Back to the Future 400


The priority now of the political “elite” is to ensure voters never again get the chance to make a choice the political class do not want. Jeremy Corbyn is the thing the political class want least.

Do you remember when 184 Labour MPs refused to vote against the Tory benefit cuts that ruined lives and caused suicides? They did so on the grounds that their focus groups showed the public wanted benefit cuts, and so it would be wrong to oppose the Tory Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Well, I can promise you that the 172 Labour MPs who voted to no-confidence Corbyn are exactly the same people who would not oppose welfare cuts. The net effect of the Corbyn year has been that 12 Labour MPs have decided that they have a purpose in politics which is not just personal gain. The vast majority would vote to push the unemployed off a cliff if they thought it would get them career advancement. Or adapt the John Mann anti-immigrant agenda.

Make no mistake. If Corbyn is deposed, the people of England and Wales will be back to having a choice between two colours of Tory. Labour will go full on anti welfare, anti immigrant and pro-nuclear weapon. Because Jon Cruddas will tell them that is what will get them elected.

In the UK, 78% of people do not know the name of their MP. With Labour MPs it was 82%. The idea that they have a “personal mandate” is rubbish. People vote for the party. In Blackburn I stood as an Independent against Jack Straw and all the main parties, and got 5% of the vote. Not one of those 172 Labour Party MPs would get 5% if they stood as an Independent.

The SNP has mandatory reselection for every MP and MSP for every election. It is a fundamental democratic need. The mainstream media are now trying to generate horror at the idea that the Labour MPs should be accountable to their local members, in whose name they wish to stand again. It is a ridiculous argument that people who have behaved like Simon Danczuk should have the right to represent the Labour Party for life. Yet it is the democratic alternative which the media are seeking to demonise.


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400 thoughts on “Back to the Future

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  • Herbie

    Up meeting with Trump, he was. Murdoch

    Funny the way the elites have candidates for both outcomes in the global battle.

    Hillary for full onward Globalisation.

    And Trump for retreat to a Multipolar world.

    The Global Village, she said, back then in the innocent early 90s.

    Swords into ploughshares, we were told.

    The unity of humanity.

    World peace.

    Until that dream became the inhuman nightmare of unending slaughter, economies and livelihoods destroyed.

    They lied, you see.

  • Tony_0pmoc

    If you think Politicians are The Devil’s Evil Sperm..and you Think The US/UK Military Industrial Complex is not very nice…and 9/11 was not very good – whatever you think re who did it

    Read This..

    “Deadly Medicines and Organised Crime: How Big Pharma Has Corrupted Healthcare” by Peter Gotzsche (Author)

    We know what the people above are doing…but Big Pharma is killing us

    I know this guy ain’t lying – I think he is Danish

    He uncovers scams worth Billions of Dollars and The most outrageous multi-million scams where nearly all these tests of the new drugs are faked for more profit..and most of them never worked in the first place.

    I knew it was corrupt – but I had no idea pharmaceutical industry was that corrupt..

    Take a walk instead in the countryside – and then gradually break out into a jog and run – or do it on your bike..

    but don’t just flush them down the bog – like I did – you may need to come off them slowly..

    I just flushed them down the toilet and didn’t go back

    I’m still here fit and healthy and feeling very young

    I ain’t on nowt…My doctor’s receptionsist keeps me phoning me up about once every 5 years..Aren’t you dead yet? Do you want a test?? I replied – I will come in for My Death Certificate when I am Dead.

    Tony

    • Alan

      “He uncovers scams worth Billions of Dollars and The most outrageous multi-million scams where nearly all these tests of the new drugs are faked for more profit..and most of them never worked in the first place.”

      That’s known as “Capitalism” didn’t you know?

  • Mulga Mumblebrain

    This situation simply illustrates the axiomatic truth that democracy, in any meaningful sense, and capitalism are utterly antithetical. If Corbyn survives (literally, as his physical safety cannot be guaranteed in these circumstances)the first priorities must be regular re-endorsement, and TOTAL public financing of politics and an ABSOLUTE ban on private ‘contributions’ ie bribes.

