Labour Party’s lack of fairness bodes ill for a future government
JVL Introduction
Mica Nava has reviewed the seemingly never ending story of Labour’s attacks on the left; it is nearly two years since the whip was removed from Jeremy Corbyn, large numbers of members are being expelled on allegations of antisemitism or associating with organisations that were proscribed in July 2021 even though the association predated the banning by months or even years. Jewish members have been more likely than non Jews to be expelled for antisemitism. Meanwhile, racism towards Black people and the Gipsy, Roma an dTraveller communities and Islamophobia are barely dealt with. And the number of members has almost certainly halved since the peak under Corbyn.
The Forde Report and the Labour Files have been largely ignored, certainly by the mainstream media, and little has changed, despite the profuse apologies on The Labour Party’s website. So what sort of a Party is this, likely as it is to be the next government of the UK and why does it matter? It matters beyond the question of fair treatment for members, because as Peter Oborne opined. ”If this is how the party leadership treats members of its own party while in opposition, how might it behave in power?”
This article was originally published by The Chartist on Sun 15 Jan 2023. Read the original here.
Labour silence on abuse uncovered in reports
Mica Nava says the Forde Report and The Labour Files raise serious questions over Labour’s approach to antisemitism and wider racism
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All LP members, And particularly those of the NEC, Should read this report.
It seems quite absurd that Jewish members the Labour Party are quite likely to be accused themselves of antisemitism
Not sure I want to return to the LP under present leadership but I do want to support the local activists. It is a paradoxical situation as we want Tories out but not Tory-lites in.
I am a recently joined member of the Labour Party. I am Jewish, although not religiously so. I joined the Labour Party because I no longer wanted to stand in the wings observing the destruction of society and the environment over the 72 years I’ve been walking on this planet. I am shocked beyond belief at the purges and proscriptions I am becoming aware of – the Labour Party appears to be divesting itself of the most passionate and compassionate and radical activists upon whom transformative attitudes could be relied. It looks as if we are back to a Labour Party which wants to manage capitalism just a little better than the Tories and expel anyone who wants Labour to fulfil the mission it was established to realise! Socialism to me means regulating the market until it serves people and not the other way round. This is clearly not the vision of Sir Establishment, he of one nation, backing business and war, in a world where, since Covid began, 66% of new wealth created has gone to the top 1%!
Roy Lilley is a well-respected, well-connected, very widely read blogger and commentator on NHS issues. His political reach goes well beyond the health sector.
Lilley ‘s most recent free e-letter “ANNOYING EVERYONE …” pulverises Starmer and Streeting’s policy ideas on “reforming” the NHS. Because the duo’s health policy is so ill-researched and illogical Lilley wonders how many other Labour policies have the same failings. He asks whether a Starmer-led Labour government really would be an improvement on the Tory horror show.
Lilley has standing, personal control over parts of the media, links with other media and a well-established, widespread audience. Unlike ordinary Labour party members, Lilley’s criticism of Starmer’s inadequacy may impact directly on Labour’s chances of getting elected.
As Lilley’s criticisms of Starmer’s Labour echo ours, his voicing of them may help us get more of a hearing for our own ideas inside and outside the party.