Corbyn Spin Doctor Hypocrisy

The right-leaning punditerati is in a terrible froth of its own making this morning at the news that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has not only not asked them nicely before appointing an “executive director of strategy and communications” - that would be chief spinner - but also that he has given the job to Seumas Milne, who has had the audacity to work for the deeply subversive Guardian while holding left-wing views.

No, he still doesn't look scary

This unforgivable act has provoked a suitably righteous outcry: typical is Alex Massie in the Spectator, who rambles on and on until he deigns to mention Milne in the fifth paragraph of his self-regarding dirge, before telling “Nothing is too bonkers to be unthinkable these days. Life in Corbynvania will never be dull”. Why? Oh come on, you know, nudge nudge, wink wink and all that. Nod’s as good as a wink to a blind bat.

Wibble

The perpetually thirsty Paul Staines and his rabble at the Guido Fawkes blog list what they claim are Milne’s views, but sadly, the tendency of The Great Guido to talk well, and lie badly, causes them to become badly unstuck when they recycle their claim that Milne “despaired” at the fall of the Berlin Wall, a view that he has never advanced. Elsewhere, the Telegraph has concluded that Milne is a supporter of terrorism.

Yah-boo

The paper claims Milne “commissioned articles by Osama bin Laden”. This is a somewhat optimistic talking up of “once gave a byline to terrorist Osama Bin Laden by reproducing text from a taped speech on the newspaper's website”. And Kate McCann’s drivel includes this priceless gem: “The outspoken supporter of Mr Corbyn has also made a number of strongly-worded criticisms about the mainstream media, referring in one article to ‘a Conservative press largely owned by tax-dodging overseas plutocrats’, which sources think could make his new role difficult”. Aw, diddums!

Smug sneer

Elsewhere, the frothing continues, as the Tel’s not at all celebrated blues artiste Whinging Dan Hodges carps “Seamus [sic] Milne's appointment is insane”. The loathsome Toby Young at least spells Milne’s first name right, despite the snobby and sneering tone. Semi-pro know-all David Aaronovitch sniffed “He was what was known as a 'tankie'. Pro-Soviet and anti-American/imperialist. Possibly impatient of feminism, gay rights etc”.

Spot the schoolboy error, Master Cole

And at the Sun, the odious flannelled fool Henry Cole puts his foot in it as he tells readers “When London was bombed in 2006 by terrorists, Mr Milne wrote ‘the only surprise was that the attacks were so long coming’”. Well, quite, especially as those attacks happened the previous year. But the real hypocrisy of all these august beings went untold.

Anyone remember this bloke's appointment?

Seumas Milne has merely voiced his opinions. Andy Coulson, who Young Dave appointed as his chief spinner and then took into Downing Street, had overseen the transformation of the Murdoch Screws into a criminal enterprise. The scale of organised criminality was impressive, even by criminal standards. Yet Coulson’s appointment was defended - and by some of those whining about Milne.

Yes, the Fawkes rabble, Master Cole, and the loathsome Tobes all defended Coulson. Now they’re sneering because a Labour leader employs a spinner who expresses left-wing views. But they are blind to their hypocrisy. No surprise there, then.