    • James

      Define “Democracy”. The Leave camp cry it all the time (…and without Law, it is not Democracy).

      Define Capitalism… what we “see” and “know” is not “capitalism”. It is wide spread corruption.

      We look to see “the white” and “the black”. But, it is all “black”.
      We “expect” their is goodness, IF there is evil. We are taught that.
      I see only “self serving, self righteous, money grabbers”.

      Jezza was “probably “less than” than. And I am no “labourite”.
      Show me a “good man”. I’ll vote him “all day long and twice on Sundays”.

    • Resident Dissident

      “This situation simply illustrates the axiomatic truth that democracy, in any meaningful sense, and capitalism are utterly antithetical.”

      Might I suggest that you read the Labour Party’s aims and values that you are signed up to and then resign. The Labour Party’s values are not those of any of the many varieties of Marxist Leninism.

    • fedup

      True, is he survives, because as in evidence whence the whole of the establishment, included the outgoing prime minister gang up on a man to suppress, and intimidate him to resign. There exists every danger of the poor chap ending up JFKed/Kelleyed/Gareth Williamsed.

      True for any meaningful expression of democracy there ought not exit any kind of pecuniary inducements, be it “consultancy work”, “advisory role”, “directorships”, “campaign funding”,…… or any other form of bribes. That currently are so prevalent and are accepted as part and parcel of “democratic processes”. Hence the imperatives of ;“TOTAL public financing of politics and an ABSOLUTE ban on private ‘contributions’ ie bribes.” ought to be kept paramount.

  • James

    Following up BEVIN the BULLSHITTERS post…

    “Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller could be taken down from shelves if EU remains undecided by end of June”

    you can search it yourself.
    Bullshiiter Bevin provides the chemical name, the trade names are provided in my posts

    He claims “terrorism”.

    May be “New Right” would agree with Bevin than the EU ?

    • Tony_0pmoc

      Robg, about this time last year I was having these discussions spread over several months – years really in The Daily Telegraph comments section before They Shut it Down about the fine analysis of 9/11 – He was a Dr Judy Wood Fan – and I was a The Cold Fusion Bloke – I forget his name – Dr Steven Jones…

      and he kept getting banned – and he kept changing his name to log back in – so we were chatting again – and I asked could we meet…

      So I told him where I would be dancing at the front with all the pretty blonde girls at this one day festival not far from where he lived..

      I said if you turn up – I will buy you a pint..he turned up and I bought him a pint…

      He was talking to my wife most of the rest of the afternoon..

      What a lovely posh old Gentleman

      My Wife and I Really Liked him.

      We can’t communicate now – cos we’ve all been banned.

      We will be there again this year on Saturday 30th July. We may go on The Train…its not far from the Station

      http://www.lionbrewery.co.uk/festival.htm

      Tony

    • bevin

      Are you demented? If you are right I am delighted. I simply posted a link from a US based aggregator which suggested that the EU Commission had unilaterally taken a bad decision on an important issue.
      As I say, I would love to discover that I am wrong.
      Do you understand that discussions of important questions between people drawn together, presumably, by common interests ought to mean that we are courteous and open in our relations?
      Or was: “Let Bevin reply !” just a joke.

    • bevin

      Having now read the link that you give, I see that it confirms the one I gave: the EU Commission, not able to get support from a majority of members to renew glyphosphate’s use for 15 years decided to renew it for a shorter period of time.
      The Guardian can spin it any way that it likes-it is what the media do- but the fact is that this dangerous concoction which, inter alia, appears to be wiping out pollinators remains legal and the EU still, through the CAP, finances its usage.
      In other words “Recall of Monsanto’s Roundup” is NOT likely.

      • bevin

        I now see your earlier post:
        “Following up BEVIN the BULLSHITTERS post…

        “Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller could be taken down from shelves if EU remains undecided by end of June”

        you can search it yourself.
        Bullshiiter Bevin provides the chemical name, the trade names are provided in my posts

        He claims “terrorism”.

        May be “New Right” would agree with Bevin than the EU ?”

        Sorry to have troubled you by asking whether you were demented.

