Corbyn's Cronies
Labour's shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, attacks Jeremy Corbyn's closest advisers and slates the party's handling of widespread antisemitism within its ranks.
Read the full report below via the Politics Home web site.
http://politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/108925/emily-thornberry-jeremy-corbyn-aides-tried-remove?
Emily Thornberry: Jeremy Corbyn aides tried to remove condemnation of attacks on Israel from manifesto
By Eleanor Langford - Politics Home
Jeremy Corbyn's advisers tried to remove any mention of attacks on Israel from Labour's general election manifesto, Emily Thornberry has revealed.
Emily Thornberry said tackling anti-semitism "would be my most urgent and immediate priority" as Labour leader - Credit: PA
Labour accused of ‘undermining’ anti-semitism probe over plan to reform EHRC
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Seventy present and former Labour officials give evidence to anti-semitism probe
The Shadow Foreign Secretary said "attacks on Israeli civilians were being deliberately dismissed in a way that would never have been tolerated of attacks on any civilians in any other country around the world".
Writing in the Jewish News, Ms Thornberry said she was left "deeply disturbed" by the row, and suggested that Jeremy Corbyn had been left in the dark about it by his closest aides.
She said that the 2017 election manifesto had referenced attacks by Palestinian groups on Israel, but that the leader's office had wanted those taken out for the 2019 document.
Ms Thornberry wrote: "The advisers around Jeremy Corbyn proposed to amend the language we had used in the 2017 version to remove the condemnation of rocket and terror attacks by Palestinian groups against Israel, while rightly continuing to condemn the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and the blockade of Gaza.
"When I repeatedly complained that this was utterly unacceptable, I was told by Jeremy’s office that they thought this was 'very balanced considering the considerable imbalance in the conflict'.
"Disgustingly, attacks on Israeli civilians were being deliberately dismissed in a way that would never have been tolerated of attacks on any civilians in any other country around the world."
The Labour leadership candidate said she finally "won the argument" at the Clause V meeting to agree the manifesto, with the 2017 language being used again.
"But the whole process left me deeply disturbed at the mentality of the advisers around Jeremy," she said.
"As for Jeremy, based on his reaction at the meeting, I think he knew nothing about the row, even though his advisers had invoked his name several times beforehand when pressuring me to drop my objections, something I believe they frequently did without his knowledge.
"If I was leader, I would simply not have that. Instead, driving antisemitism out of Labour would be my most urgent and immediate priority. No more suspensions, training sessions, or forgiveness, I would just kick these scumbags out of our party, the way we should have done long before now."
‘ASK FOR FORGIVENESS’
Ms Thornberry also called on the party to adopt recommendations made by the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Labour Movement and EHRC regarding anti-semitism in the party.
“Driving anti-semitism out of Labour would be my most urgent and immediate priority,” she wrote.
“No more suspensions, training sessions, or forgiveness, I would just kick these scumbags out of our party, the way we should have done long before now.”
She also promised to invite Lord Falconer again to head an inquiry into the party's handling of anti-Semitism claims.
The prominent Jewish Labour peer had been invited to lead a probe into complaints, but declined the offer when the equalities watchdog launched its own investigation.
And, in a swipe at Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of the crisis, she continued that Labour needed a leader “to call this evil out whenever we see it, and lead from the front in taking it on”.
She added: “Then we need to get down on our hands and knees to the Jewish community and ask them for forgiveness and a fresh start.”
CRIMINAL CHARGES
Her comments come after the CPS said it was considering charges against five individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into anti-semitism.
Speaking on LBC radio on Wednesday, Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick revealed that six Labour party members were arrested last year in relation to antisemitic messages on social media.
Five of these cases had now been passed onto the CPS to consider charges, she said.
The Labour Party has been approached for comment.
Labour accused of ‘undermining’ anti-semitism probe over plan to reform EHRC
Labour under fresh pressure over anti-semitism as leaked dossier appears to show complaints backlog
Seventy present and former Labour officials give evidence to anti-semitism probe
The Shadow Foreign Secretary said "attacks on Israeli civilians were being deliberately dismissed in a way that would never have been tolerated of attacks on any civilians in any other country around the world".
Writing in the Jewish News, Ms Thornberry said she was left "deeply disturbed" by the row, and suggested that Jeremy Corbyn had been left in the dark about it by his closest aides.
She said that the 2017 election manifesto had referenced attacks by Palestinian groups on Israel, but that the leader's office had wanted those taken out for the 2019 document.
Ms Thornberry wrote: "The advisers around Jeremy Corbyn proposed to amend the language we had used in the 2017 version to remove the condemnation of rocket and terror attacks by Palestinian groups against Israel, while rightly continuing to condemn the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and the blockade of Gaza.
"When I repeatedly complained that this was utterly unacceptable, I was told by Jeremy’s office that they thought this was 'very balanced considering the considerable imbalance in the conflict'.
"Disgustingly, attacks on Israeli civilians were being deliberately dismissed in a way that would never have been tolerated of attacks on any civilians in any other country around the world."
