12. Dennis Skinner

[Ulitzer95 12,586]

I interviewed Dennis a couple of times. Can't say it was the best experience, rather tedious in fact. Very shouty. The man loved the sound of his own voice. Also used to go off on the most random tangents ever (in a Grandpa Simpson "I'm going to tell you my entire life story" type way). 

I think he was quite principled but he certainly wasn't consistent. Years ago he'd moan about older MPs never giving up their seats, saying that it was selfish and hindered younger MPs having a stab at it. "I would never starve a young man of a job. I've always been for the workers" blah blah blah. He was determined he'd be out of there by 70.

That didn't happen ofc. He went on and on and on, until the Tories finally knocked him out. His constituents really were fed up of him by 2019. He had become so inactive locally.

Skinner ofc isn't alone on this one. Many of these older MPs don't know when it's time to go. The Tory Party recently begged a few of their MPs to stand down at the next election in exchange for seats in the Lords. Quite a few of them well into their 70s have refused.

[Trome 128]

Will Dennis Skinner remain on the list next year?

[The Old Crem 3,583]

6 hours ago, Trome said:

Will Dennis Skinner remain on the list next year?

With his health declining yes he should.

[maryportfuncity 10,646]

11 hours ago, Trome said:

Will Dennis Skinner remain on the list next year?

 

 

Only fitting given how doggedly he hung on in parliament

[Trome 128]

The reason for my question was because I saw that several users did not mention it when they gave their lists of what they should be like deathlist 2024.

[Jeremy Corbyn 89]

Despite his illness, Dennis is such a strong and resilient character that I wouldn't be surprised if he made it into 2025. People suffering with dementia can sometimes last a while, and he's exactly the type you can imagine wanting to 'put up a fight' so to speak.

[MrWonderful 480]

He was already on the List and the latest updates seem to be negative, not positive, so I don't see any reason why he would be removed from the List next year.  

[Deathrace 1,170]

Maybe he's trying to hang on until there's a Labour Government. 

[Spade_Cooley 9,519]

Yeah, he's a committed Starmerite.

[Brad252 807]

46 minutes ago, Deathrace said:

Maybe he's trying to hang on until there's a Labour Government. 

If his dementia is advanced enough (or will be if he's around at the next election), would he be able to acknowledge/remember who the Government is?

[Jeremy Corbyn 89]

2 hours ago, Brad252 said:

If his dementia is advanced enough (or will be if he's around at the next election), would he be able to acknowledge/remember who the Government is?

Without knowing more information about his condition it's impossible to say.  He could be in the early stages of the illness

[Sod's Law 445]

The village where he lives is only a few miles from me. He is still seen out and about every so often by local shopkeepers, so if he has dementia then it's clearly not progressed to the point where he's a drooling mess. 

 

Still, he's highly respected and regarded by people here, even those who disagreed with his politics. The Tory MP who took the seat in the last election (who will almost certainly be out of a job at the next election) loves leeching off the goodwill towards him in the local newsletters he puts out.

[Comped 526]

3 hours ago, Sod's Law said:

The village where he lives is only a few miles from me. He is still seen out and about every so often by local shopkeepers, so if he has dementia then it's clearly not progressed to the point where he's a drooling mess. 

 

Still, he's highly respected and regarded by people here, even those who disagreed with his politics. The Tory MP who took the seat in the last election (who will almost certainly be out of a job at the next election) loves leeching off the goodwill towards him in the local newsletters he puts out.

I'd be very interested to know if he's engaging in any kind of conversation while out. Hust to see what his mind is like.

[Kenny 283]

On 09/12/2023 at 14:56, Spade_Cooley said:

Yeah, he's a committed Starmerite.

 

Does he know who Sir Keir is?

 

But he could ask Frank Field...

[Sod's Law 445]

19 hours ago, Comped said:

I'd be very interested to know if he's engaging in any kind of conversation while out. Hust to see what his mind is like.

On a basic 'pop in and say hello' level, he's somewhat capable of functioning, last I heard. He has other health conditions to consider though. He was incapable of campaigning at all in the last election since he was recovering from heart surgery and he keeps to himself mostly these days. 

[Windsor 2,233]

Snubbed by the honours committee again this year…

[morrisey 32]

20 hours ago, Windsor said:

Snubbed by the honours committee again this year…

 

The fact Tim Martin has has been knighted before Dennis Skinner, whose pretty much entire life has been dedicated to public services and was still actively in parliament up until he was 87! Shocking behaviour

[BonScott 122]

Skinner is an old school socialist, seems the type that would refuse a knighthood if offered one, the type that would want the entire honours system scrapped altogether 

 

I would not be surprised if he was offered and said no

[Ulitzer95 12,586]

Just now, morrisey said:

 

The fact Tim Martin has has been knighted before Dennis Skinner, whose pretty much entire life has been dedicated to public services and was still actively in parliament up until he was 87! Shocking behaviour

*Hey Siri, show me an awful take*
 

Tim Martin has fed millions of mouths, pumped millions into the economy, supported the domestic rural sector, ran some very successful campaigns against the Government (including on VAT, beer duty), and ran some notable philanthropic causes.

 

Dennis Skinner achieved next to nothing in his 150 years in Parliament. He was just a chronic crank.

[Sean 6,315]

Why would they honour Skinner?There is no way he would ever accept an honour and I'm sure he would regard it as an insult.

[The Old Crem 3,583]

Just now, Sean said:

Why would they honour Skinner?There is no way he would ever accept an honour and I'm sure he would regard it as an insult.

I do wonder if they ever did offer him one.  They offered Ken Livingstone a CBE but he rejected it. 

[Ulitzer95 12,586]

2 minutes ago, The Old Crem said:

I do wonder if they ever did offer him one.  They offered Ken Livingstone a CBE but he rejected it. 

Just as well. There would have been a lot of blushes in the Home Office after his whole Kanye West-style “Hitler was a good lad” gaffe. 

[Miranda lass 98]

I would refuse to be a dame cause I really hate Charles tbh

But I'd have owt of Wills 

Should only be a couple years before he gives up the ghost (and the throne) 

[Sod's Law 445]

5 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

*Hey Siri, show me an awful take*
 

Tim Martin has fed millions of mouths, pumped millions into the economy, supported the domestic rural sector, ran some very successful campaigns against the Government (including on VAT, beer duty), and ran some notable philanthropic causes.

 

Dennis Skinner achieved next to nothing in his 150 years in Parliament. He was just a chronic crank.

You wash your mouth. He achieved more than 99% of the current crop in government ever will, plus he had one of the highest attendance and voting records of any MP and claimed the lowest amount of expenses. I didn't always agree with him but he was very much a model MP who spoke to people on their level and took his job seriously.

[Sly Ronnie 879]

Skinner would tell the King where to shove an honour, I'd suspect.