Dear Maureen Henry
You came a little unstuck on Twitter Monday after posting the message above. It is not that we Jeremy Corbyn supporters are a cult, yes I said CULT, or that we mindlessly follow the Labour Party leader but rather that we have political loyalty seriously lacking in some sections of our party. Just why you are campaigning on the doorstep ahead of elections is not clear. If you seriously want the Labour Party to win elections why would you post such a tweet? They used to say loose lips sink ships and the same applies to elections. From Tom Watson being ashamed of what he calls "MY party" rather than our party last week to the various councillors, MPs and old new Labour supporters who have opposed Corbyn from the day they realised he might just win a leadership election a great deal of work has been done to undermine him, in other words the party and its members. People such as Tony Blair, Lord Mandelson and Alastair Campbell have used each and every opportunity to undermine us all. They have the money and the ear of the mainstream media and have used it for their own ends. What do they care if the Tories stay in power? In truth they are such wealthy establishment figures now they have little if anything in common with traditional Labour Party voters. But Ms Henry with less than a month before a by-election and some local council elections what is your game? If you are truly campaigning and hoping for a Labour victory nationally or even locally why go public with such subjective negativity? You may as well save yourself some shoe leather and time. In one tweet you have destroyed the good work done by others. And you know it was wrong as the offending tweet was quickly deleted. Ordinary party members have been suspended and or expelled from the party for less. Sadly it is all too easy to imagine your response to negativity on the doorstep. What you choose to privately message your friends or say in private conversations is up to you but social media and on the doorstep? Will Ms Henry's social media activity result in action by the Labour party compliance unit and the party's general secretary Mr Iain McNicol? If you want to contact Ms Henry https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/councillor/councillor-maureen-henry https://www.change.org/p/jeremy-corbyn-mp-apply-fairness-in-the-labour-party-treating-senior-members-and-ordinary-members-equitably http://www.thejeremycorbyneffect.com/jeremy-corbyn-blog/open-letter-reply-and-reply-back-to-dear-tom-watson Op-ed; Google The Labour Party Wednesday morning and expect a wave of negative news reports including many opinion pieces like this one.
But of course THEY get full prominence as so many are courtesy of the usual anti Corbyn suspects within the Labour Party and via the well-funded mainstream media. With a by-election and local elections a few weeks away now is not really the time for a torrent of negative Labour Party news. We have political opposites who are perfectly able to damage the party's reputation without high-fliers linked to and part of the Labour Party leading the charge. The latest furore centres around former London Mayor and Labour Party veteran Ken Livingstone and comments made last year during what looked to be a carefully crafted set up. Labour MP John Mann was on hand last year with convenient camera crew to challenge Ken Livingstone over comments made and viewed as anti Semitic. Tuesday following an NCC ruling on the affair Wes Streeting, Tom Watson, Michael Dugher, John Mann, David Miliband and a few others have opted once again to publicly attack a political party they claim to love. Watching a Newsnight clip of Wes Streeting saying his piece on their offering Tuesday night I was struck by his well polished appearance and words. There was no passion just well rehearsed words. Presumably these usual suspects had been rehearsing their next moves ahead of Tuesday's NCC ruling. Big boy of the Labour Party Deputy Leader Tom Watson according to BBC News Wednesday is 'ashamed' Livingstone still in party. Of course many Labour Party members suspended from the party last year may have similar feelings toward people like Mr Watson. Watson has also been busy on social media however as this blogger is one of many party members blocked by him online I can only quote, if I wanted to, via resources such as the BBC. Failed former Labour leadership contender David Miliband has also been quoted as he apparently "grieves for state of Labour Party." He does this from a distance as he turned tail and quit the U.K. moving over to the U.S.A. following his leadership defeat. If he cares so much about the party one has to wonder why he did not stick around and actively work to help the party win elections. Still he could not even help his brother Ed win the general election so why would he help Jeremy Corbyn who is a socialist? The Labour Party elects ruling bodies and cannot cherry pick decisions it likes. A ruling has been made. That is it end of story. As supporters of Ken Livingstone and those who would prefer him hung out to dry fill the Internet with news and views they guarantee election losses in May. The anti Corbyn brigade will somehow make any losses all about him and his supporters but negative news from fat cats within the party will cause untold damage The NCC has made a ruling and we either respect that decision or give up. The other alternative and one that looks increasingly the only way forward is the party splits. But hey I am no one just a retired woman who has voted Labour all her life, only joined the party during Ed's time, talked up the party at each and every opportunity, consistently criticised the Tory Party and who wonders why new young things in the PLP feel it is fine to disrespect and bully veteran politicians within their own party. Is it more to do with who donates the most to the party? Who has bought their way in? He who pays the piper calls the tune and all that. Final thoughts? Good luck to Afzal Khan the excellent Labour Party candidate standing in the Gorton by-election. Good luck to all the excellent Labour Party candidates standing in local elections around the country. We have our work cut out particularly with Article 50 in mind and political opportunism from the Tory party and the Liberal Democrats and now our candidates have public party division thrown in for good measure. If we fail in the May elections there may be many reasons including KenGate. And if we