An attack on Jeremy Corbyn, an attack on democracy, an attack on us all
JVL condemns the NEC decision to bar Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour Parliamentary Candidate. We have written extensively on how he and his supporters have been treated and will continue to do so. We note that the day he was elected he went on to speak at a rally in support of refugees and the day of the NEC decision he went on to speak at a rally against the (illegal) Tory Illegal Migrants Bill. Solidarity to Jeremy Corbyn.
On March 28th 2023, by 22 votes to 12, the NEC endorsed Keir Starmer’s motion to ban Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour MP in the constituency he has served with meticulous care and popularity for forty years, winning ten elections for the Party with large majorities. JVL is not surprised but still appalled at the decision, which is effectively confirmation of Starmer’s unilateral announcement on 15th February that Jeremy would not be allowed to stand.
This is a despicable, disrespectful and antidemocratic decision. We are pleased to publish the statement by activists of Islington North CLP who issued this statement:
‘Local Party members should select their candidates for every election’”
“The officers of Islington North CLP strongly support this statement from Keir Starmer in February 2020’: “We believe in the democratic rights of all constituency parties to choose their prospective parliamentary candidate”.
Therefore we reject the NEC’s undue interference in Islington North, which undermines our goal of defeating the Conservatives and working with our communities for social justice.”
And JVL is pleased to share Jeremy’s own statement in the immediate aftermath of the decision:
“The NEC’s decision to block my candidacy for Islington North is a shameful attack on party democracy, party members and natural justice.
When I was leader of the Labour Party, I was determined to build a member-led movement that gave hope to a new generation. today’s disgraceful move shows contempt for the millions of people who voted for our Party in 2017 and 2019, and will demotivate those who still believe in the importance of a transformative Labour government.
Now, more than ever, we should be offering a bold alternative to the government’s programme of poverty, division and repression. Keir Starmer has instead lauinched an assault on the rights of his own Labour members, breaking his pledge to build a united and democratic Party that advances social, economic and climate justice.
I will not be intimidated into silence. I have spent my life fighting for a fairer society on behalf of the people of Islington North and I have no intention of stopping now.”
This decision goes counter not only to what Keir Starmer himself said when he was standing for the position of Labour Leader but against the democratic ideals and framework of the Labour Party. It is yet one more, possibly the most heinous, example of centralised control and the drive to remove power from local Parties, which has included forbidding local Labour Parties from discussing certain topics that they deem “not competent business”. The forbidden list includes such issues as the EHRC Report and the Forde Report and, doubtless, very shortly will include discussing the merits or otherwise of banning Corbyn; the only role that the Leadership wants for local activists is to accept what comes from the top and stay quiet. This decision continued the multiple attacks that Keir has made on Jeremy since he became leader after previously pledging to follow many of the policies that his “friend” had initiated. The NEC action has prompted a new round of false allegations against Jeremy in the media with the lead on BBC Newsnight (28.03.23), Mark Urban, repeatedly asserting that Jeremy had never apologised for antisemitism in the Labour Party when he had done so repeatedly.
JVL will not cease in our work to expose the reality, including that antisemitism is real and dreadful but that the media has distorted the issue and even the findings of the EHRC. Their report did not refer to institutional antisemitism, nor indeed to the extent of antisemitism in the Labour Party. The report was concerned with process and noted that processing of allegations improved once Jeremy was able to appoint a General Secretary who supported the programme he promoted.
It is worth noting that antisemitism was not mentioned in the motion and, of course, while the press and the right wing of the Labour Party have relished linking Jeremy with antisemitism, this is an allegation that does not stand up to serious scrutiny but repeated so often that it has been treated as though it was “truth”.
Solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn.
Is there any obvious Labour party rule-breaking by HQ in this case which can be challenged please?
If a challenge causes administrative delay in resolving the issue, that might advantage the sitting MP and add to the embarrassment of both HQ and of the candidate who’s been parachuted in.
If Starmer hasn’t broken Labour party rules, what sanctions CAN the CLP and / or its membership effectively mount against this HQ interference with Islington’s choice of candidate please?
Ideally such sanctioning behaviour wouldn’t imperil the CLP and members’ continuing membership of the Labour party BUT really what do they risk now, given Starmer’s behaving this badly?
There are costs for Starmer in a prolonged fight. Starmer wants the CLP members’ money and their help with the local elections. Starmer doesn’t want the negative coverage he’s getting locally in Islington and in other parts of the Labour party.