The Labour leadership candidate said she finally "won the argument" at the Clause V meeting to agree the manifesto, with the 2017 language being used again.
"But the whole process left me deeply disturbed at the mentality of the advisers around Jeremy," she said.
"As for Jeremy, based on his reaction at the meeting, I think he knew nothing about the row, even though his advisers had invoked his name several times beforehand when pressuring me to drop my objections, something I believe they frequently did without his knowledge.
"If I was leader, I would simply not have that. Instead, driving antisemitism out of Labour would be my most urgent and immediate priority. No more suspensions, training sessions, or forgiveness, I would just kick these scumbags out of our party, the way we should have done long before now."
‘ASK FOR FORGIVENESS’
Ms Thornberry also called on the party to adopt recommendations made by the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Labour Movement and EHRC regarding anti-semitism in the party.
“Driving anti-semitism out of Labour would be my most urgent and immediate priority,” she wrote.
“No more suspensions, training sessions, or forgiveness, I would just kick these scumbags out of our party, the way we should have done long before now.”
She also promised to invite Lord Falconer again to head an inquiry into the party's handling of anti-Semitism claims.
The prominent Jewish Labour peer had been invited to lead a probe into complaints, but declined the offer when the equalities watchdog launched its own investigation.
And, in a swipe at Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of the crisis, she continued that Labour needed a leader “to call this evil out whenever we see it, and lead from the front in taking it on”.
She added: “Then we need to get down on our hands and knees to the Jewish community and ask them for forgiveness and a fresh start.”
CRIMINAL CHARGES
Her comments come after the CPS said it was considering charges against five individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into anti-semitism.
Speaking on LBC radio on Wednesday, Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick revealed that six Labour party members were arrested last year in relation to antisemitic messages on social media.
Five of these cases had now been passed onto the CPS to consider charges, she said.
The Labour Party has been approached for comment.
Eagle Images and Weasel Words (26/03/18)
Much fun was had on Twitter at the weekend with lots of posts mocking Jeremy Corbyn's 'weasel words' over not looking more clearly at an anti-semitic mural before declaring his support on Facebook.
My favourite, so far at least, was this comment from the journalist Euan McColm:
“i only glanced at it but i thought it was a parrot carrying an electric fan.”
Now that is funny - eat your heart out Private Eye and the Have I Got News for You (HIGNFY) Team!
Labour's Broad Church (09/07/17)
The BBC reports on a deselection row inside the Labour Party after its chairperson, Ian Lavery, claimed that Labour had become "too broad a church".
Speaking to the Huffington Post, Mr Lavery said recently:
"We are a broad church. Some might argue, and I would be one of them, that we might be too broad a church."
Now if you ask me, there is no room for doubt as to what these words mean but Mr Lavery has since rowed back on his call for a 'purge', perhaps in response to Labour MPs threatening to stand down from their seats and triggering a series of difficult by-elections.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40533172
Labour bids to defuse Luciana Berger de-selection row
By Iain Watson - BBC News
Featuring on most lists is Chuka Umunna, who upset those close to Mr Corbyn by pushing an amendment to the Queen's Speech to keep Britain in the EU single market - not official party policy.
This was seen as forcing the party leader in to sacking frontbenchers and was the first tangible sign of disunity following the euphoria of the election result.
And while he wouldn't want to see Mr Umunna unseated, even Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson regarded that amendment as bad politics.
But some left-wing activists don't need new offences to be taken in to account.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40533172
Labour bids to defuse Luciana Berger de-selection row
By Iain Watson - BBC News
Image copyright - PA Image caption - Luciana Berger was re-elected with an increased majority
The new Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery has told the Daily Mirror that he doesn't see the "de-selection" of MPs critical of Jeremy Corbyn "as the way forward".
Chills had gone up some Blairite spines when Mr Lavery himself had suggested at the weekend the Labour "might be too broad a church".
But he sought to calm nerves which had been further put on edge by comments from Mr Corbyn's close ally Chris Williamson, recently re-elected as the MP for Derby North having been narrowly defeated at the 2015 election.
On Thursday, Mr Williamson said: "There are individual MPs in this party who think it's their God-given right to rule.
"No MP should be guaranteed a job for life. Labour is a big church, but we currently have a large bulk of MPs who represent one relatively small tendency in the congregation... it's unreasonable to think we as MPs can avoid any contest."
The new Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery has told the Daily Mirror that he doesn't see the "de-selection" of MPs critical of Jeremy Corbyn "as the way forward".
Chills had gone up some Blairite spines when Mr Lavery himself had suggested at the weekend the Labour "might be too broad a church".
But he sought to calm nerves which had been further put on edge by comments from Mr Corbyn's close ally Chris Williamson, recently re-elected as the MP for Derby North having been narrowly defeated at the 2015 election.
On Thursday, Mr Williamson said: "There are individual MPs in this party who think it's their God-given right to rule.