fail we fail some of the most vulnerable and poorest people of our country. Related reading and more; https://www.change.org/p/jeremy-corbyn-mp-apply-fairness-in-the-labour-party-treating-senior-members-and-ordinary-members-equitably http://www.thejeremycorbyneffect.com/jeremy-corbyn-blog/the-dear-tom-watson-emails-and-a-quest-for-fair-and-equitable-treatment Op-ed; Pollsters GfK claim that a new poll shows Jeremy Corbyn is as unpopular as Donald Trump in the U.K. Another polling organisation so let's look at them first. The man behind that poll is Keiran Pedley. Who the hell is he you may wonder? This blogger certainly did. There are just so many of these anti Corbyn pollsters who know that such polling grabs headlines, makes money and more. "Keiran Pedley is an Associate Director/ UK elections and polling expert at GfK NOP and presenter of the podcast ‘Polling Matters’. He tweets about politics and polling at @keiranpedley." Now the poll which is being repeated in various publications in the U.K. as a cast in stone poll worthy of note. "GfK surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,938 GB adults between March 1st and March 15th, 2017" wow so many and over such a long period of time says she with heavy sarcasm. That massive representation of the British electorate apparently shows that;
The first two points have resulted in wild headlines such as this one at SkyNews "Corbyn 'almost as unpopular as Trump' in Britain, according to poll." That post has a bad image of Corbyn too for good measure. And of course Brexit is still a big issue with some of the electorate in the UK. There is more on Pollsters GfK website with this note toward the end "Note: Figures may sum to more than 100% due to rounding.." Rounded up then and not down also for good measure definitely not for fair play. There is more waffle on the pollsters website along with;
What that fails to say is 17% of GB adults POLLED. It reads as an assessment of the electorate as a whole.
So what is the point of that poll? There could be many reasons for such a poll but none are really valid. Such polls;
Never forget that some people fill in polls for money or just for the hell of it. This blogger was a mixture of surprised and amused when she saw that Jamie Reed when he was an MP was avidly filling in YouGov polls. (See image below report) Readers of this blog are usually fairly clued up and bright as buttons but readers of other publications repeating the poll results as a news story may be more easily persuaded. We all know that perception is key. If you say something often enough it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Be under no illusions. #JC4PM Len McCluskey has allegedly "suggested" that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn may take a step back to make way for a new party leader closer to the next General Election in the UK scheduled for 2020.
Now how does that make big news January 2, 2017, and why? Mr McCluskey is standing for re-election as Unite union boss. He has been a firm supporter of Jeremy Corbyn. The man standing against McCluskey is not a fan of Corbyn. He is standing on that anti Corbyn platform. Gerard Coyne also standing for election has seized on today's convenient news being spun to death by the mainstream media. According to BBC News Len McCluskey has said that "'Awful' polling could derail Corbyn" but that word awful is more spin. That report continues "Len McCluskey, head of the Unite union, described the party's standing in the opinion polls as "awful" but as we all know opinion polls are meaningless. If they were truly independent and had any credibility Hillary Clinton would be looking forward to moving back into the White House, David Cameron would not have won the UK General Election in 2015 and the UK voting population would have voted for the country to stay in the European Union. It highlights how lose lips sink ships though even in 2017. The Guardian opts for this headline "Len McCluskey: Corbyn should consider his position if polls don't improve" highlighting how news is spun and soun again. The slightest slither of Corbyn related news, however vague, is seized upon as long as it is negative news of course. Theresa May the country's unelected PM is left to go on her merry clueless way as Tory Party infighting and allegations of election overspending in 2015 go unreported. Those of us who support Jeremy Corbyn have been watching, waiting and seeing the signs. Jamie Reed's untimely though welcome resignation as MP for Copeland appears to have fired the starting pistol. In Labour Party Corbyn based forums and groups Keir Starmer's name is being bandied about as a possible and natural successor to Mr Corbyn. Age is definitely not on Corbyn's side which makes the despicable way some Labour MPs have treat him as even more despicable. The Labour Party needs unity and it needs Jeremy Corbyn. If campaigners in the party had given Jeremy's first year as Party leader a better shot at success we would maybe in a better position now. We will never know. But if and when Jeremy Corbyn decides it is time to quit, the Labour Party will not easily come together. What happens and is sometimes maliciously reported as news continues to impact on the Labour Party, its members and supporters. People desperately need a change of government yet self-serving destructive people within the party seem to prefer election defeat to success wth Jeremy as Prime Minister. Highlighting that the Labour Party is allegedly still in the hands of big unions is all part of the long Tory and mainstream media game. Whether it is true or not is immaterial to them. So comrades what do you make of today's big non-news story? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38487571 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/02/len-mccluskey-corbyn-should-consider-his-position-if-polls-dont-improve Note from six days earlier http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/len-mccluskey-jeremy-corbyn-unite-document-election-campaign-a7497916.html Our Poll: When we launched this small independent website back in August we added a poll which is still running. We asked whether Jeremy Corbyn was electable and gave a few options. It was a little tongue in cheek but to date 78 votes have been cast. What they mean is any person's guess. How many voted honestly? How many came back and voted more than once? How many lied about their age? How many voted for a laugh or malevolently? Are all those who voted Labour Party supporters? Questions, questions yes so many questions. Yes just like mainstream media poll predictions this poll is what you want to make of it. It was created as some in the PLP were resigning at a fast and furious pace and a handful of MPS were showing themselves and the party up by sitting behind Mr Corbyn in the House of Commons chanting resign, resign, resign like a bunch of naughty bullying children, Obviously such shenanigans for all the world to see and read about caused an immense amount of damage to the Labour Party. But the majority of us have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves down and moved on. Sadly some who should know better may still be plotting and drip feeding the right wing of the mainstream media spurious reports, anonymously of course as like all bullies they are not brave, but with new whips in place that has at least been curtailed for the most part. We must now focus on elections in particular building our credibility as a government in waiting. One cautionary note to the PLP. Having endured a horrendous summer Jeremy Corbyn supporters may not be so forgiving if a second plot is launched or ludicrous nastily timed purges of party members starts up again. Few will be happy if they canvas and campaign for the Labour Party in any way if they are let down again We are putting our trust in you now show you deserve it. The results of the poll to date follow but you can still vote if you want to here: The Poll Dear all
It is time to talk about the elephant in the room - Labour Party suspensions. Around 8,000 people according to some. There may be many reasons some members are still suspended from the Labour Party, stuck in limbo, but a lack of useful, pertinent information to those affected is just one cruel aspect of this sorry state of affairs. Legal concerns and matters may be part of the problem but we members are just ordinary folk. We are not in it for the money, the power and the glory. We have our own life stresses and strains. When we opt to commit to a political party we deserve some respect. People join for many reasons and yes some do so mischievously. But the majority join the party to show support and pay for the privilege. In some cases they work their socks off trying to get the Labour Party message out and representatives elected. If they then respond angrily on social media using a word that the party machine has suddenly decided is off limits, such as TRAITOR, do they deserve suspension? When the party has trawled back over time following anonymous complaints regarding party members the affected member is scuppered. But as previously stated if you feel a person has betrayed you or broken a promise TRAITOR is a very fitting word. Those MPs who vowed to support Mr Corbyn when he was elected September 12, 2015, but did anything but, fit that category to perfection. But as #LabourPartyPurge2 drags on tempers are fraying and people are resigning - enough is enough and who can blame them for quitting. A sensible way forward would be an amnesty of sorts. The abuse timer reset, as after all in many cases it was simply angry debate and not abuse. That would allow a date to work from. No more trawling back over social media just a clean slate and new era following your re-election in 2016. Allowing the current situation to drag on is destructive. It means people listen to Chinese whispers and gossip. That results in more anger and the downward spiral circle continues to whirl out of control. It is not rocket science. It makes some conclude the party is still split, that a further leadership challenge could follow and it provides the mainstream media with ammunition all making Labour's electability a distant dream. For the sake of us all we need to hit the restart button. With so many factions working against each other little wonder people are 'speaking with their feet' and resigning. Who will respond to this open letter? Will anything change for the better in 2016? Or is the Labour Party just too big for its boots now. Party suspensions need putting to bed. Time to move on and work toward election success with all hands to the pumps. Note: The writer is not suspended. But she has Labour values which means she cares about those that are. Do you Mr McNicol?
Good Morning comrades. Well today is the day. The mainstream media including BBC rolling news is in Labour Party leadership election overdrive. The result of the election will be announced around 11.45am Saturday and though political pundits are declaring a win for Jeremy Corbyn hours earlier "it aint over till the fat lady sings." We remember recent poll predictions regarding the 2015 General Election and this year's EU referendum and remain cautious. The mainstream media are ignoring #LabourPurge2 which has removed thousands from the vote; add to this reportedly thousands of eligible voters who never received ballot papers after trying till they were blue in the face to get them issued; add to this those who would have liked a vote in the election but were excluded when an eligibility timeline of January 2016 was implemented and the vote is expected to be closer than last year. Don't expect to see or hear mainstream reports today that include Labour Party shenanigans that may have mainly hit Jeremy Corbyn supporters. But though cautious this Labour Party member remains hopeful. I do not believe Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable; I do not believe that if Corbyn is unelectable the challenger Owen Smith, an apparent physical clone of many other politicians, is somehow electable. If, and it is a big IF, Owen Smith wins I expect his time as party leader may be brief. The silly, damaging and nasty "chicken coup" has been about removing Jeremy who refused to simply roll over and quit when over-paid politicians and fat cat donors wanted a return to the "same old politics." But enough - later we will update this brief post and complete the headline "And the Labour leadership election winner is...." and hopefully it will be with the name Jeremy Corbyn. And the winner is JEREMY CORBYN well done all. "674,006 eligible voters. 506,438 votes cast. Spoiled votes 1,042 Jeremy Corbyn - 313,209 Owen Smith -193,229" Opinion: Sunday Eoin on Twitter has gone for "Andy Burnham manages to fight a leadership campaign last summer without abusing Corbyn or his supporters. Why can't Owen Smith so the same?" and he has nailed it once again.
