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/
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