1984 Foreword: Orwell and British Labour

[jbor]

on 14/5/03 9:19 AM, s~Z wrote:

> For me, the rug got pulled by the Churchill
> line.

I think it makes sense when you factor in the fact that "Churchill's war
cabinet" comprised both Conservatives and Labour Party ministers.

This is the train of logic as I see it:

      ... the British Labour Party, most of which he [Orwell] had come,
    well before the Second World War, to regard as potentially, if not
    already, fascist. ...
      ... One could certainly argue that Churchill's war cabinet had
    behaved no differently than a fascist regime ....
      ... [After the war] Orwell ... must have been delighted to help
    the [British Labour] party confront its contradictions, notably
    those arising from its wartime acquiescence to, and participation
    in, a repressive, Tory-led government. ... (ix-x)

It seems to be the basis of it, but there's certainly something broader than
that going on in the "fascist disposition" paragraph. The fact that there's
something else happening there I don't think anyone is disagreeing with.

best