This blogger attended an Andy Burnham event in Hull in the summer of 2015 and an Owen Smith one in 2016. They were both held at the same venue and both organised at least in part by East Hull Labour MP Karl Turner. In 2015 former deputy Prime Minister and local MP John Prescott played host. He added some humour to the event and veteran politics at one point saying he would have preferred the meeting included others standing for election and he mentioned Jeremy Corbyn in particular. That mention was as a positive and it was the only time the other leadership hopefuls were "in the room." The Owen Smith event was a very different affair. For one thing Alan Johnson West Hull MP attended but Prescott did not. In 2015 Mr Johnson threw his political support behind Yvette Cooper although his CLP failed to agree on a nomination. There were also less people at the Smith event. The question and answer session was similar to last year but those who asked some questions were labelled, probably correctly, Corbynistas. One man who seemed to be a Corbyn supporter wanted to ask in depth questions about the NHS but was told by some including Mr Johnson to sit down. To be fair time was limited and the event did overrun as Mr Smith was late. Last year I was a novice at events. I was inspired by Mr Burnham who seemed the best candidate for the job of party leader. For me Jeremy Corbyn was too old and I say that as one of his contemporaries. So I voted Burnham last year but accepted the democratic result and have supported Mr Corbyn who has in my eyes proved himself more than worthy over and over again. I also attended a Corbyn rally in Hull this summer and was more than impressed; finding the right word is not easy. The rally was fun, informative, entertaining, inspiring and more. And challenger Owen Smith was not "in the room." Corbyn has held many of his rallies outdoors to keep costs down and to accommodate the huge number of people attending. The Owen Smith event was ticketed. In order to attend you had to apply online giving an email address. But it did not take long for Corbyn to be "in the room" thanks to Mr Smith. One giggle for Smith supporters was a dig at Jeremy commenting he was "perhaps making jam" when he was not available. And sadly that was not the only dig. If Mr Corbyn wins the leadership election, and I seriously hope he does, he will have done so by fair means. If Mr Smith wins will he have been helped along by an unfair and biased purge of Labour Party members and attacking Mr Corbyn time and time again? From someone else who went to an Owen Smith rally http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/your-voice/so-i-went-to-an-owen-smith-event-in-halifax http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/british-political-scene/from-an-unelectable-jeremy-corbyn-rally-in-hull oOp-ed: The Daily Mail often referred to as the Daily Fail is up to its usual tricks spinning a story for maximum exposure and negative impact; negative to Jeremy Corbyn, his supporters, party members and by association the Labour Party. It relates to wealthy Labour Party donor and one time 'wannabe' MP Michael Foster. Michael Foster has, finally, been suspended from the Labour Party after a series of Labour Party supporters and members have been purged from the party, depriving them of a leadership vote; until this weekend Foster has been sitting pretty. Many of those purged are Jeremy Corbyn supporters and most have been excluded for silly comments on social media. Few have actually crossed the red line of decency and abuse. Even fewer have been reported by the mainstream media but Mr Foster is headline news Sunday. MPs have been posting abusive comments for some time, perhaps acting as a red rag to a bull and drawing people in before Labour's dreadfully named Compliance Unit moves in suspending people. Little wonder there was an angry response to Foster's earlier Daily Mail piece likening a Corbyn rally in Cornwall and its audience to a 'circus' and 'stormtroopers'. Sunday as he is suspended Foster claims the Mail added the word 'Nazi' to their piece but he does not fool me. "In the article he wrote: "To me, respect for the rule of law is fundamental to a democracy. Once political parties believe they are above the law it ends with all opposition silenced, whether it is my grandparents in Dachau, or the Left in Erdogan's Turkey rounded up and held uncharged in prison. "The courts decided that the rules as they stand allowed it. This decision advantaged Corbyn and his Sturm Abteilung (stormtroopers)." If the alleged addition of the word "Nazi" bothered him he could have distanced himself from the Mail but today we have his party suspension featured in the Fail with the ridiculous title "Jeremy Corbyn reignites race row engulfing Labour as he launches vicious act of revenge and purges top Jewish donor who criticised his regime." What a nice inflammatory title. You may never read the story or the background but you may assess Corbyn as the dictator of a regime, decide that somehow Foster's suspension is to do with "race", that peace loving Jeremy is vicious and the party is "engulfed in a race row." What rubbish but damaging reporting. It is pure Daily Mail bunkum from start to finish but even the headline will drip feed into the minds of some. Other publications have gone for titles such as "Labour donor Michael Foster suspended from party over 'Nazi stormtroopers' article" and "Labour suspends donor for 'Corbyn team Nazi comparison." The Mail and Mr Foster apear to have a working relationship as it was their weekend publication that fully removed the lid off this real can of worms. But Mr Foster has been a vocal opponent of Jeremy Corbyn from day one. Corbyn was elected party leader September 12, 2015, and at an event a couple of weeks later Mr Foster was making waves and headlines: A Labour supporter who heckled Jeremy Corbyn at a Labour Friends of Israel reception has explained his reasons for shouting at the party leader. The fact Mr Foster is Jewish should be irrelevant but that report in the Jewish Chronicle stressed his religious faith. Mr Corbyn's refusal to say the word Israel in response to Foster's childish demands highlights the measure of the man; Jeremy has backbone and does not resort to personal attacks or game play. Fast forward to July and Foster dragged the party through the courts as he fought to prevent Corbyn being automatically on the leadership election ballot. But how could there be a leadership challenge if the incumbent leader was excluded from the election? The PLP plotters knew they could keep Corbyn off the ballot if he neded nominations but they also knew he stood a fair chance of being re-elected if he was allowed to stand. The National Executive of Labour voted to allow Jeremy an automatic right to be on the ballot by a majority vote. But Foster was not happy with party democracy when it did not suit his aims and dragged the party through the courts: Michael Foster, whose family has given £400,000 to the Labour Party, said he was concerned over the "apparent manipulation" of party rules by the ruling body, the National Executive Committee (NEC). So what does wealthy Mr Foster care if the Labour party is being ripped apart and ordinary working people left out in the cold? Will he really care if Labour fails to win elections or splits? Draw your own conclusions. http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/146195/labour-donor-explains-why-he-heckled-jeremy-corbyn-israel-event http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/14/labour-donor-to-mount-legal-challenge-over-leadership-ballot http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/labour-donor-michael-foster-suspended-8811755 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37329153 http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/british-political-scene/jeremy-corbyns-day-in-court http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3783399/Jeremy-Corbyn-reignites-race-row-engulfing-Labour-launches-vicious-act-revenge-purges-Jewish-donor-criticised-regime.html Opinion: British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, Labour, is generally thought to be the man responsible for coining the phrase "a week is a long time in politics."