Thank you for this article and your support for Mr. Corbyn. Truth is a rare commodity and it seems harder every day to fight against the smears and disinformation.
It is time to stop wasting energy on trying to change a Labour party festering with infections and time to step into a future of a new socialist presence where energies will be more constructively deployed. JVL would have unique presence there
It’s a squalid little coup by a right wing, corporate-friendly element that has sabotaged this ostensibly socialist party from the start.
Last time, it was “New” Labour.
..Now it’s just Fake Labour
Starmer and his traitorous far right, self serving cronies have destroyed the labour party, and turned it into a racist fake labour, tory party…
We now have two racist, far right tory parties to defeat at the next election.
what is to be done? An alternative Conference? Actions by the Unions? Legal action against Starmer? Publish numbers leaving the Party? Islington supporters could be expelled if they support an independent JC,
What a mess,,,gift to the Tories
Starmer is lying and knows that Corbyn is not antisemitic and never raised it as an issue before becoming ‘leader’
“Dismay” doesn’t even come close. My fear is that the party has been hijacked by the faction that saw several of their number defect to the Lib Dems and Tories; more interested in being seen as “in politics” than actually working as a politician for the betterment of their constituents and the country; suits that could be transplanted to any financial company. It was the election of Corbyn that gave the party hope that manifested in the near win in 2017 when the “miffed” cohort anticipated total decimation and actively set about making that a reality. Both 2017 and 2019 manifestos were popular and desperately needed, if they weren’t why are the Tories and most political commentators dressing them in their own colours? What makes this action worse is that it is a total betrayal of the constituents of North Islington who have supported the party for decades.
McCarthyism UK Style: The Rules
1 You’re guilty until proven innocent
2 Being charged is proof of guilt
3 Defending yourself is proof of guilt
4 Denying that there was a crime is proof of guilt
5 Being found innocent is proof of institutional guilt
6 Since violence against person or property are always absent, the crimes are limited to words or body language committed while involved in political arguments about Israel’s behaviour & Zionism’s policies . Nothing to do with Jews as Jews – which is what anti-semitism is about! Guilty as charged then … but only if you’re a Left Winger. Absolute silence on Fascists!
Totally support Jeremy Corbyn and his constituency’s right to choose him as its candidate.
There is just one thing missing in Jeremy’s statement. A declaration that he will stand again, come what may.
Thanks for this statement. Solidarity with JVL and Jeremy Corbyn.
Solidarity with Jeremy.
Robin Bradbury is right. The enemies of socialism want to keep us entangled in the knotweed of false allegations. Challenging Starmer’s decision is pointless. Labour as currently constituted is no longer a vehicle for social justice and not worth belonging to or representing. What the public is chiefly concerned with is the cost of living crisis and the collapse of the NHS. These are the issues we should be talking about, and to do this we need to create a new unashamedly socialist party which will give us a platform for expressing our views. If Jeremy were to start such a party I would sign up in a heartbeat; if he is reluctant to do so we must start it ourselves. This means raising funds, organizing support & drawing up a manifesto. If Jeremy won’t stand as an independent we must field a candidate un N Islington who is prepared to be our standard bearer. My suggestion would be Laura Pidcock, an inspiring young socialist with the drive and passion that would make her a worthy successor to the movement that will be Jeremy’s legacy.
It’s obvious why Starmer the charlatan doesn’t want Corbyn to stand as a LP candidate. When the A/S issue is raised again by ‘journalists,’ who are already criticising Corbyn for not apologising, this time it will be different. There is now a wealth of evidence to show that Corbyn was perfectly correct to say that A/S in the LP had been exaggerated, therefore he had NOTHING to apologise for. And who was mainly responsible for making most of those malicious accusations? Answer; a hard core of Zionists within and without the LP who did not want Corbyn to give a voice to the Palestinians, who are being persecuted by the hard right government of Israel. Starmer has now ditched Socialism and democracy in the LP in favour of racism and apartheid and wants to keep his plans in the dark.
The attack on local democracy choice will damage Labour and could hand the tories another 4 years
I think this will be the final straw and the Labour Party will split with rival ‘Labour’ parties standing against each other. It bodes ill for getting this evil (and I use that word carefully) government out of power. Shows Starmer’s naive political competence up yet again.
