Wednesday evening MPs took part in a House of Commons vote on the motion shown above. Yemen is in crisis. Rebels in that country are under attack while rebels in Syria are being supported by western allies including the UK and USA. Saudi Arabia is in the mix along with Russia, Israel and other regional countries. Civil wars are traditionally "messy" but who we choose to ally ourselves with and support is telling. When is a rebel a rebel and when is that same rebel a freedom fighter hero? Wednesday's vote was important on many fronts. That includes Labour party politics. In the end the Tories won and Jeremy Corbyn's motion was defeated. But figures shared by Eoin via Twitter Wednesday evening highlight the motion was there for the taking.
A couple of weeks laid up with health problems and most news stories have passed me by. That confirms that we are often drip-fed unnecessary negativity with inconsequential news blown out of all proportion by the mainstream media.
Still that is how they "earn a living." Thoroughly check out all the mainstream news outlets and channels and you will quickly realise they ALL concentrate on a couple of stories meaning a great deal of stuff that may interest you or even affect you directly is buried or ignored. It reminds me of the comparison of a person or persons, often workers, with mushrooms - keep them in the dark and feed them full of s**t! He or she who pays the piper calls the tune and as we say in Yorkshire where there's muck there's brass and that means muck of the verbal kind and more. Mainstream news reporting operates to a money-making business plan obviously. Watching BBC2 last week a short documentary caught my attention. It reported on three companies that were previously "consultancies" but now are regularly used and deployed by the government to undermine and perhaps limit the number of public sector workers in the UK. Why? Is to improve value for money and efficiency or is it more about who makes money out of services? Capita, Serco and G4S are the companies in question. Twitter has had bogus comments in the past that unelected PM Theresa May's husband has links to G4S but he has not; however in July 2016 the Independent reported "Theresa May’s husband is a senior executive at a $1.4tn investment fund that profits from tax avoiding companies." The cynic in me says that explains her desire to be Tory Party leader, and some, after Cameron turned tail and ran following the BRexit vote. What the BBC2 30 minute offering titled "Who is spending Britain's Billions?" highlighted was the three companies listed have thrived since 2010. In 2010 a Tory led Lib Dem coalition government replaced a Labour party one. Each of the companies has benefitted from a billion plus pounds from British taxpayers and continue to do so. The program host Jacques Peretti interviewed ordinary people explaining to them how the Queen cost British taxpayers a matter of pennies per head annually while these companies cost each of us around £50 a head. And ALL of the people interviewed were clueless when it came to Capita, Serco and G4S. For me it reinforced my view that we the people are selectively drip-fed drivel masquerading as news often to detract from real life news and issues that in the real world should and would shock us. If you fancy watching "Who is spending Britain's Billions" it is available on BBC IPlayer catch up for around a month. What do Capita, Serco and G4S have in common? Many, many scandals yet they remain the Tory government's preferred choice but why? What price privatisation over public sector? Worth noting and these are just a few of many: G4S hit be fresh scandal G4S scandals since 2012 Serco aims for rehabilitation after scandals Capita faces fresh calls to be stripped of PIP contracts Op-ed: If you are a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, like this blogger, you must be pleased to see a shadow cabinet in action at long last. The team now looks good, sounds good and to quote an old advert "by golly it is good." Reporting on Wednesday's PMQs is mixed. It depends which publication you read and its angle. Watching as it happens or on catch up is the only way to assess for your self. "Theresa May offered her praise to her rival in the House on Wednesday after he overwhelmingly defeated Owen Smith in last month’s Labour election campaign. After offering her congratulations, there was an eruption of cheers and laughter from behind the Prime Minister, with Chancellor Philip Hammond noticeably amused." That is from the Express. Its boss is a big UKIP donor. My slant might be "Cruella aka unelected PM Theresa May was cheered on by her braying donkeys disguised as Tory MPs and in particular by Philip Hammond aka Mr Burns look-a-like." The Express then continues with "She then welcomed Mr Corbyn back to “his place” in the Commons." That report continues "In