In an effort to remove Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party some members of the party worked hard to oust him, even before he was elected.
He received the necessary number of nominations in 2015 to be on the ballot, after Ed Miliband resigned and the search was on for a new leader. Miliband was quickly toast following Labour's General Election defeat. Another leader hung out to dry when some of those demanding he quit had failed. Because the Labour Party is never about one man or woman. It could be about an inspiring party leader leading a team to victory but that needs everyone to play their part. Instead of supporting Corbyn as he settled into his new role as party leader the usual suspects began to plot and plot again. Deputy Leader Tom Watson has a track record of plotting and intrigue with a little expense scandal thrown in for good measure. After observing dirty tricks which might even put the Tory Party to shame the gloves came off. It was in the immediate aftermath of the EU Referendum and an orchestrated coup began to play out. A non-binding vote of no confidence in Corbyn by 171 or was that 172 members of the Parliamentary Labour Party. He refused to budge. Next a series of public resignations from the shadow cabinet some on TV but all with letters posted on social media and pinned to timelines for the world to see. Mainstream media coverage lapped it up and in an attempt to get eyeballs of pages and websites ever more wild stories were posted. Finally Angela Eagle launched a leadership challenge but she appears to have simply been a stalking horse for Owen Smith. He finally stepped out of the shadows. He continues to attack Corbyn for an uneven balance of females in the shadow cabinet but with the likes of Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendal refusing to join Corbyn's team his choices were limited. With the resignations the female to male ratio increased further. But Smith of course stopped a woman becoming party leader when he stepped out of the shadows. The plotting PLP opted for him to challenge Corbyn rather than Eagle and she was toast. But the attempt to elect Smith and remove Corbyn has been a messy one. Some MPs tried to prevent Corbyn being automatically on the ballot knowing he might struggle for MP nominations. But how can you have a challenger without the incumbent included? The plotters had no plan B. They wanted him to resign but who was going to take over? Some say Tom Watson was hoping to be caretaker leader until a replacement was elected. Yet no-one appeared to want to step up to the mark and can you blame them? Labour is no stranger to hanging dirty laundry out to dry but they have excelled this time; the level of hate lies, spin, intrigue, hypocrisy and self indulgent politics is obscene. Monday five recent party members went to court to win the right to vote in the leadership election. Tom Watson and Iain McNicol both leading lights in the current NEC refused to accept the court verdict and lodged an appeal which was heard within two days, on Thursday. Friday the judges announced their ruling and the NEC won though some claim on a technicality. Through all of this THEY, the plotters, have damaged the Labour Party far more than Mr Corbyn ever could. Some mainstream news publications such as The Independent are posting reports asking how Labour can be trusted on the economy after this week's shenanigans. Because £100K of Labour Party funds was being used Friday. OUR money. As they have won it will be the little man and woman who will foot the bill. Crowdfunding is going well but it is a huge mountain to climb. So Owen Smith who claims to be the unity candidate is part of an attack against ordinary party members. What I would like to see Starting a new political party is never easy. But a split is inevitable. Big money is behind Mr Smith. But a people's party is possible with Corbyn and like-minded politicians, supporters and members. I for one would leave the Labour Party and join that one and I would not be alone. The appeal Tom Watson plots and expenses The Telegraph 2009 Lord Mandleson says Tom Watson was plot ringleader Express and Star 2010 Labour NEC wins voting appeal: our writers’ verdict Guardian 2016 Open letter to Tom Watson Labour Party Deputy Leader |
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