      • Mulga Mumblebrain

        Glyphosate is a poison, and Roundup is worse because of the adjuvants added to it, some kept secret for spurious ‘commercial’ reasons. Where lots of Roundup is sprayed, say in Argentina near the vast fields of Roundup Ready soy beans, cancer and birth defect rates are rocketing upwards. The pollinators are mostly being devastated by the systemic neonicotinoids. Roundup plays a role in killing insect food-crops, like the milkweed that monarch butterflies rely on as caterpillars.

  • Chris Rogers

    I have just posted the following on LabourList, this is my honest position and one I shall uphold, however, it demonstrates I am neither a ‘Corbynista’, a word I find objectionable, nor someone who abandons democracy because the results do not suit them. Feedback encouraged as sick and tired of people saying many are living in cloud cuckoo land, when so much is at stake:

    Having just re-joined the Labour Party I’m at a loss to fathom out what just it is that the majority of the PLP is playing up to. For the record I supported Jeremy Corbyn during last years leadership contest, to say I’m a ‘Corbynista’ would be an insult.

    My attempt to vote for Corbyn last year had everything to do with ending the Blair ascendency within the Movement and ensuring it moved away from supporting the prevailing neoliberal economic orthodoxy of the past 40 years that has desolated the lives of some many people that the Labour Party claims to represent – a neoliberalism may I remind you that is etched in stone in the Lisbon Treaty, which Gordon Brown signed the UK up to without holding a Referendum, as should have been the case!

    Let me remind you that inequality in the UK under 13 years of Blair/Brown Labour rule increased exponentially – so much for representing the Party’s core constituency, which effectively was thrown under a bus by the Metropolitan elite.

    I understand that many have grave doubt’s about Corbyn’s leadership qualities, doubt’s I share. At the same time, surely we must uphold democracy and the Party Constitution, which effectively have been trampled under in an effort to depose the democratically elected leader of the Labour Party, a move that has been planned by malcontents since the elevation of Corbyn, which itself exhibits a scant regard for democracy, as does the call to ignore last Thursday’s Referendum result.

    If someone can show me a competent alternative to Corbyn within the PLP ranks who can appeal to Labour Party voters and the legion of former voters we have lost to UKIP, I shall vote for them. Until that time though, I am honour bound to uphold the democratic will of the Party and not 172 Labour MP’s whose actions have been despicable and bring the Party’s name into disrepute.

    I will not vote for Angela Eagle in any leadership election, nor will I vote for anyone who pushes a neoliberal economic agenda, or who supports perpetual war period.

    So, we are left in a conundrum, its clear Corbyn’s message was not flying with many across the nation, particularly those outside of London, who have on the whole voted overwhelmingly to exit the EU, be this a protest vote or an informed decision.

    As such, when you can show me a potential Labour leader who can connect with these voters and enable the formation of a majority Labour government, or coalition anti-Conservative government I shall support them wholeheartedly. But I cannot support this coup and claim to uphold democratic principles, that would be hypocrisy of the worse order.

    • glenn_uk

      I doubt if they read past your mention of Blair, even if they got that far.

      Something along the lines of, “I am quite disappointed that the Labour party members decided to attack their leader, instead of the Conservatives in this time of crisis.” – That might might have been effective.

      I’d prefer to say we need nothing less that a Stalinist purge, and the filthy running-dogs who have proven to be nothing but fifth columnists, traitors, Red Tories of the worst kind, should be deselected at once, and their names never spoken of again.

      But you have to tone it down, and keep it to a single sentence these days.

      • Alan

        “But you have to tone it down, and keep it to a single sentence these days.” ROFL Too true!

      • Chris Rogers

        Glenn-UK,

        Well, we are in the Twitter World and soundbite economy.

        That said, given the bile poured on the chap who wore a t-Shirt with a ‘soundbite quote’ on it, seems you can’t win either way.

        Can’t run politics on soundbites and Twitter length sentences, its complex, hence why so much confusion about Brexit vote.

          • Chris Rogers

            Yes, and Plato was opposed to Democracy too, preferring a Technocratic elite – which, do correct me if I’m wrong, a majority of those who voted last Thursday stuck a firm two fingers up too.