So if a week is a long time what is a year? Monday September 12, 2016, marks the one year anniversary of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party leadership. On Saturday September 12, 2015, I was awake early and waiting for the result of the Labour Party leadership election which had followed that year's Labour General Election defeat and Ed Miliband's resignation. I had followed the leadership race and done a little phone banking for my preferred candidate Andy Burnham. Yes in 2015 I believed Andy was the party's best hope. As a northerner Jeremy Corbyn had by and large passed me by. I attended a local event for Andy Burnham organised by Karl Turner MP with John Prescott acting as host. Prescott opened the event remarking that he had hoped other candidates including Jeremy Corbyn could have been included but other local MPs never supported Corbyn. The event sealed the deal for me. I did not look further. Both Liz Kendal and Yvette Cooper held no appeal for me. They were just too wishy washy and right of centre politics. I say the above as a female. I say this next bit as an older person; for me Jeremy Corbyn seemed too old. I had said this to some and been shot down in flames but it was simple; aged a couple of years younger than Jeremy I was judging him as a contemporary. I have since changed my view. So we switched on the TV and were waiting for the result when our elderly dog Jessie, became very ill very quickly. She had come to us as a leggy nine-month-old abandoned dog that had been rescued around 14 years earlier. Her previous owners had mistreated her then moved home and left her tied to a tree in the garden of their former home. By the time she was rescued she was skinny and in relatively poor health. So after a few weeks with a local dog rescue service she came to us on a temporary foster basis. Yes TEMPORARY! Hubby could never part with her and she was a much loved part of our family for many years bringing laughter and joy. A friendly dog she had one of those smiley faces. By September 12, 2015, she was almost blind, had a few lumps and bumps and was tiring easily. She was spending more time snuggled in her bed but still seemed happy. We had spoken to the vet and agreed TLC was the best course of action. But on the morning of September 12 her back legs gave way under her and she was laid spreadeagled in the garden as rain fell. Although a big dog Hubby managed to carry her into the kitchen where I had laid her bed. We rang the vet having decided it was time. I sat on the floor with Jess talking to her and stroking her. The female vet and her assistant arrived and as soon as Jess heard someone at the door she got up and made it along the kitchen wagging her tail. But she collapsed again. We managed to carry her into the kitchen and the vet prepared to put Jess to sleep. As I sat with her talking reassuring words Jess smiled serenely and passed peacefully into the next world. In the front room the TV was ringing out that Jeremy Corbyn was elected but I could not have cared less. If you have ever had to euthanise one of your beloved pets you will understand. We were heartbroken and that included our other little rescue dog who had been with us a few years. It took weeks to settle him down and even get him to leave the house by the front door the vet had used. So Monday it is Jeremy Corbyn's one-year anniversary as party leader but a sad day for us as we remember and still miss our Jessie. Corbyn faced a tough year as plotters in the party began working on ways to undermine him and remove him as party leader even before he was elected. He has showed strength of character time and time again. He is all those things a Labour Party leader should be. He is compassionate, inspiring, entertaining, thoughtful, measured, on the left of the political spectrum and unlike the rest of us he does not do personal. When Tory PM Theresa May calls him a laughing stock to his face it is like water off a duck's back. When former Tory PM David Cameron told him to "go" he ignored the abuse. If Mr Corbyn is so unelectable, and making Labour unelectable too, why do so many Tories, like smug-faced Philip Hammond sat alongside May and looking for all the world like Nasty Mr Burns in the Simpsons, laugh in Corbyn's face and attack him? In 2016 my leadership vote went to Jeremy Corbyn. This year on September 24, barring any personal tragedies or disasters, I will be watching the TV as Corbyn is reelected and if he is I will be jumping for joy. And I will not be the only person celebrating. Jeremy Corbyn and Press TV