What a terrible shame !! Oh the lies ! What is Keir trying to do Dirty lies , upon reading the report tis clear the evidence is lacking and will destroy any hope of great leadership ! outrageous preposterous! bah
Starmer yet again living down to expectations. We need a new socialist party or those of us who will not vote either Labour or Tory will have our votes fragmented and the snake Starmer will probably win.
I quote from the main piece: “The NEC action has prompted a new round of false allegations against Jeremy in the media with the lead on BBC Newsnight (28.03.23), Mark Urban, repeatedly asserting that Jeremy had never apologised for antisemitism in the Labour Party when he had done so repeatedly.”
I watched this episode of Newsnight last night and was delighted to see the BBC’s Mark Urban flailing around desperately, presumably trying to do his (Tim Davie inspired? ) BBC masters’ bidding and inculpate Jeremy falsely. But poor Urban was reduced to the odd mumble by the sharpness, eloquence and factual armoury of Barry Gardiner, the outstandingly well qualified and experienced Labour MP for Brent North for over 20 years – who presumably knows a thing or two about his neighbours in Islington and was having none of the Starmer mischief. It struck me that possibly somebody at the BBC hadn’t read their lines carefully – or, better still, had……
I’ll be happier when I hear that the CLPs are getting together to organise and take some sort of concerted action against the NEC. Representations and petitions don’t work against such as them; their only interest is in themselves and their own ambitions, and they have no scruples, no ethical code, to restrain them. There has to be something stronger, some way to reach them: legal action? boycotting? something else? Starmer is going too far, and has to be resisted in a meaningful way.
Betrayed, I feel betrayed. SKS refused the youth of the labour party a voice at the conference, they are the future and many were energised and became.interested.in politics because of JC. This is not the labour party I joined. This os a bunch of bullies, cowardly and hiding behind meaningless platitudes
Jeremy might be a nice man, but as always, hes not going to do anything about being walked on by Starmer beyond the above statement. He sure as hell wont ever attempt to seriously threaten the labour partys existence. In fact, when talks about having “no intention of stopping now” he means he’ll carry on being part of labour.
We now have the ‘uniparty’ in British politics when it comes to key issues – particularly Foreign Policy (as in the USA). The world is now polarising again.
Please allow one comment that doesn’t agree with the consensus on this site.
Starmer’s goal and the goal of every major political party is to win elections and then retain power, and for that to happen he needs to draw a lot of voters from the centre who are fearful of far-left policies. He’ll never succeed if he doesn’t politically destroy his predecessor Corbyn, the champion of the far-left, and until today that job was only half-done. Party members’ views are important but it’s votes that count, votes that win elections. Voters on the left will not desert Labour because of Corbyn’s demise, some on the far-left may do so but they won’t vote Conservative.
Unfair – yes. Undemocratic – yes. Nasty- yes. Two-faced – yes. But Pragmatic – YES, and it improves Starmer’s chances of winning with broadly appealing soft-left policies. However because he is colourless, uncharismatic and incompetent he is in no way a certainty as he should be against the current Tory government. I don’t think that JVL wants Labour to win under Starmer but most traditional Jewish Labour voters will hold their nose and vote for him as being better than the Tories and certainly better than Corbyn who he’s gotten rid of.
If I may add a word about the oft-espoused myth of the near win in 2017, which wasn’t. Never had conditions been so perfect for a Tory loss as they were then, thanks to Theresa May’s political ineptitude and poor leadership, and still Corbyn never had a real chance of forming government. A non far-left leader would have done better in 2017.
Congratulations on your strong stance.
It is no coincidence that the ‘brand new’ Murdoch owned ‘News & Comment’ TV stations, GB News & Talk TV, that the Tory gov’t recently licensed, are still maliciously attacking Jeremy Corbyn. Whatever happened to RT? This country has become a one party state with a MSM mono culture, a mirror image of USA. Does it matter who owns & controls MSM?
Starmer’s suggestion that reinstating Jeremy would make the Labour Party unelectable is using the same logic as Tony Blair, making New Labour a mirror image of the Tory Party ‘to attract Tory voters’.
I stand with jc
I want JC to stand as an independent! And we should stop wasting our money on legal fees and instead find decent lawyers who will act pro bono.
Jeremy Corbyn’s presence in the House of Commons these last three years must have been an intolerable strain for Keir Starmer – a constant reminder of his own lies and treachery, but also his own lack of skill as a political leader. Where Corbyn is humble, principled and inspirational, Starmer is wooden, unimaginative and authoritarian
Was it a bright young “Spad”, fresh down from Oxford, who suggested that Starmer should personally lead the NEC in declaring Corbyn unfit to represent the Labour Party at the next general election? What a clever idea, and it all went so well.