        • glenn_uk

          Chris: Don’t get me wrong, I agreed with every word you said.

          It’s just the time it takes to say it, and the simplicity of the supposed truism, that wins or loses an argument these days. And remember that old line, “If you’re explaining, you’re losing the argument”.

          It never held more true than right now. A simple “Why are you attacking your leader, instead of the opposition?” is tougher to dismiss than an argued point over several paragraphs, which can be let down with various degrees of politeness as “a point of view”, or “a valid position”, “an arguable point”.

          “Doesn’t look good to me – why don’t they make Cameron take responsibility – he’s in charge.” – as a follow-up, that would be a stinging rebuke. Talk to them in the manner in which they imagine their voters think, for god’s sake! – it doesn’t do to come across as some effete intellectual. Good grief, how many votes does _that sort_ account for?

          It’s not a new thing at all. Just showing up in a sufficiently large crowd is usually entirely convincing. No need to finely articulate the point.

          • Chris Rogers

            Glenn-UK,

            I think its fair to say I’m appalled by what has happened and that we need to uphold democratic principles for fear of what comes next – is that brief enough for you?

          • glenn_uk

            Chris: What you said originally was fine enough for me. But it’s not me you need to petition – it’s an attention deficient, sound-bite orientated, time-pressed and resources short political aids.

  • Brianfujisan

    Some more on the vermin back stabbers, and how Portland Communications appear to have had this coup in the works 6 months ago. It has been sickening to watch. i do wish that Corbyn had got rid of H. Benn as soon as his Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Syria speech was over

    Mauchline told The Canary that he had no knowledge that mass resignations were impending within the party, and that he had no formal affiliations with its ‘moderate’ Blairite faction. He conceded, however, that he had “mutual friends” with senior campaign officials for Labour politicians who had stood against Corbyn in the leadership elections.

    According to Steve Topple, Mauchline is only one of several Portland employees publicly campaigning against Corbyn’s leadership.

    Portland Communications’ senior leadership team has direct ties to the instigators of the coup. For instance, Kitty Usher – who is on Portland’s Advisory Board – is a former Parliamentary Private Secretary to Margaret Hodge – the ex-Blairite Minister and Labour MP who first tabled the motion for a vote of no confidence against Corbyn.

    In other words, the Blairite PR firm that had anticipated the Labour “mass resignation” coup to oust Corbyn half a year ago has ties to the very organisers of the coup.

    http://www.thecanary.co/2016/06/29/blairite-pr-firm-tied-to-labour-coup-anticipated-mass-resignations-six-months-ago/

    • Ba'al's Spamfiltered Sock

      You mention Hilary Benn. He’s been rather quiet lately, for such a brilliant and articulate champion of the people. Is Eagle just a stalking-horse? Or is Benn taking a leaf from the Blair playbook – press flesh and grin like a maniac while getting others to put the boot in at a safe distance?

      • Manda

        I am thinking Cooper myself. Keeping squeaky clean until the dust settles and untarnished whatever happens?

    • Jonathan Wilson

      Surely if anyone should stand, and if the rumours about who was behind this are true (and his sacking tends to lead credence to them) surely there is only one person who should stand…

      A person of conviction, a person of high moral fortitude, a great orator…

      There can be only one person who could possibly defeat Corbyn and he should stand…

      Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: Hillary “bomb them, bomb them all” Benn.

      *cue sounds of wind and visuals of blowing tumble weed*

      Maybe not then?

  • giyane

    Cameron’s parachute gas failed to open, so he desperately tries to grab onto Corbyn whose electoral support is huge.
    Memo to Obama and Tory people-haters. When giving advice to people who hate you, best to keep one’s mouth closed.

    Corbyn will take pleasure in ignoring Cameron’s pique at being deposed.

  • Alan

    Listen Tony, Weeley was the last festival involving any freedom. 1971 was the year and it’s been downhill ever since.

