Corbyn's kerfuffle

[Osem]

Corbyn's got another problem on his hands it seems:

Labour has a problem with anti-Semitism.

Remember the councillor who thought Hitler was the greatest man in history?

Remember the candidate who suggested asking the so-called Islamic State why it wasn't attacking Israel?

Remember the student who said a large part of the Oxford University Labour Club had a "problem with Jews"?

Imagine the reaction, Jewish figures say, if these were stories about any other minority.

They appear with politically damaging regularity.

Now, though, it seems change will come.

Activists and MPs have told BBC Radio 4's Today programme they are trying to toughen the rules on anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism.

Even if they fail, I'm told a party review by Labour peer Lady Royall into allegations of anti-Semitism may well also suggest rewriting the rulebook.

Poisonous atmosphere

That is highly unlikely to be the end of this story, though, because it goes to the heart of a poisonous atmosphere in parts of the Labour movement.

Jeremy Corbyn's critics - who are many and vociferous - put the blame at his door.

It is he, they say, who has attracted new members with these views, who has condemned anti-Semitism but not acted and who has - on occasion - made what they think are utterly inadequate responses to offensive language.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36034657

I wonder if he'll find time to deal with this in between such pressing issues as deciding which texts and emails to read out during PMQ's.

Nice to see the 2nd most senior person in the Labour Party being such a strong believer in the democratic process.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/p...cle4735902.ece (behind paywall)

McDonnell urges protesters to topple the government

"Mr McDonnell said. “If we can work in solidarity together, we don’t have to wait to the election in 2020. We have got to work to bring this government down at the first opportunity.”

[Osem]

It's the same old stuff from militant people who certainly only believe in democracy when it suits them. When it doesn't they resort to the power of the mob and intimidation just as they did in the 1970's. They always have and always will.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Osem

It's the same old stuff from militant people who certainly only believe in democracy when it suits them. When it doesn't they resort to the power of the mob and intimidation just as they did in the 1970's. They always have and always will.

Maybe the Tories should be worried about any bridges they pass under in case a paving slab is dropped on them.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Nice to see the 2nd most senior person in the Labour Party being such a strong believer in the democratic process.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/p...cle4735902.ece (behind paywall)

That is exactly how democracies inventors intended it. Not this wishy washy one vote every five years where five million votes are cast for one mp sham have today masquerading as democracy today.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Maybe the Tories should be worried about any bridges they pass under in case a paving slab is dropped on them.

Yes, that's the sort of democracy some of them quite like.

[Osem]

Oh dear:

A Labour MP has stepped down as an aide to the shadow chancellor over a Facebook post suggesting Israel should be moved to the United States.

Naz Shah has apologised for sharing the graphic showing Israel's outline superimposed onto a map of the US with the comment "problem solved".

It was shared in 2014, before she became Bradford West MP.

The Board of Deputies said the post, highlighted by the Guido Fawkes political website, was "appalling".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36142529

Not sure she's really fit to be sitting on the:

House of Commons home affairs select committee, which is conducting an inquiry into the rise of antisemitism.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...facebook-posts

[Osem]

Oh dear another spot of bother:

Jeremy Corbyn has been asked by MPs to discipline a political aide who reportedly claimed that the steel crisis had played well for the Labour party.

In a letter leaked to the Guardian, six Labour MPs who represent communities affected by the crisis told Corbyn that they were “absolutely horrified” by the suggestion, which was insulting and offensive to people who faced losing their jobs.

Andrew Fisher was said to have made the comments to Momentum, a group fiercely loyal to Corbyn.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...ed-well-labour

[Osem]

... and she's been suspended:

Labour has suspended MP Naz Shah over comments she made about Israel.

The Bradford West MP has been heavily criticised over the Facebook posts, including one suggesting Israel should be moved to America.

She offered a "profound apology" in a Commons statement for the posts which were made before she became an MP.

Earlier party leader Jeremy Corbyn warned her about the "offensive and unacceptable" posts and David Cameron called for her suspension.

Labour said: "Jeremy Corbyn and Naz Shah have mutually agreed that she is administratively suspended from the Labour Party by the general secretary.

"Pending investigation, she is unable to take part in any party activity and the whip is removed."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36148704

[Osem]

Well I wondered how long it'd be before Red Ken appeared in the news in this context:

Senior Labour figures have rounded on Ken Livingstone after he defended an MP suspended over "anti-Semitic" comments on social media.

Chris Bryant said he was "sick and tired of people trying to explain [anti-Semitism] away - and yes, I'm talking to you, Ken Livingstone".

London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan called Mr Livingstone's words "appalling and inexcusable".

Mr Livingstone said MP Naz Shah's comments were not anti-Semitic.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36160135

Seems like Labour has a 'serious anti-Semitism problem':

The Labour Party has a "serious problem" with anti-Semitism, a senior Labour peer has warned.

Lord Levy told BBC Newsnight he believed anti-Semitism existed across the political divide, but it seemed "more prominent" within Labour.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36157027

I don't think Ken and Jerry think so...

[denphone]

The Osem press office is obviously pretty busy in these last couple of days.

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by denphone

The Osem press office is obviously pretty busy in these last couple of days.

Is it press or propaganda

[heero_yuy]

Breaking news: Ken Livingstone is suspended from the Labour party.

No link yet.

Updated: Linky

[denphone]

They should have kicked him out of the party a long time ago in my opinion.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by denphone

The Osem press office is obviously pretty busy in these last couple of days.

If only that were true...

As for Livingstone, well his whole career has been characterised by 'lows' such as this and you have wonder why anyone would vote for such a man, especially anyone who's old enough to remember the 1970's.

At a time when Labour ought to be running rings around the Tories, we have an opposition being 'run' by an inept, out of touch, idiot who couldn't control a kids tea party let alone a political one. Scratch the surface of Labour and you soon reveal quite a lot of nastiness not far beneath.