Allegations have again resurfaced in connection with the recent Buzzfeed article (Emily Ashton, 31 August 2016), which rehashes the same specious charges made in the Business Insider article (Adam Payne, 2 July 2016) over Jeremy's work for the Iranian-based Press TV. Like a zombie, these specious charges refuse to die even when confronted with evidence, which is why I’ve decided to expand and re-post answers I have given here and elsewhere on the forum. It is alleged that Jeremy "accepted up to £20,000 [...] between 2009 and 2012" for appearances on Press TV (Business Insider). As exact dates were not provided in the article, I had to search the Register of Members' Interest from the session 2008-9 onwards in order to verify the alleged payments. I found out the following: • Searching through the most up-to-date versions available of The Register of Members’ Interest (see link below), there are only two listed payments from Press TV in the sessions 2008-9 (version dated 11 Nov 2009) and 2009-10 (version dated 12 April 2010). • Both payments are registered as payments “up to £5,000” in accordance with monetary banding for the Register • NO FURTHER PAYMENTS may be found in the Register for the subsequent sessions of 2010-12 (version dated 7 May 2013); 2012-13 (version dated 7 May 2013); 2013-14 (version dated 2 June 2014); 2014-15 (version dated 30 March 2015); 2015-16 (version dated 16 May 2016) Conclusions As can be seen, the quoted figure of “£20,000” is utterly bogus. As exact figures are not provided in the Register (not at least until post-MP’s expenses scandal in April 2009), even at the most farfetched estimate used, it could only be surmised that the figure could be up to £10,000. How this figure has been doubled is a mystery! A further factual inaccuracy in the Business Insider article concerns Ofcom’s revocation of Press TV’s broadcasting licence. Whilst the matter was indeed brought to a head by the airing of footage from the forced confession of Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari in the run up to the Iranian presidential election of 2009, the revocation of Press TV’s licence however concerned a breach of Ofcom’s licensing conditions – namely a UK-based licensee must have editorial control over content. Ofcom in fact offered to work with Press TV to resolve this matter, but Press TV did not take up this offer and had their licence revoked in 2012. Press TV coverage of the Iranian election in 2009 caused the resignation of LBC Radio’s Nick Ferrari, who had worked for the channel and conceded that until the election, the station’s coverage was “reasonably fair”. Indeed, prior to this, the channel was widely seen as a viable platform for raising important human rights and political issues of the Middle East. Presenters ranged from the former BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan; Derek Conway, the Conservative MP who presented a book review segment for the channel; right through to Lauren Booth, sister of Cherie Blair, whose programme “Remember the Children of Palestine” featured on the channel. It is unlikely this smear will go away. However, I share this in the hope of providing a factual rebuttal to the allegations and to provide additional context. Useful links: The Register of Members’ Interest, House of Commons Publications, available at https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/registers-of-interests/register-of-members-financial-interests/ “Iran’s Press TV loses UK licence”, The Guardian (20 January 2012) available at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/20/iran-press-tv-loses-uk-licence “British journalists who work for Ahmadinejad’s mouthpiece”, The Week (1 July 2009) available at http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/21693/british-journalists-who-work-ahmadinejads-mouthpiece [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tony-blair-lobbied-chinese-government-for-saudi-oil-company-while-middle-east-peace-envoy-a7007111.html] [Many thanks to Thomas Li] http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/jeremy-corbyn-defends-taking-money-from-iranian-state-broadcaster-press-tv-appearances_uk_57c705b7e4b01e359229a9be Op-ed: "Assem Allam is an Egyptian-born British businessman, based since 1968 in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He is the owner of Allam Marine, an industrial generator manufacturer, and owner of Premier League club Hull City Wikipedia."