  • Sam

    Trade Union Leaders call on (some, allegedly!) Labour MPs to respect the authority of Corbyn. Their statement:

    The current crisis within the Parliamentary Labour Party is deeply regrettable and unnecessary. Last week’s vote to leave the European Union presents the entire labour movement with unprecedented challenges. Above all, we need to be fighting to preserve our members’ jobs, already under threat in several industries and across the public sector as a consequence. The government is in crisis, but already serious debates are taking place and decisions being made which profoundly affect the interests of working people.

    Under these circumstances, our members and millions of others will be looking with dismay at the events in parliament. It cannot be right to seek to denude the Labour front bench at this time, when the government more than ever needs to be scrutinised and held to account by an effective and united opposition that does the job it is paid to do.

    Jeremy Corbyn is the democratically-elected Leader of our Party who secured such a resounding mandate less than ten months ago under an electoral procedure fully supported by Labour MPs. His position cannot and should not be challenged except through the proper democratic procedures provided for in the Party’s constitution. We urge all Labour MPs to abide by those procedures, and to respect the authority of the Party’s Leader.

    While we have stated that we believe a Leadership election would be an unwelcome distraction at this time of crisis, if one nevertheless occurs through the proper procedures we would expect all parts of the Party to honour the result and pull together in the interests of the country, and working people in particular. The only party that can win for working people is a strong and united Labour Party.

    Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite the Union
    Dave Prentis, General Secretary, UNISON
    Tim Roache, General Secretary, GMB
    Dave Ward, General Secretary, CWU
    Brian Rye, Acting General Secretary, UCATT
    Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA
    Mick Whelan, General Secretary, ASLEF
    Matt Wrack, General Secretary, FBU
    Ronnie Draper, General Secretary, BFAWU
    Chris Kitchen, General Secretary, NUM

  • K Crosby

    Congratulations Craig, your bit on RT last night was the best performance I’ve seen you make. Short, sharp and to the point.

  • SmilingThrough

    The revelations by The Canary — http://www.thecanary.co/ — of Campbell’s involvement in the Corbyn coup revive memories of the Blair spin doctor following the death of David Kelly.

    Then he diverted attention by attacking the BBC, doing that institution serious damage.

    Now, with the imminence of Chilcot, the diversionary tactic is the Portland-orchestrated plot. His concern for the future of the Labour party now is as thin as it was for public service broadcasting in July 2003.

  • Ba'al's Spamfiltered Sock

    I’m quite sure the Blairites remember with pride Tony’s contribution to the EU debate, but in case anyone should overlook its imprtance, I see the Mail has revisited it today:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3666988/Don-t-blame-Corbyn-Labours-voters-backing-Brexit-Blair-cronies-betrayed-immigration.html

    Caution, contains the I word and allegations that the last thing we needed was free movement of labour from abroad. Made in a factory which may contain racists. Your pharmacist will advise you on how to take these tablets. Wear a helmet at all times on this site. Please use the bin provided. The truth hurts.

  • Habbabkuk (la vita e' bella!)

    Just a brief word on methodology, if I may.

    When a commenter makes a big deal of the fact that 267 Labour councillors have signed a letter expressing confidence in Mr Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership (“there is hope yet”), it seems entirely legitimate to ask that commenter how many Labour councillors there are in the UK.

    In order to achieve clarity about the importance and representativity of that action, you understand.

    It is equally interesting to note that the original commenter remains silent and that some one else, presumably of the same political persuasion, responds not by giving the answer but by saying, in effect, “why don’t you find out for yourself”.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    A somewhat similar methodology – in the sense that is has the same purpose – can been seen in the recent brief exchange on the number of signatories of the Remain parliamentary petition. There, a commenter hastened to point out that around 70000 signatures had been found out to be false but omitted to inform us that even if that were the case, there were still around 3 million genuine signatures (that was left to someone else – myself, as it happened).

    • Ba'al's Spamfiltered Sock

      It seems equally legitimate to ask the enquirer to satisfy his own curiosity, with the added advantage that he can verify what he finds for himself, and waste less of his own no doubt valuable time*. But he’s so miffed that Anon voted Leave that he probably isn’t rational right now.