response he told her: “I am most grateful to the over 300,000 people who voted for me to become the leader of my party. "Which is rather more than voted for her to be the leader of her party.”" The words do not do the event justice. Mr Corbyn does not do personal but May does. So his words were unusual but supporters were applauding crying as one "at last". You have to fight fire with fire and so it goes. Deputy Labour party leader Tom Watson grinned across at the Tories while another Labour front bencher stressed May had zero votes with a hand gesture and on the bench behind May's humiliation was completed by pointing and laughing Labour MPs. After being party leader for a year Mr Corbyn should be settled into the role and have already gained vital experience but after being forced to waste a year on in fighting and an unnecessary Labour leadership election he still has a way to go. But remember Blair, Brown, Cameron, Thatcher et al all had times when their inexperience showed and all took time to gain the upper hand. With a shadow cabinet fit for purpose and a united Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn can now show us all what he is made of. If those who are still plotting, anonymously drip feeding bile to the mainstream media, carry on regardless they will not be forgiven a second time. I now look forward to next week's PMQs. --------------------------------------------------- Take a look at two articles re PMQs yesterday one by John Rentoul and the other by Liam Young but both in the Independent. You may find it difficult to accept they are talking about the same parliamentary session. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/pmqs-jeremy-corbyn-theresa-may-brexit-what-happened-article-50-emily-thornberry-kier-starmer-failed-a7357311.html http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/pmqs-jeremy-corbyn-brexit-theresa-may-plp-mps-shadow-cabinet-labour-credible-opposition-infighting-a7357856.html Check out footage below for as it happened in real time and decide for yourself. Op-Ed: Thursday evening Jeremy Corbyn began the reshuffle of his shadow cabinet. The Spectator opts for "Submission not unity’: Labour MPs react to Corbyn’s reshuffle" and notably shares tweets from three of the worst Corbyn dissenters Tom Blenkinsop, Jess Phillips and Jamie Reed. Reed opts for sarcasm and we as all know it is the lowest form of wit. What would Billy Connolly say? "More to be pitied than scolded" maybe. Jo Smith who was appointed secretary of state for Wales said however "Well if you look at the appointments he made yesterday, I didn’t support Jeremy in the leadership election, neither did Nia Griffith, neither did Kier Starmer and I don’t think Sarah Champion did either, so he has made appointments to his shadow cabinet from the opposing part of the leadership campaign." We reported the reshuffle as it stood Thursday "Jeremy Corbyn Shadow Caninet reshuffle 2016" and the latest changes Friday will follow. Jeremy Corbyn was again damned whatever he did by some in the PLP and beyond. But we have wasted enough time with coups, plots, hissy-fits, unnecessary interal elections and silly spats this year. It is time to organise and prepare for any upcoming election nationally and or locally. The spin and hype is Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable but don't be fooled-where there is a will there is a way and the first step is getting a good team in place to fight the Tory government and support the party leader. Jon Ashworth has accepted the role of shadow cabinet health minister. The Daily Mirror reports "Jonathan Ashworth has confirmed he is the new Shadow Health Secretary - but declined to say what will happen to his job on Labour’s ruling NEC. "Jeremy Corbyn’s asked me to take up the role of Shadow Health Secretary,” he tells the BBC. “It’s an honour to take up such an important role in the Labour party. I think the NHS is in crisis under the Tories.“I’m a member of the National Executive and it’s a post I take very seriously.” Asked if he’s lost his NEC seat, he says: “They’re decisions for the leader and the shadow cabinet and I’m not going to get into that today if that’s okay.” There had already been speculation that Mr Corbyn would appoint Ashworth in order to remove him from the NEC and tip the balance of power back in his favour. There are however dffering reports as to how easy that could be. If the existing Labour Party rule book is followed expect a bit of a tussle. Shadow Lord President of the Council and Labour’s National Campaigns Co-ordinator Jon Trickett returns to the role he was given in June replacing. Friday evening the Independent has the full completed shadow cabinet list:
Op-Ed: As the annual political party conference season in the UK draws to an end Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is putting together his Shadow Cabinet.
