Are you happy to let right-wingers turn Labour back into Tory-lite?
The red flag of Labour: what a shame that some members at the top of the party seem to want to turn it blue.
The Labour Party seems to be going through another right-wing takeover attempt – and now that Jeremy Corbyn is quitting as leader, This Writer fears it may succeed.
We have already seen that all the candidates to be leader have given in to an entirely unreasonable set of demands from the Conservative-leaning Board of Deputies of British Jews, to ensure that anybody failing to sing from a pre-approved hymn sheet (approved by the Board of Deputies, that is) may be ejected from the party without ceremony.
Now we are seeing the beginnings of such a purge. And it is as insane as we have any reason to expect it to be.
Jo Bird, the only Jewish candidate to stand for election to the party's National Executive Committee, has had her membership suspended suddenly – on a charge that has been hushed-up but is believed to be anti-Semitism. Thank about that for a moment.
Representative group Jewish Voice for Labour had a lot to say about it:
"Jo is the leading left candidate running for the NEC so the timing of this suspension is deeply suspicious and has the hallmarks of a deliberate attempt to undermine members' wishes and Party democracy.
"We urge all Labour Party members to argue for Jo's candidature to be considered at CLP nominating meetings. If this is prevented members should consider the option of calling an emergency AMM/GC as soon as possible after the nominating meeting to discuss and condemn threats to the Party's democracy from the misuse of our disciplinary processes to secure partisan advantage in internal elections.
"If the suspension is for antisemitism we can say we have known Jo for a long period and worked closely with her. We know she is a proud Jew and opposed to antisemitism just as she is has shown over the years to be an active opponent of all racism.
"Suspension before investigation is an extreme measure and the Party must show to all members why they have taken such a step in the middle of an election process."
Ms Bird had been nominated by 57 constituency Labour parties – including, I am proud to say, This Writer's former CLP of Brecon and Radnorshire.
Electronic Intifada associate editor Asa Winstanley has decided to quit the party rather than participate in a "show trial" over his articles about Palestine, Zionism, the Israel Lobby in the UK (yes, Labour NEC members, there really is one) and the manufactured anti-Semitism crisis in the Labour Party.
Labour's persecution of him follows a familiar pattern because it carried out a very similar operation on me.
His membership was suspended at or around the same time as the party informed the news media – in a breach of its data protection obligations. I am currently enjoying some success in taking Labour to court over such breaches.
He submitted a Subject Access Request (SAR) to the party to which, by law, it must respond within 30 days. But it has not responded, in breach of the Data Protection Act and its own rules. I am also enjoying some success in taking Labour to court after it did the same to me. I have also received confirmation from the Information Commissioner's Office that Labour is a habitual offender and that my case was one of many that it was investigating.
Investigators included stories he had published that have nothing to do with his party membership as evidence that he should be suspended, as they did with me. This is an attempt to prevent professional reporters from carrying out their first duty, which is to report on matters of public interest, and the party does not have any power to demand such a thing.
Officials have ignored his responses to their accusations in flagrant disregard of their own rules. This is a breach of the party's contract with its members and, again, I am enjoying some success in bringing that point home to the party via court action.
Mr Winstanley has made his opinion perfectly clear:
"Now that the left-wing grassroots movement to reclaim Labour, spearheaded by Jeremy Corbyn, has been smashed, the party's neoliberal centrists are seeking to reassert their control.
"The party bureaucracy conducting political purges under the guise of enforcing anti-discrimination rules is a key part of the right-wing effort to re-establish dominance.
"All the contenders to succeed Corbyn as leader have agreed to the Israel lobby's demands to purge the party.
"The most right-wing candidate, Keir Starmer, is the frontrunner to replace Corbyn.
"Starmer has close ties with the hard-right of the party. His leadership campaign staff includes Matt Pound, an operative for the anti-Corbyn group Labour First.
"Pound apparently identifies as a "Zionist shitlord."
"The threat to expel me is a symptom of a wider purge of the party's left-wing and supporters of justice for Palestinians that is only just getting started.
"These are dark days for the left and the Palestine solidarity movement in the Labour Party and the UK.
"But the hope for radical change and social justice that brought so many new members to the party under Corbyn's leadership will not be easily extinguished."
