Starmtroopers on the march: commons image
By Paul Francis
A leader needs a right-hand man
to plot the course, draw up the plan.
We guess that it’s the leader’s choice,
that there’s a moment when his voice
announces who’ll run the campaign.
But what if – though this sounds insane –
the fixer is the one to choose?
Sifts out all those he knows will lose
and picks one hopeful from the queue?
Morgan McSweeney says He’ll do.
Control it all, admit no doubt
and prune the membership. Throw out
the rebels who won’t toe the line.
Each vote will count. Margins are fine
but Morgan’s done his sums, he sees
the Tory Party’s on its knees.
You want to win, you have to fight.
MPs are lobby fodder, right?
We won this huge majority.
The power’s ours. Just you and me.
In Manchester the mayor’s a man
who spreads the power, shares the plan
beyond the membership. Surprise!
Momentum, if you mobilise
support beyond your own control
can feel exciting. Rock ‘n’ roll!
That sense of ownership can grow
as people sense the difference, know
they’re not just told what they should do;
they’re active, part of something new.
Down in the bunker such talk’s banned.
The members have to understand
that there is no alternative.
Pundits say something’s gotta give:
this by-election maybe means
Reform could win; maybe, the Greens
but Morgan won’t succumb to fear.
The answer is…it must be…Keir.
Keir’s lost for words. What can he say?
How did they throw this all away?