      * releasing it for a nice walk in the country to admire the Polish cabbage-cutters, perhaps, or a visit to the Jobcentre to laugh at the unemployed Brits. Maybe even to review the income from his buy-to-let portfolio and instruct the letting agent to bump up the rent?

  • Habbabkuk (la vita e' bella!)

    Lysias reminded us yesterday evening that “Frank Field is 73 years old”.

    That observation for some reason reminded me that Frank Field has come under considerable far-left attack over recent years, including on this blog.

    Quick research reveals the following.

    Frank Field is 73 and has been a Labour MP for 37 years (since 1979). Before becoming an MP he was, for 10 years, the Director of the Child Poverty Action Group and a Director of the Low Pay Unit. A graduate of Hull University, he has published extensively (books) on poverty, low pay and other UK socio-economic qustions.

    Jeremy Corbyn is 67 and has been a Labour MP for 33 years (since 1983). Before becoming an MP, he was, for 9 years, a Haringey councillor and secretary of the Islington Constituency Party. He attended North Western Polytechnic in London and appears to have published nothing on socio-economic questions (except, possibly, the odd article or two).

    Question: who has been more useful to the Labour Party and to the working people of the UK?

    Which of the two deserves more respect?

    J

    • Macky

      That behaviour is a product of the thuggish mindset of the intellectually inept; they can’t win on rational reasoning, so resort to intimidation, bullying etc. They underestimate the strength of character of somebody who because of his socialist convictions, has already endured years of spite, isolation & scorn, particularly during the zealous Blair years.

      • glenn_uk

        I’ve never seen the likes of it. The likes of that miserable Hillary Benn, tendons sticking protruding from his neck, mouth twisted, eyes bulging, as he yelled abuse at his OWN LEADER in PMQ!

        If withstanding that much pressure isn’t the sign of Prime Ministerial material, I don’t know what is.

        • Spaull

          Yes, more than once in the last few days, it has crossed my mind that if Corbyn survives this, he will have well and truly proved his mettle as a suitable candidate for PM.

  • Juteman

    Something very strange on Labourhame.
    I made a comment backing Corbyn, and the site owner responded to my comment. My comments were similar to others, except for one thing. I stated that amongst my other points, my opinion that Corbyn was also being removed because he stands up to Israel and the US in the middle east,
    That comment, and the site owners reply, has now vanished. Orders from on high?

  • Manda

    Anyone else getting their browser frisked (or so the page tells me) before entry to Craig’s site? Is it something to do with Ba’al’s Spamfiltered Sock’s problems?

  • Mark Golding

    David Cameron must be judged by his actions which can be difficult simply because I know heads of her majesty’s government ie PM’s for instance are trained to charm and trained to seduce by MI5. Mr Cameron has been trained to seduce through the unhealthy revolving door between the state and intelligence services.

    Jeremy Corbyn vehemently opposed Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War, the Libya war, the Syrian war and essentially military non-interventionism to boot including the tactic of humanitarian intervention. Jeremy walks the path of the faithful, the path of honesty. He has been tested.

    Testing has proved the British bureaucratic system is unsound because good people and politicians are subverted to deceive. We can certainly analyse deception esp. in foreign policy. Take for example the well known figure Saddam Hussein. Whether he was good or bad is probably forgotten now yet at some stage Britain was cooperating actively with Saddam when he was fighting Iran with our WMD, our diplomatic support, our political cover and more until Britain and PM Blair decided to eliminate Saddam, which meant wiping out the Iraq government, thousands of people from the Baath party and thousands of Iraq servicemen which were part of the Sunni elite of the state, all thrown on the street; nobody thought about them and now they are filling the ranks of ISIL.

    PM Cameron decided to eliminate Gaddafi and disintegrate all the state institutions leaving a vacuum, resulting in civil war and a flow of terrorists and arms to Syria. In Syria this Conservative government formalised and constitutionalised advice from the intelligence services and military top brass to train the so called ‘moderate’ opposition groups who then defected to ISIS or Daesh complete with high tech US weapons and Saudi dollars. This became a proxy war to oust Assad, a war that displaced millions of Syrians, innocent families entitled to decide who should govern their country and how and by what principles. A million Syrian refugees joined the already running scared from Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and centralised Africa. Families with children who witnessed terrorists burning people alive, drowning them alive, decapitation and destruction of homes and places of worship.