But there is one small question. In his 40 years as an MP, Jeremy Corbyn has – time and again – shown the steel to stand his ground against bullies, whether in the Labour Party, the media or the Metropolitan Police. If he decides to stand again, who will stand beside him?
I will, with many others.
Claims of the Labour Party membership being heavily infected with antisemitism were counter-factual, as investigation has shown. Jeremy Corbyn was correct to draw attention to this point and his apology for any antisemitism, or other forms of racism, were entirely genuine. A Keir Starmer decision to persecute Jeremy Corbyn for being truthful is a personal vindictive campaign.
Thanks for this article. My humble opinion is that it’s time for our Trade Unions to call an extraordinary meeting to discuss if the Labour Party is fit for purpose. Starmers position seems pretty clear, the common person does not deserve a voice in Parliament unless it comes from the Party hierarchy without consultation. Sorry, that is NOT what the Labour Movement formed to achieve.
Meticulous article. Solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn. Why the persecution of a good sincere incorruptible man.
Jaye,
What is all this “far-left” stuff? Revolutionary Marxism? Trotskyism,? Maoism?
Corbyn is pretty much a mainstream European Social Democrat.
No point in pragmatic pursuit of power of you are merely aiming to consolidate established failures.
I supported the Labour Party in 2017 because I read the Labour Manifesto and was impressed by a lot of the achievable and fundable policies contained therein.
I agree with you about “the myth of the near win in 2017”.
It would though be nice to have a new political party, espousing some decent genuinely progressive values, but only from the selfish point of view of at least having someone to vote for – if there was a local candidate of course.
Solidarity with Corbin
This is an attack against all of us who are standing up for our rights and the rights s.
of other
Jaye’s view of SKS’s treatment of JC: “Unfair – yes. Undemocratic – yes. Nasty- yes. Two-faced – yes. But Pragmatic – YES, and it improves Starmer’s chances of winning with broadly appealing soft-left policies.”
This and the rest of Jaye’s post is almost more ANTI-democratic and disgusting than that which emanates from the man he excuses for just about every crime against the principles of the Labour party it’s possible to commit in thee years.
Is this SKS paired-down, imitation LP good enough to make the changes to the UK that are needed? Is it fine and dandy to sacrifice a former leader and countless others on the left in attempting to achieve election success? We are being asked/cajoled, begged by email almost every day by one sycophant or another to put it to one side (unstated) and continue to work for that rotten-at-heart hoped for success. Not my only claim, but I’ve stood as Labour candidate for my Ward in every District Council election since the mid 80’s, but no more under this unprincipled leader.
I’m with Jeremy.
Thanks for reminding everyone who the real Jeremy Corbyn is
Please can I share this
Of course, please do
Hold on, I’m nearly 70, should I join Wood Green and Hornsey clp?
You would find many good comrades there who would welcome your support.
It’s horrific in my 63yrs on this planet l have seen many political wrong doings but none as personal and full of hate as this one . All of it made up on lies and fabrication then for a ruling governing body to endorce this behaviour is the death march of labour . Starmer has without doubt damaged the party its unrecognisable from the party that gave so much hope and motivation to the people of this country
I left the Labour Party 2 days after Starmer was elected. I predicted then what kind of man and his cronies were. His 1st action to run to the JLM and its acolytes in the news media and ignore the JVL was the first reason for me leaving, the second being who made up his cabinet.
I have no regrets leaving that disreputable party which I was a member of for 53 years. Harold Wilson once said the Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing. The Labour Party itself is both morally and financially bankrupt and I for one hope it dies. Only a new Socialist Party headed by Jeremy Corbyn will do for me now. I certainly won’t be voting Labour from now on.
I Stand With Jeremy Corbyn and hope he smashes the person selected to replace him, assuming he stands as an independent.
jeremy is agreat honest, caring politician has been for 40 years. its a disgrace to not let him stand in his own constituency, they all admire jc.