It won't. I am playing my part by taking Labour to court over its wrong decision to expel me from the party. Its own rules are on my side and I do not expect to lose.
But here comes the next question.
If you are a Labour Party member, what are you going to do? Will you sit back meekly and wait to be expelled by a right-wing cabal that is perverting your party into a lie? Or will you stand up and take action against it? Your choice.
This entry was posted in Corruption, Labour Party and tagged Anti-Semitism, Asa Winstanley, Jo Bird, Labour, Mike Sivier, political, purge, right-wing, Tory Lite, Vox, Vox Political on February 9, 2020 by Mike Sivier.
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23 thoughts on "Are you happy to let right-wingers turn Labour back into Tory-lite?"
trev February 9, 2020 at 1:33 pm
It's all very confusing for ordinary Labour supporters/voters who aren't necessarily members. On one hand you've got Leftwing stalwarts like Paul Mason and Ricky Tomlinson backing Starmer, but other great Lefties like Ken Loach, Ken Livingstone and Alexei Sayle saying Starmer is an Establishment stooge. And then Glasman and his Blue Labour followers exerting influence over other leadership candidates. I knew where I stood with Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. I certainly don't want to vote for a Rightwing 'Blairite' Tory-lite version of Labour, but on the other hand I desperately want rid of the Tory vermin.
thejaffer February 9, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Please explain why anti-antisemitism is more important than any other type of racism?
Mike Sivier Post author February 10, 2020 at 1:51 am
Can't help you there, I'm afraid.
Jeffrey Davies February 10, 2020 at 5:33 am
Yes it's a way to get you thrown out of the party easily used among many it seems pointing out that you racist
Stu February 10, 2020 at 6:08 am
A poisoned chalice that nobody will dare to pick up !
kateuk February 10, 2020 at 4:42 pm
Because it's the one that gets the mainstream media going with massive headlines. And the right wing can use it to purge the left. It's all a bit vague so they can accuse anybody of antisemitism with no proof whatsoever, then suspend people and refuse to re-instate them because someone has accused them of doing something. It seems to work so they keep at it.
4foxandhare February 10, 2020 at 7:08 pm
It isn't. Nor is Jeremy Corbyn antisemitic. A quick check on the internet will bear that out.
It isn't so it shouldn't be.
Roy Haydon February 9, 2020 at 2:28 pm
I and all my family have been Labour supporters for many years and in my opinion it is time now for the true Socialists of the Party to split away from the Blairite mob that is now trying to grab back the party voters of this country now have no faith in Labour while all this stupid antics are going on i was very sorry to see Jeremy Corbyn stand down it was not his fault for losing the election it was the right in the party and always will be so why carry on banging your heads against a brick wall the people of this country are crying out for change so split now.
Neville February 9, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Would it be better for you to join either the Lib Dems, Greens or even Plaid Cymru? Why would you want to return to the shitshow inside Labour.
To clean it up.
Neville February 10, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Labour will never clean itself up. You're wasting your time.
Mike Sivier Post author February 10, 2020 at 9:25 pm
I disagree.
New question: Will the Conservative Party ever clean itself up?
trev February 10, 2020 at 9:57 am
Neville and Roy Haden,
Labour is supposed to be a Leftwing Socialist party, so the onus should be on the Rightwingers to leave and join another party or form a new one. I can't understand why they would want to be in the Labour party and change it into something it's not. Blue Labour and Progress should be proscribed.
Vanda February 15, 2020 at 4:32 am
You're right in what you say. Trouble is, the right wing Blairite faction are riding on the coat tails of the success of the Labour Party, which is benefiting financially from the huge increase in members thanks to Corbyn.
A gauge of their trajectory away from the party would be the phenomenally 'successful' Funny Tinge party of yesteryear – lasted at least 6 months?
So they'll never leave to start another party. They all love a good gravy train. A free ticket to claim absurd amounts of expenses (have you seen how much it apparently costs to run their 'offices' each year?) and a bloody good salary to boot, which they can vote to increase at any time.
What's not to love? No wonder they think they have a meal ticket for life and they don't want members to be involved!
