A poem: When Labour's flag was Palest Pink

Readers in the UK especially may know the old song The Vicar of  Bray from the 18th century, about a vicar who kept changing his religious loyalties in line with the prevailing allegiances of successive monarchs. Roger Silverman in London has adapted this to suit the stance of Labour MPs today...

When Labour's flag was Palest Pink

I marched on every May Day.
My seat stayed safe on that green bench
For every monthly pay day.
While cowards flinched and traitors sneered
I stood for moderation.
The red flag's fine for conference time
But God save Queen and nation.

And that's my stand for evermore.
Our leaders come and go, sir.
I'll still be MP come what may.
Divine right makes it so, sir.

In the good old days of Tony Blair
I swore faith in New Labour,
I chucked my socialism in the bin
In the hope of gaining favour.
Away with red flags, picket lines,
Clause Four and nationalisation,
I stood for NATO, PFI,
The war and privatisation.  

Yes, principles are always cheap.
Our leaders come and go, sir.
I'll still be MP come what may.
Divine right makes it so, sir.

We lost the next two elections,
Our party suffered a rout.
Where had all the voters gone?
We chucked two leaders out.
The unions said they need their say.
We said, we'll show who's trusted.
Let all and sundry pay three pounds.
They did - and we got busted.

Well, never mind. We're still in place.
Our leaders come and go, sir.
I'll still be MP come what may.
Divine right makes it so, sir.

We thought, we'll let some lefty stand
And crush those reds forever.
He won a half a million votes
And half a million members.
How dare they challenge us MPs?
We lined up to oppose him.
We splashed out all the party funds
But failed to depose him.

But so what? We've got mass support!
Our leaders come and go, sir.
I'll still be MP come what may
Divine right makes it so, sir.

We counted on Theresa May
To put him in his place.
Then Corbyn gained three million votes.
May all but lost the race.
So now we all say: right on, Jez!
We always said you'd score!
I'm in Momentum! Here's my card!
A lefty to the core!

So trust me! You can count on me!
Our leaders come and go, sir.
I'll still be MP come what may.
Divine right makes it so, sir.

So don't dare question my remit,
Or call for reselection.
I'm loyal to my voting mob,
At every new election.
I stand on sacred principles,
The rights of feudal kings:
A privilege and job for life,
And all that power brings.

You get it? That's democracy!
Our leaders come and go, sir.
I'll still be MP come what may.
Divine right makes it so, sir.

Roger Silverman