He is a very wealthy man and lives in a wealthy suburb of Kingston-upon-Hull, Kirkella. Thursday evening he appeared on Yorkshire television's regional news but the story was nothing new. In an interview Allam confirmed he is certain that the Labour Party will split if Jeremy Corbyn wins the 2016 party leadership election. He also said he is prepared to fund a new political party by investing millions and has already spoken with senior Labour politicians. Was one of those MPs Hull Hessle and West's Alan Johnson? Or does he mean the old new Labour guard and the likes of Peter Mandleson, Tony Blair and a couple of well-known spin doctors? Allam surely has more pressing business sorting out Hull City football club's ongoing issues? In 2014 he threatened to sell the football club if he was not allowed to officially change the club's name; his plans failed and his big money merchandising ideas were put on hold. More recently he has threatened to sell Hull City football club more than once; manager Steve Bruce left the club following a row this summer. Perhaps Mr Allam thinks he can buy and manage a political party to suit like a football club? He has donated more than £500,000 to the Labour Party helping fund the gap left by falling Union donations. Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour Party leader September 12, 2016, and we posted the following report six days later, September 18. Mr Allam was already publicly talking about funding another political party and pulling the plug on Corbyn, the party, its members and its traditional voters. So it is September 18, 2015: "Assem Allam is a local businessman, originally from Egypt. He is owner of the local Football League Championship team, Hull City. This week Allam has been in the news following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party. Often business and the big money it makes do not go hand in hand with the Labour party, a political party of socialist origins. But in this case it does, or rather it did; multi-millionaire Allam has been one of Labour's top donors but that could be about to change. He is not happy that Corbyn was elected party leader but it was a democratic election when all is said and done. Whether Corbyn fans would have supported the party had one of the other candidates won the leadership election is not known; probably not in some cases but that is immaterial. Corbyn is party leader and we all have to work with what we have and that means giving the people's choice a fair chance. As always Mr Allam is prepared to put his money where his mouth is and has said he will fund Labour MP's who want to break away from the party and either form a new more left of centre party of even swing over and join the Liberal Democrats. New Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron believes his party could be onto a winner following Corbyn's victory. He has hinted at conversations with disenfranchised Labour MPs who may make the jump to the Lib Dems. Division has been done before though and it did not work. A so-called 'gang of four' split to form the Social Democratic party in 1981. Four senior Labour Party 'moderates' broke to form the SDP; they were Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams. They also believed that Labour had become too left-wing for its own good much like some Corbyn doubters in September 2015. For the two general elections that followed they joined forces in an alliance with the Liberal Party and in 1988 formed the Social and Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats were formed in the late 80's. All the breakaway from Labour achieved was to help the Tories and Thatcher to political success, rip apart Labour and setback Labour's political success for years. Surely current Labour party representatives should take a lesson from history? Labour must know that 'together we are stronger' as after all the right-wing live by a very different adage 'divide and conquer'? The gang of four proved they were not worthy Labour party representatives when they caused a huge rift for their own ends. So let those not worthy in 2015 go their own way but do not let them try to con you that it is for the good of all. Mr Allam is used to getting his own way for a price. He has already been defeated in his quest to change the name of Hull City to the Tigers which is the team’s nickname locally. Allam wants the change as he believes it will bring financial success by way of marketing. He may be right that "rebranding the club is the only way to bring in new investment from overseas" but the FA and fans do not agree. With the help of people power Hull City remains Hull City. Can people power save Labour from his attack? Opinion: I voted for Andy Burnham in the leadership race. I am happy he was man enough to accept a job in the cabinet and respect the vote. Corbyn is party leader and unless he does something dreadful he has my support. Does he have yours?" July 2016 as the pathetic Labour coup rumbled on the Canary has reported on Assem Allam Also July 2016 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/05/top-labour-donor-offers-rebels-millions-to-defect-and-start-new/ And here we are September 1, 2016, and Allam is back in the news with the same old song. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3738698/Hull-City-staff-clean-Allam-graffiti-KCOM-Stadium-walls-ahead-Premier-League-return-protests-against-ownership-grows.html http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/eileen-kersey/time-for-labour-to-get-behind-jeremy-corbyn Cometh the time, Cometh the man.
The Establishment really, really, really, doesnt get it do they? Its not so much what Jeremy Corbyn is saying. Its what he is offering that's making the difference. Every time a representative of the establishment, be it the BBC and other Media, MP's, Civic Leaders and the like comes out and makes a statement about the unelectability of Corbyn's Labour, or attempt some kind of character assassination of those around him we (Entryists, Trots and the like) kick back and his power becomes stronger. He portrays the power of collectivism in a way that is shaking the very foundations of British society. On the one hand we have people who for one reason or another have grown suspicious of the 'Established Order', either in their own lives through insecure jobs, housing and the like, or have become disillusioned with the self inflicted Terrorism threats they witness and all the awful consequences of getting involved in other peoples domestic wars. We should be involved, but in a way that helps resolve these conflicts, not pouring petrol on the flames. The middle east is awash with weapons manufactured in Britain and the west!!! On the other hand we have the Establishment wanting more of the platitudinous same, in the interests of their 'British justice' whilst at the same time feeding off the profits of the masses who are just about getting by in poor housing , poor jobs, children having no future and increasing waiting health issue lists. The wealth creators seeing little prospect of wealth for their children. Then the Likes of Sadiq Khan and Kezia Dugdale, now seen in some ways as reflective of the old Labour way of doing things, like shoehorning candidates into power; then they forget their roots so quickly and become themselves part of this 'establishment' that people have so much antipathy towards. A sort of payback time for being given a nudge in the right direction. Anyone with any sense and in power should have realised that you cannot defend the indefensible by condemning such a huge movement