Jeffrey Davies February 9, 2020 at 3:57 pm
The greedie ones the blairites are taking back control of this party the only way now would b entirely a different party who would take over but then they try to sabotage that also
This country's electoral system is a two party system. any break away party would go the same way as the SDP (remember them?) and Change UK or whatever they called themselves. How much success do you see the Lib Dems, Greens, UKIP and the Brexit party having in terms of seats? Why should left leaning people in the Labour party walk away from an established party, with a lot of resources, to start another party that will sink without trace? No, we must change it from within.
SteveH February 9, 2020 at 6:10 pm
I came across an interesting fact whilst researching something else
Democracy is expensive, apparently
Candidates who make the ballot can obtain lists of members and supporters' names, telephone numbers and addresses, to help them appeal for people's votes.
But they will be charged a £5,000 administration fee for the privilege, a sum branded "outrageous" by deputy leadership candidate Rosena Allin-Khan.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/labour-leadership-row-explodes-party-21461000
I agree with Rosena. It's difficult to see how our party can justify charging candidates £5,000 for access to membership details to facilitate our own leadership elections.
hugosmum70 February 9, 2020 at 11:45 pm
no choice for a lot of us. what can we do when its taking us all our time to feed/clothe n keep a roof over our heads etc ?and those of family members in a worse financial state than we are? so many of the labour members are having problems even paying the couple of quid per month to keep their labour membership going.we cant take people to court. we wouldnt be able to crowd fund the amount of money it takes. we dont have enough friends with money to help us. our friends are mainly in the same boat. like all these folk who talk about running away and emigrating to another country rather than stay here if this happens or that happens, hot air in a lot of cases but others can afford to leave. millions cant. we can sign petitions, write to our MPs. though now ours is a Tory i feel like it would be a waste of time and brain power to do so. at least our previous one Mary Creagh, listened to us, held a lot of the same beliefs and worries over so many things AND WROTE BACK TO ME,.EVERY TIME I WROTE.i assume she did the same to all who wrote to her…cant see that happening with the Tory with no name(nope i dont even know who he is. just that he is a he and a tory. know nothing about him/ being a tory is bad enough.). lived in a tory constituency for 7 yrs from 1990 to 1997. i worked in an unemployed workers centre and never came across such a pompous ass in all my life as he was.he had no idea how the other half lived. so you can imagine my dismay when Mary was ousted. and i know why too. the number of people who refused to vote labour at the election because "there was something they didnt like about Corbyn but didnt know what" when asked to elaborate. plus the nastyminded ukippers, on top of those who were tories as well. they handed this constituency to the tories. no doubt about it. because mary wasnt a leaver. and stuck to her guns.
sorry(raw nerves showing now)…i can never get over what those fools did to this country because of BREXIT. and i know im not on my own.
I'm 80 years of age and have been a Labour supporter for all of my working life, apart from the Blair years when they changed the Party title to New Labour and became Thatcher's greatest achievement. Following that, I voted LibDem, but to my horror they co-aligned with the Tories.
I'm stuck in a Tory constituency and can't do anything to change that unless my husband and I move from the area we've lived in for all our lives.
My MP is a Tory, and there's no pointing appealing to her because she faithfully follows the Party line, whoever is the leader.
It's so horribly unfair that my voice is drowned by the Tory faithful on my constituency. This is not democracy by any standard. Why can't we have proportional representation?
hugosmum70 February 10, 2020 at 10:09 pm
4foxandhare..I'm 3 years younger than you but would seem we are on the same wavelength. thats good to know.I did exactly the same thing. After Blaire got in i was ecstatic, but wasnt happy later on with his iraq decision among other things. so the next election i too voted Lim Dem… never again. they sold us down the river. i went back to being a labour supporter after that.. and have stayed there ever since. Corbyn was like a breath of fresh air in a sea of rank smelling pig slurry. such a pity he lost the election. devastating in fact. for him and for us.
trev February 11, 2020 at 1:13 pm
I voted Green all through the New Labour years up until 2010 when I voted Labour just to try keep Cameron out. Then returned to voting Labour when Corbyn became leader, the type of leader and the type of Political views and policies that I had waited 40 years for.
We need a Left-Leaning opposition otherwise it will lead to stagnation.
Given the choice of a right wing Tory or right wing Labour is like chosing which cancer you would prefer.
Faced with little difference, most people would stick to the one they know rather than have any nasty surprises.