Out is Andy Burnham who announced at the Labour Party conference he was stepping down from his shadow cabinet role to concentrate on getting elected as Mayor of Manchester. His announcement was criticised for its timing though the gist of the announcement was expected. Jeremy Corbyn tweeted "Thanks @andyburnhammp for outstanding service. @HackneyAbbott will serve as Shadow Home Secretary with the same commitment & passion." So veteran Labour politician Diane Abbott is in. She is respected and admired by some but loathed by others. Diane will be a good ally for Mr Corbyn. In is Shami Chakrabarti who is the new shadow attorney general. This appointment was expected but could also be abused by the mainstream media if they choose to make it divisive. Out is Labour Party Whip Rosie Winterton, sacked and replaced by one of Gordon Brown's allies in government Nick Brown. All mainstream media publications online are following the shadow cabinet reshuffle which is underway Thursday evening and the Independent reports : "Labour also notes that this shadow cabinet has the most BME [black people and ethnic minorities] people in of any cabinet or shadow cabinet ever. They list: Diane Abbott MP Dawn Butler MP Baroness Shami Chakrabarti Clive Lewis MP Kate Osamor MP" “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dawn to my shadow cabinet. I am very proud that the Labour Party now has five MPs in our shadow cabinet from the BAME community – the highest number ever in any cabinet or shadow cabinet” said Jeremy Corbyn. In February 2016 Dawn Butler spoke of her first few days in the House of Commons noting a Tory MPs assumption that she was probably a "cleaner" due to her black skin. We reported "THEY defines David Heathcote Amory comments as racist." Clive Lewis MP and Kate Osamor MP proved loyal Labour Party members through the summer. Inexperienced and young when it comes to positions in the shadow cabinet they did not let Corbyn and his team down nor his supporters. There were other "Corbynloyalists who hopefully will remain in post. Though some in the mainstream media and on social media are mischief making and saying some of the changes are in effect "Mr Corbyn" sticking up two fingers to members of the PLP who plotted against him this Summer this Labour Party member applauds his decisive actions. Mr Corbyn is a "nice guy." In some ways that has been hid downfall. It is now time to get tough and the Parliamentary Labour Party members need to put up or shut up and maybe move on. Will Seumas Milne the Labour Party's Executive Director of Strategy and Communications, on leave from The Guardian, and appointed the role in October 2015 survive this political cull? For various reasons a range of people would like to see the back of Mr Milne. There are rumours that Damian McBride is to replace Seumas Milne. Changes also announced tonight include:
Wrong again Mrs Philips! Mr Corbyn needs to get a good team in place for when the parliamentary recess ends. Looks to me like he is doing just that and toughening up. Well done Jeremy Corbyn but make sure shadow chancellor John McDonnell stays in post please. Part Two Friday Here Op-Ed: Jeremy Corbyn is to blame for ........ eveything.
Mr Corbyn was first elected Labour Party leader September 12, 2015, and went on to endure a turbulent year. The establishment within the Labour Party, Westminster, the mainstream media, other political parties and in the land of the "toffs" just don't get Corbyn or they do and they do not like what they see? So Mr Corbyn has been verbally attacked over and over again. His words and leadership have also been undermined over and over again. He has shown great strength of character and backbone as he fought back following a non-binding PLP vote of no confidence. His supporters gathered strength from Mr Corbyn's stamina Summer 2016 as he trawled the country attending huge rallies. Supporters looked on in amazement as Jeremy undertook a gruelling schedule that would have been tough for a much younger man. But some, including the mainstream media still want their pound of flesh. The uber right-wing Daily Mail often referred to as the Daily Fail posted this headline Wednesday failing yet again to give the man a break. "Corbyn goes on HOLIDAY and buys his wife a woolly jumper as Theresa May sets out her plans to steal Labour voters (and then he brands her plans to protect British workers 'xenophobic')." How very dare he !! How very dare they? Unelected PM Theresa May revealed plans today to "force companies to reveal how many foreign workers they employed" so his assessment is spot on. Mr Corbyn was not as lucky as MPS such as Theresa May, David Cameron, Tim Farron, Nigel Farage and others summer 2016. He had a leadership challenge forced upon him by selfish and self-indulgent Labour MPs. They of course enjoyed the long summer recess having stirred the pot. Mr Corbyn has hardly had time to breathe with the Labour Party conference following the leadership contest and it seems some would deny him just a couple of days R and R. Well they are right-wing remember and so mean-spirited. The Mail adds:
Corbyn was accused of taking a vacation during the referendum campaign but it was a lie or at least an exaggeration. He took a brief break much less than other campaigners. Perhaps we need to start checking what other MPs are up to? How many vacations do they take, when and where? As for The Mail drivel it is just that, drivel. It is spinning a story out of nothing to help prop up the Tories. Me? I hope Mr Corbyn and his wife enjoy a well-earned break away from the stresses and strains of politics. Shame so called chicken-coup plotters in the party lack compassion. You would almost think they were Tories! http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/firms-must-list-foreign-workers-gw20ndp5x Op-ed: As the Tory Party conference gets going the number of personal attacks against Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters highlight many things. When parliament resumes after this party conference indulgent recess, taken so soon after their long summer vacation, it will be business as usual - that is Corbyn bashing remains the Tory Party's main method of staying in power.