Jaye made the following claim in his post (and Harvey Taylor agreed with him):
‘If I may add a word about the oft-espoused myth of the near win in 2017, which wasn’t. Never had conditions been so perfect for a Tory loss as they were then, thanks to Theresa May’s political ineptitude and poor leadership…’
Could you – and Harvey – elaborate Jaye. This is a new one, and I’ve only ever come across one poster making such a claim before, and that was a few years ago. I mean I have literally come across posters referring to how close Jeremy came to winning the 2017 GE on hundreds of occasions during the past five years or more, and NEVER – on a single occasion – anyone refuting it in response (and/or saying it’s a myth), but NOW – in a single thread – TWO people are making such a claim! Could it be that THEY are trying to propagate a myth?!
Funny how neither of them mention the staffers who conspired against a LP win under Jeremy. The reality is that with a 20 point plus lead when May called the snap GE (THAT is why she called it), the saboteurs and the MSM thought they had done more than enough for the Tories to win big and bring Jeremy’s leadership to an end.
And the fact that they – the anti-democratic dark forces – trebled down on their lies and falsehoods and demonisation and smears in the months and years AFTER the close-run result in 2017 certainly gives every indication that THEY were rattled at how close Jeremy came to winning.
If the conditions had never been so perfect for a Tory loss as they were then Jaye – Harvey – how come Theresa May (and the Tories) were 20-plus points ahead prior to her calling the election???
Correction: If the conditions had never been so perfect for a Tory loss as they were then Jaye – Harvey – how come Theresa May (and the Tories) were 20-plus points ahead when she called the election, as they were prior to her calling it???
Pete
I agree that Jeremy Corbyn should not waste his time, seeking “justice” from Starmer and Evans on this matter. Islington North CLP members have a choice – they can support Jeremy Corbyn as an Independent Labour Candidate – and most likeley be eventually “thrown out” of the Labour Party. Corbyn will likely win a Seat and there is nothing wrong with being an Independent – at least the Whip can’t be removed at a whim! As for funds for Jeremy to promote a campaign at the next GE, I think he will find he has too much money from donations to handle. As for support on the doorstep – I’ll be there and my Labour Party membership is safe (although I’m not that fussed) as LP Organisers/goons will be far too busy to check me anyway and furthermore they have no right to check! Finally – what would happen if the Co-Operative Party – took Jeremy under their wing – surely the Labour Party can’t block that? Does the NEC also opine on Co-op party candidates – or could we see a clash there? Starmer and Evans have gone way too far – and risk losing the next GE as they cannot unite the Labour Party. The Conservatives will unite -come election time – be sure of that -they always do !! Jeremy was no threat ( he wouldn’t want to be Leader again I’m sure ) – but they have made him a martyr – and we won’t forgive or forget all the backstabbing in 2017 and 2019 and now !
@John W – what do you mean “We now have the ‘uniparty’ in British politics when it comes to key issues – particularly Foreign Policy (as in the USA). The world is now polarising again.” ?
The Labour Party has long been imperialist and pro-Zionist, right back to Attlee and before, and it was the Labour Party that really made concrete that ‘special relationship’ with the US, as well as being all for Zionist settlers displacing Palestinians, while at the same time being against European Jewish refugees coming to England.
Thats the same Labour Party that Jeremy Corbyn has been part of for years.
Well done, keep up the good work.
The vindictive nature of Starmers attack on Corbyn and purging the party of socialists is a clear indication of how untrustworthy he is vote for him at your peril.
The Labour Party under Starmer has become the anti socialist party, & is pursuing the interests of big business & corporations.
Allan Howard,
I think you take my friendly compromise or trade-off with Jaye a bit too seriously. The purpose of my response to Jaye was to express amazement that Labour/Corbynite ideology, philosophy and policy might be categorised as “far-left”. I do though think that the idea that xx votes here and there would have elected Corbyn has become too easily accepted. The Tories still took 42.4% of the votes to Labour’s 40%. It was good to wake up to a hung parliament – Close! But no cigar! – unfortunately. I was merely reflecting on the reality of the result and I don’t for one moment challenge any evidence that Corbyn was treachorously undermined.
There are still too many idiots who think that hating on JC makes them some sort of heroic Nazi hunter. “I’m not a racist because I hate Corbyn”. It’s anti racism for racists. Unfortunately they have to be won over, and if that is given sufficient effort and still fails, they need to be thoroughly, shamelessly, ruthlessly excoriated. Because they have made it clear what they are prepared to do to anyone that stands up to them. But still try to save them before you damn them, as it were. So many people have been poisoned by Rupert Murdoch. It’s a big task. I totally agree with Stephen Fry on this.