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In the years I have worked for the Labour party I have been described as 'new Labour' and 'old Labour'. More people have called me a loyal 'Blairite' than 'Brownite'. Mainly though, they call me Tommy 'two dinners' Watson after an unfortunate incident in the Gay Hussar some years ago that I am not going to get into on this blog.
Over the last few months I was called Tommy 'Gun' Watson. Last month one of the sketch writers described me as a 'down market Billy Bunter'. Some people call me 'Brother Watson' after a four year spell as the Political Officer to Sir Ken Jackson, former boss of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union. Of course I was never called that when I worked for the union. To most members of the union I was the hired-in, head office 'suit' who had spent his previous years in an idle, desk-based non-job profession, working for three leaders of the Labour party. It still makes me laugh when I'm given the fraudulent title of 'trade union fixer'.
In the last few days I have had to endure the label 'rebel'. To be honest, I'm still shuddering at the title.
Never though, never ever, until today, have I been described as Scottish.
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September 8, 2006 11:39 AM | permalink
To the Lib Dems you'll always be "Comical Tommy" ;)
September 8, 2006 3:05 PM | permalink
Never mind, Tom there are many worse things Jackie Ashley could have described you as !
September 8, 2006 5:36 PM | permalink
Have you ever been known as Tommy "Guitar" Watson? Or "The Tommy Lama?" Those have come my way a few times....I posted on your news, here across the pond...
September 8, 2006 5:57 PM | permalink
Tom 2 questions-1 Shouldnt mr Brown be leader of the Scottish Parlaiment? and 2.if you find yourself without a party would you like to sit next to me?xxMargaret Macklin
September 8, 2006 8:27 PM | permalink
Hi Tom - For what it's worth, you've made me glad to have voted for you in the last few days. If only because I can say "Oh, yes, Tom Watson...I met him you know..."
http://isthisagoodidea.blogspot.com/2004/04/one-and-only-watso.html
September 12, 2006 8:24 PM | permalink
Tom,
The dearth of comments suggest to me you're sunk - wouldn't people be taking an interest in someone with a future?
Hey, by the way, lucky you took the gift round for the baby. What would you have had to excuse a visit otherwise?
September 13, 2006 10:47 PM | permalink
And (somewhat unfairly methinks) in Private Eye's St Albion's Parish News as a 'poisonous little nobody'!
Is that your first time in the Eye?
September 27, 2006 8:13 AM | permalink
Mr Watson
Isn,t it about time you announced a date for you resignation as a Labour Party MP. We do not want MP's who show disloyalty to the Labour Party and to its leader.
Please announce a date for you departure.
John
September 30, 2006 11:20 AM | permalink
John - who is this 'We'? I wouldn't want an MP that would put loyalty to the leadership line ahead of what they perceived the wider interest of the country (ie. beating Cameron).
Incidentally, with yet another year where Conference has passed motions that the leadership will ignore - where is the real disloyalty?
September 8, 2006 11:37 AM | permalink
Hi Tom,
Firstly, I'd like to commend you on your actions over the past few days, and realise it must have been an intensely hard decision to make.
Secondly, I was wondering what you don't like about the term 'rebel'? As far as I'm concerned in this context, it doesn't make one any less loyal. If anything, it is highlighting that the democratic routes once open and transparent in the party have been so guarded in recent years, it has come down to people having to make resignations to get their point across.