without it having some kind of back lash. The Royals know this and practise this neutrality-hence they survive as they are always seen generally as bystanders. The Establishment are using all their power to stop this Social revolution juggernaught which is growing daily. The natives have watched the faltered uprisings elsewhere on the Continent in places like Spain and Greece and have learned much from it. One thing the British have when push comes to shove is a collective will to succeed. It is only people like Corbyn and Churchill before him who instinctively tap into the hopes and fears of the masses and will them on to do that which seems impossible. Both men have had their respective critics and both men made big mistakes too, but they both have that ability to rise above it all and succeed where lesser men fear to tread. I am happy to have lived during the lifetime of both these people who in their respective ways will harness the power of the people for the good of Great Britain. Thanks as always to Steve Howard Op-ed: Acclaimed film maker Ken Loach has joined the so-called Corbyn circus as it rolled into Sheffield Friday. A former Labour political hopeful and wealthy donor, Michael Foster, was published widely in the mainstream media last weekend calling the Corbyn leadership election 2016 campaign a circus and causing anger with his choice of words to describe supporters at rallies; he used the term Nazi stormtroopers and refused to apologise instead defending his verbal attack. But many ordinary people are supporting Jeremy Corbyn and want him to stay on as Labour Party leader. In Sheffield Friday living legend and lifelong socialist Ken Loach is turning his film making talents on Corbyn supporters. Loach has already gone on record to support Corbyn. Mr Corbyn arrived in Sheffield Friday morning by train. "The politician was pictured arriving at the railway station and posing for pictures with fans after stepping from his train - including larking around and making faces for a youngster and her mum" reports the Star. As always Corbyn manages to charm without effort. It does not come across as staged or political opportunity just a genuine man responding to people. Friday many parts of the country are experiencing heavy rain and Sheffield could be someting of a damp squib tonight; it is doubtful though that will dampen enthusiam or limit the number of people attending. A few thousand supporters turned out in Liverpool recently for a Corbyn rally in spite of the rain. "Fri 19 Aug 2016, 6pm-8pm, Barkers Pool, outside City Hall, city centre - Jeremy Corbyn is coming to Sheffield for a public open air "Jeremy4Labour" rally. Let's hope Sheffield gives him as big a turnout as his last visit! (Rumour has it that Ken Loach will be there as well, to film the event.) Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock held a disastrous rally in Sheffield in 1992. He arrived by helicopter and with a great deal of razzmatazz. What followed was an American styled rally that was embarrassing to watch. Whichever spin doctor or campaign manager was responsible was over paid and not fit for purpose. That rally was in a stadium but Corbyn's is outside in the city to keep costs down; he is not for sale to the highest bidder, donor or lobbyist. But in the end Kinnock, caught in the moment, let down his own campaign and Labour supporters. Labour lost the 92 election and as they say the rest is history. Mr Corbyn is a substance over style veteran politician and hopefully his rally in Sheffield will be a huge success. http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/jeremy-corbyn-makes-funny-faces-at-youngster-as-he-arrives-in-sheffield-ahead-of-huge-city-centre-rally-1-8078559 'Celebrities' supporting Corbyn: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madness-star-suggs-think-corbyn-8646119 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/nov/03/sean-bean-lauds-jeremy-corbyn-for-standing-up-for-working-class-people In December 2015 I thought I would take a brief look online to see what I could learn about Jeremy Corbyn. Certainly since he was elected Labour Party leader on September 12, 2015, there had been moire than a fair share of bad press about the man, his supporters and his team. This is what I wrote following a quick scout around the Internet: Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has a huge grassroots following, is both popular and yet called a clown by some members of the electorate and his own party, is a principled man and a veteran campaigner. Jeremy Corbyn consistently voted against introducing foundation hospitals, while most Labour MPs generally voted for. As I said in December "Personally I see nothing above to cause concern. On the contrary many people in 2015 would agree with all of the above except for possibly the renewal of our nuclear deterrent Trident which remains a divisive issue.
Born in 1946 age is against Mr Corbyn and I say that as one of his contemporaries. He has the benefit of experience and is a wise man but by the 2020 general election he will be aged around 71. Of course we are being expected to work into older age and the House of Lords is packed to the rafters with the country's law-makers and many are extremely aged. But in spite or perhaps because of his age Corbyn has inspired a generation to become politically active, vote and take an interest in current affairs. Corbyn's register of interests is fairly meagre compared to other politicians. For instance - he received £150 for a lecture on December 16, 2014. Hours: 1 hr - compared to David Cameron - his page shows donations such as - name of donor: Mrs Marjorie Glasgow, Address of donor: private, amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000. Mr Corbyn lives by his own admission a fairly frugal life, is a vegetarian [reportedly following a stint working on a pig farm], has been married a couple of times, has children, does not have a car, still rides a bicycle, speaks fluent Spanish and is an ardent Arsenal supporter. Even in football he manages to campaign - this time for the Arsenal football club to pay its staff a living wage. There are many many more reasons why Corbyn should be applauded and welcomed rather than attacked and undermined such as "in 2013, Corbyn was awarded the Gandhi International Peace Award for his "consistent efforts over a 30-year parliamentary career to uphold the Gandhian values of social justice and non‐violence." Monday the Daily Telegraph prefers to try having a laugh at Corbyn's expense with a report that dates back to 2006 -"Jeremy Corbyn dresses as Father Christmas on live television. Footage emerges of the Labour leader dressed as a 'Secret Santa' on the BBC's Daily Politics show handing mince pies out. The Telegraph tries to make him sound the fool saying "Jeremy Corbyn's perfect role has emerged – not as Labour leader – but as none other than Father Christmas." However Corbyn spent Saturday December 5 collecting donations for refugees in a Santa hat and what is so wrong with that? He joined his local Labour group to sing Carols and shake the collection tin - and it was not a fake publicity stunt. Again he shows his human and common touch which appeals to many of us. Corbyn has a 'momentum' of support behind him that other politicians can only yearn to achieve. He has caught the 'mood' of many. He may have disagreed with the party on some issues but looking at the list of some of those disagreements above you have to say - Kudos to Corbyn. You can check out Mr Corbyn further here |
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