Mr Corbyn will not reapond in kind. He does not do personal attacks. Monday George Osborne's replacement Philip Hammond has announced Mrs May's unelected government is set to ditch its 2015 election promise to balance the UK economy any time soon. As expected Hammond is blaming that still unfulfilled British BRexit from the European Union. But it is not. It is the "Jeremy Corbyn Effect." And it is the incompetence of the Tory government running the country since 2010. At the weekend the Tories announced a change to disability assessments. The Independent reported "Medical tests for chronically ill benefits claimants to be scrapped." And about time we say. But there is still a long way to go. At least the government has recognised that such re-testing especially of people with life-long conditions is a waste of money and time but adds an extra level of stress and sometimes financial hardship onto people with disabilities. The Conservative Party pledged to "fix the roof while the sun was shining" in its 2015 election manifesto but that is just another broken promise. In July Hammond announced austerity measures would be scaled back. Translated that means our attack on the poor, vulnerable and middle classes will be less severe. Since 2010 the Tory Party has waged class war and has put young against old, working people against non-working people and helped created a very divided country. Social security benefits and public services have been slashed in the name of austerity while the Tories have handed out financial perks to people who do not need them. So Britain's roof will be left leaking then or will it? The UK remains a very wealthy country with a dozen or so very wealthy people owning huge areas of the UK. One reason people see migrants as 'swamping' cities and towns is huge areas of the country are not "open for all." Add to this the Tories underfunding of local councils, especially in traditional Labour heartlands, and it is easy to see why services are stretched. Monday Mr Hammond's cunning plan is "a £5 billion package to fund the construction of up to 225,000 homes." Although Hammond will declare the Government is still committed to bringing down the deficit so don't expect too many positive changes. Theresa May and her government have no mandate to govern the UK. David Cameron was elected Prime Minister in 2010 but he fled with his tail between his legs following the BRexit vote. Theresa May was shuffled into the role of Prime Minister perhaps for the long haul or to fill a gap temporarily. The Tory Party are all smiles for the camera but a political party with deep divisions especially when it comes to BRexit. As for the UK's leaky roof it will have to wait. ____________________________________________ The Conservative Party conference began Sunday October 2, 2016, in Birmingham and its ticket prices show it is not a party of or for the poor. Sunday people gathered outside to stage an anti austerity protest. Thanks to Alan Mason for images from the protest shown below. Opinion: What stands out to you when you look at the 2015 intake of newly elected Labour MPs? A large class by schoolroom standards with 53 pupils. And as newbies to the House of Commons they were just that - pupils. Any new job takes time to settle in, find one's feet, understand what is expected of you and recognise the many boundaries as you work out who the bullies are. Yes there are always bullies in any workplace. A glimpse into life in the House of Commons aired on BBC TV Saturday evening was interesting viewing. It was of course controlled footage showing the best and established protocols and ceremony of the Commons. And it was filmed in 2014. The Commons must be a daunting place for new members and kudos to those wanting to work in such a place. However it is easy to see how some will quickly end up out of touch with reality, living in some ways in a fantasy world of perks, back scratching, plots and the potential to make "loads a money." So back to that image of the class of 2015. The late Jo Cox jumps out at me. A pretty, petite mother of two wearing a bright red dress and smart blazer. As always there is a cheeky impish look on her face. Who would have believed in 2015 that Jo Cox would have or even could have been brutally killed on the streets of her Yorkshire constituency in 2016? But she was a day after campaigning along with her husband and two children for the UK to stay a member of the EU. Jo Cox remains a shining light for all and a reminder that TOGETHER the Labour Party, its supporters, members and voters are stronger and more able to fight against political extremism. Veteran MP Harriet Harman is the next person in the above image catching my attention. Her inclusion highlights that the image is not only post the 2015 General Election but Labour Party leader Ed Miliband's resignation. Ms Harman took temporary control of the Labour Party overseeing the election of Mr Miliband's replacement. On September 12 2015 veteran Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn was elected party leader and it was game on. Throughout the election many people away from the Westminster bubble knew Jeremy would win. There was and still is a will among many people for real political change and they see that as possible under Mr Corbyn. Harry Harpham was also a newbie though not a youngster. A former coal miner he was elected Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough in May 2015 but sadly died nine months later aged just 62. Looking back to the class of 2015 image how many MPs do you recognise and why? Many are just faces to us all unless you are a big-time political activist. For me Richard Burgon, Clive Lewis, Angela Rayner, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Cat Smith stand out as MPs who have been loyal to the party leader and to those who have voted for him, twice now, to be party leader. But sadly most of the others that jump out at me from that image do so for the wrong reasons. Jess Philips is one of those. She has courted the mainstream media, allegedly claimed a huge amount in expenses, has blocked