    If Britain had not provided support these atrocities would not have taken place. The conspiracy was to oust Assad by defeating his army and then only later think about how to eliminate the terrorist fighters, an impossible task.

    I have learned the bitter truth that Britain is providing assistance to these terrorists by training them to coordinate by using high technology such as encrypted communications, satellite data and data streams from aerial reconnaissance. To suggest Assad is destroying his own people is anti-Syria propaganda from known units within the British military intelligence.

    A leader like Jeremy Corbyn must have something in common with every citizen in Britain, the love of our homeland and the love of it’s common people. That also means the love of of our military, the 179 brave men and women who lost their lives in the illegal Iraq war and the thousands injured trying to rebuild their lives with missing limbs, hearing, touch and sight.
    A true leader must respect sovereignty and not attempt the resolution of internal political issues through color revolution, through coup d’etat, through unconstitutional removal of power. A true leader will ensure his diplomats are astute, expedient and shrewd not cunning, sly and underhanded.

    Sly and underhanded in exactly the same way Rupert Murdoch has wheedled his political mate Michael Gove to run for PM in the hope of a cozy neoCon accord with Hillary Clinton where a baseline starts with continued endorsement of the invasion of Iraq, Libya and Syria, support for the UK/U.S. drone program and Israel’s far-right government that continues to undermine Palestinian territory.

    https://www.rt.com/shows/going-underground/348829-cia-brexit-cameron-palestine/

  • Manda

    I note the already primed cries of anti Semitism to smear Corbyn and the movement behind him have gone out again. I was wondering when this construct was going to be pressed into service again.

  • Martin Corney

    With this coup attempt by Labour MPs; when Corbyn wins the popular vote and returns as leader I can see a lot of Labour MPs facing a Trigger Vote. There is a popular misconception that sitting Labour MPs automatically retain their right to be the Labour candidate at the next election. It is true that they do have it easier, but if the local party holds a Trigger Vote which they lose then it’s full reselection against other potential candidates.

    • John Spencer-Davis

      Correct. I am looking into this, as I am sure a lot of people are. If you know more about it or have any sources I would be grateful for them. I understand that a number of electoral entities participate in a trigger vote such as affiliated bodies to the local party, but I don’t know who they are yet.

      Thanks.

      • lysias

        Wikipedia entry for Constituency Labour Party discusses trigger votes:

        Functions of the CLP include selecting the local Labour Party candidate for a national parliamentary General Election.

        Where there is a sitting Labour MP, the CLP organises a ‘trigger ballot’ to decide whether it wishes to carry out the full selection procedure outlined below or simply endorse the sitting MP as their candidate at the next election. It is unusual for a sitting MP to ‘lose’ their trigger ballot.

        In the event that the MP is not a Labour MP, or the sitting MP is retiring or has lost their trigger ballot, a full selection is organised. The CLP must follow the procedures agreed by the National Executive Committee including whether or not the selection will be carried out from an open or all-women shortlist.

        The CLP can choose whether or not to select a candidate on the Labour Party’s Panel of approved candidates. However, should the CLP select a candidate not on the Panel its decision is subject to the National Executive Committee retrospectively satisfying itself that the candidate reaches the standard required to join the Panel.

        In this and other circumstances (for example new information emerging about a candidate subsequent to their selection) the National Executive Committee has exercised its power to block a CLPs initial choice of candidate, which has on occasion proved controversial.

        • John Spencer-Davis

          Yes, thanks very much. (I think Peter Tatchell was blocked in this manner).

          What this does not say, is who is permitted to vote in the trigger ballot. Such information as I have been able to discover on line is remarkably vague:

          “Labour’s trigger mechanism allows the whole local party, both individual members and affiliated organisations, to determine whether the constituency holds a full open selection contest for its next candidate in which other potential candidates are nominated or re-selects the sitting MP without such a contest.”

