to the European Union. 'That’s easy,' he replied. 'When I go into Downing Street they do what I say; when I go to Brussels they take no notice.'