so many people on Twitter that there is now one account clocking how many and who, yet she still somehow manages to get trolls abusing her on social media that she then writes about in the msm and has attacked Jeremy Corbyn along the way. Wes Streeting, Connor McGinn, Melanie Onn, Stephen Kinnock, Ruth Smeeth and Anna Turley prefer fighting Jeremy Corbyn to fighting the Tories too. And there are a few others. Some as newbies will have been sucked into a gang or two. That is part of life at work. Some may have been egged on by others who were recent newbies such as Gloria de Piero from the class of 2010. Anti-Corbyn plotters from the class of 2010 include Rachel Reeves, Chuka Umunna, Michael Dugher, Karl Turner, Heidi Alexander and John Woodcock. That list is not exhaustive. Gloria de Piero is a former TV presenter and in the Summer of 2016 she wrote a piece which was posted in the Sun begging people to join Labour to help oust Jeremy Corbyn although ultimately those who did were excluded from voting when a January membership deadline was put in place. But when you are the new kid on the block if you are wise you watch and listen and learn before you jump. The class of 2015 were elected in a turbulent time in the history of the Labour Party but for whatever reason some have added to instability and will not be forgiven easily if at all. [Tom Watson's "unity memo" dig in his conference speech and Sadiq Khan's much filmed arrogant appearance at conference show for some, newbies and veteran Labour politicians, it is still game on and the plotters continue to plot] http://labourlist.org/2015/05/meet-labours-53-new-mps/
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn continues to hold members of the Tory government to account and so do we. The Conservative Party may have tried re-branding theselves as the party of hard-working families but that description is wrong on so many levels. Firstly it excludes a range of people including single, childless, those with severe physical and or mental disabilities, the elderly and retired, those unable to secure full-time employment, students and more. But in real terms the Tory Party has used a banking crisis created by poor management in that sector to hammer home an austerity message and implement nasty cuts to social security. Don't fall for the rebranding to some sort of handout labelled welfare - it is social security and paid for by contributions. But the Tories would like to privatise the NHS and more removing the safety net of social security and setting the country back to Victorian times They only want a health service if it is a private enterprise and fat friends can make some money along the way. It has nothing to do with health care or improving the service. The Bedroom Tax was a sharp reminder of the widening gap between them and us in the UK. Only the nasty tory party could come up with a bedroom tax and sell it to the electorate as a fair way to ease the housing crisis. The bedroom tax is not applied to housing in the private sector though it may now also include housing associations. MPS and the establishment occupy properties, sometimes grace and favour ones, funded by we the people. Too often properties are greatly under occupied and we are expected to accept that. But woe betide you if you are a married couple with one child occupying a two-bedroomed council property. Once the child leaves home expect an income hit if you are in receipt of housing benefit. You will get stung by what the government likes to call the spare bderoon subsidy but is in truth a bedroom tax. You have a few choices including taking in a lodger or moving, perhaps across country if there are no local properties suitable. In other words you have Hobson's choice. But then there are the Panama Papers Earlier in 2016 a series of revelations highlighted the lengths some people went to to avoid paying tax and on huge sums of money. Amounts of money involved in some cases were dismissed as peanuts but to most of those so-called "hard working families" it was a small fortune. David Cameron was implicated but the story quickly died a death. Similarly in the summer news of a criminal investigation into accusations of Tory Party election expense fiddling in 2015 were swept under the carpet. That investigation is ongoing but don't expect too much. And the party of ordinary people, the Tory Party, still looks dodgy even though Dodgy Dave Cameron has resigned. Take Hastings Tory MP Amber Rudd. This is what she has on her website: Thank you for contacting me about the panama papers. But since Amber posted that in 2016 she has been implicated; and since that post has also been promoted in Mrs May's new cabinet. Last week the Guardian reported " Leaks reveal Amber Rudd's involvement in Bahamas offshore firms. Exclusive: UK home secretary named as having been director of two Bahamas firms, while a co-director at another company was jailed over a false statement." Miss Rudd is currently Home Secretary. It is a senior position in government. The Guardian report continues "The Guardian has also discovered new details about her previous career in venture capital during the boom and bust 1990s. One enterprise led her to become a co-director of Monticello, a company that was at the centre of a share ramping investigation. She was also involved in a company prospecting for diamonds in Siberia that was traded on a notoriously unregulated stock exchange. Rudd said that her career in business prior to politics was public knowledge but declined to answer questions, including whether she had invested in the Bahamas companies or whether either company had paid tax in the UK. A rising star of the Conservative party, Rudd has provided scant details about her career before she became an MP in 2010." Just an ordinary working woman nothing to see here, move along! Expect Tory Party conference to use key phrases including "hard working families" and take it with a huge pinch of salt. If you believe they are a party of the people you have been played for a fool and suckered in. |
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