          “All the local constituency party’s units (branches and forums) and its affiliates (trade unions, socialist societies and cooperative organisations) are treated equally and entitled to return a vote.”

          http://home.freeuk.com/clpd/trigger.htm

          So somewhere there must be a list of the constituency party’s units and affiliates who are entitled to vote. I need to get hold of a copy of that list.

          • lysias

            Labour Party Rule Book 2013, http://labourlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Rule-Book-2013.pdf, also talks about about following NEC guidelines:

            A. If the sitting MP wishes to stand for re-election,
            a trigger ballot will be carried out through party
            units and affiliates according to NEC guidelines.
            If the MP wins the trigger ballot he/ she will,
            subject to NEC endorsement, be selected as the
            CLP’s prospective parliamentary candidate.

            B. If the MP fails to win the trigger ballot, he/ she
            shall be eligible for nomination for selection as
            the prospective parliamentary candidate, and
            s/he shall be included in the shortlist of
            candidates from whom the selection shall be
            made.

            C. If the said MP is not selected as the prospective
            parliamentary candidate s/he shall have the right
            of appeal to the NEC. The appeal can only be
            made on the grounds that the procedures laid
            down in the rules and the general provisions of
            the constitution, rules and standing orders have
            not been properly carried out. The appeal must
            be received by the NEC by the date on which
            they consider endorsement of the parliamentary
            candidate for the constituency

            So I guess it’s necessary to see what the NEC guidelines are.

  • Septimus Plantpot

    Dear Jeremy,

    It is with a heavy heart and a solemn sense of duty that I write to tell you of my decision to resign from the Shadow Cabinet. Those who will be hardest hit by the economic shock of Brexit (the same people that I branded as ‘workshy’ when I abstained on the second reading of the Welfare Reform Bill) need a ruthless and unprincipled populist alternative to the Conservatives. More than ever, the Party needs to compete for a slice of the Austerity agenda that has done so much to win power for the Conservatives. We need more European flexicurity, and a casualised and mobile workforce. And we need crocodile pits to punish the unemployed. As much as I respect you as a man with a beard who tends an allotment, this does not sit well with my latte-guzzling friends in Hampstead. And you only went to North London Polytechnic. If you wanted to be a proper politician you would need to graduate with a First in PPE from Oxford. I came into politics to serve the people of Potty Town, and to make gobs of money by leaking draft s of your policies to the far-right press. Furthermore, your opposition to this country’s (not very) independent nuclear deterrent is something that I can no longer tolerate. Since you were elected as leader, 9 months ago, with 59% of the vote, things have gone from bad to worse. You’ve won four byelections, put in a respectable performance in the local elections, helped to repel the planned cuts to working tax credits, and won the ‘Remain’ vote amongst Labour voters. So it is increasingly clear to me and to every MP that was parachuted into their constituencies by Head Office that your position is untenable and you simply have to go. Yours ever,

    Septimus Plantpot MP, Potty Town South (Majority at last election: 25)

  • Taezali

    Craig,

    I’ve been reading you for a few weeks now ( ever since I found a link from the 38 Degrees petition on Laura Kuenssberg) but events have taken such a turn I feel I must comment.

    Thanks for your blog. Thank you for your calm, informed, research and radical writing. It’s like finding an oasis in the desert; or, as I think they called it during the English Civil War, a soldier’s standard to repair to.

    I’m English but cannot but admire you Scots for taking the path you’re on.

    I hope you keep writing.

    • Septimus Plantpot

      I would like to second that.

      I think Craig’s coverage has been both thoughtful and shockingly informative.

      Thanks Craig!

        • michael norton

          BBC
          Neil Kinnock calls for Jeremy Corbyn to resign
          Posted at 13:09

          Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock is the latest to call for Jeremy Corbyn to resign as party leader.

          Well if they need snouts in the E.U. Trough Neil Kinnock to call for J.C.
          to go, I think J.C. can hang on a wee bit longer.

  • Manda

    Eagle apparently gives Corbyn 24 hours “to do the right thing”. Looks very like tomorrow is D Day for the coup supporters next move.

    Last chance saloon before Chilcot I suppose.

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