"No MP should be guaranteed a job for life. Labour is a big church, but we currently have a large bulk of MPs who represent one relatively small tendency in the congregation... it's unreasonable to think we as MPs can avoid any contest."
'Answerable to us'
His words didn't sound like empty rhetoric to the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, Luciana Berger - seen as being on the moderate wing of the party.
She had resigned as a shadow minister when, a year ago, 80% of Jeremy Corbyn's MPs were expressing no confidence in his leadership.
His words didn't sound like empty rhetoric to the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, Luciana Berger - seen as being on the moderate wing of the party.
She had resigned as a shadow minister when, a year ago, 80% of Jeremy Corbyn's MPs were expressing no confidence in his leadership.
Image copyright - EPA Image caption - Jeremy Corbyn has stressed his support for party democracy
A left-wing "slate" of candidates had succeeded in taking almost all of the key offices on her local party's executive.
And one of the winners - Roy Bentham - had shared his thoughts with the Liverpool Echo.
He suggested that Ms Berger, who was re-elected last month with an increased majority, publicly recant her criticism of the party leader and for the avoidance of doubt he declared: "She is answerable to us now."
The local party secretary Angela Kehoe-Jones distanced herself from the remarks and suggested the branch was "united" in fighting the Tories.
But there is little doubt that Ms Berger - who is on maternity leave - feels her job is under threat.
And she is not the only one.
A left-wing "slate" of candidates had succeeded in taking almost all of the key offices on her local party's executive.
And one of the winners - Roy Bentham - had shared his thoughts with the Liverpool Echo.
He suggested that Ms Berger, who was re-elected last month with an increased majority, publicly recant her criticism of the party leader and for the avoidance of doubt he declared: "She is answerable to us now."
The local party secretary Angela Kehoe-Jones distanced herself from the remarks and suggested the branch was "united" in fighting the Tories.
But there is little doubt that Ms Berger - who is on maternity leave - feels her job is under threat.
And she is not the only one.
'Rogues' gallery'
A Labour MP who held her seat against the odds at the election told me she was threatened with de-selection within 48 hours of the result.
And you only have to visit websites which purport to back the Labour leadership to view a "rogues' gallery" of MPs who are seen as disloyal.
A Labour MP who held her seat against the odds at the election told me she was threatened with de-selection within 48 hours of the result.
And you only have to visit websites which purport to back the Labour leadership to view a "rogues' gallery" of MPs who are seen as disloyal.
Image caption - Chuka Ummuna faced criticism over amendment to Queen's Speech
Featuring on most lists is Chuka Umunna, who upset those close to Mr Corbyn by pushing an amendment to the Queen's Speech to keep Britain in the EU single market - not official party policy.
This was seen as forcing the party leader in to sacking frontbenchers and was the first tangible sign of disunity following the euphoria of the election result.
And while he wouldn't want to see Mr Umunna unseated, even Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson regarded that amendment as bad politics.
But some left-wing activists don't need new offences to be taken in to account.
Mass purge?
Some see those MPs who distanced themselves from Jeremy Corbyn as saboteurs of Labour's success.
And they are building a narrative that had they been more loyal - and party officials more ambitious - they could have propelled the party from second to first place at the election.
But don't expect a mass purge of Labour MPs.
Indeed, some Corbyn critics are likely to be offered junior spokespeople roles in the autumn.
But not all of those who are seen as beyond the pale are likely to be unseated.
Mr Corbyn has time and again stressed how much he supports party democracy.
So unless a local party has been - as in Luciana Berger's case - taken over by members and supporters of Momentum (the group set up to keep the spirit of Mr Corbyn's leadership campaigns alive) it would be difficult to dislodge the sitting MP.
Some see those MPs who distanced themselves from Jeremy Corbyn as saboteurs of Labour's success.
And they are building a narrative that had they been more loyal - and party officials more ambitious - they could have propelled the party from second to first place at the election.
But don't expect a mass purge of Labour MPs.
Indeed, some Corbyn critics are likely to be offered junior spokespeople roles in the autumn.
But not all of those who are seen as beyond the pale are likely to be unseated.
Mr Corbyn has time and again stressed how much he supports party democracy.
So unless a local party has been - as in Luciana Berger's case - taken over by members and supporters of Momentum (the group set up to keep the spirit of Mr Corbyn's leadership campaigns alive) it would be difficult to dislodge the sitting MP.
'Join the Liberals'
And it should be said, not all local Momentum groups favour de-selecting sitting MPs in any case.
They would point out that they have campaigned for the re-election of MPs who aren't ideological fellow travellers.
And it should be said, not all local Momentum groups favour de-selecting sitting MPs in any case.
They would point out that they have campaigned for the re-election of MPs who aren't ideological fellow travellers.
Image copyright - LABOUR PARTY Image caption - Ian Lavery has spoken out against de-selection
Momentum nationally weren't chuffed with a Facebook post from the South Tyneside group suggesting MPs such as Chris Leslie and Jess Phillips should "join the Liberals".
Instead of pushing existing personalities out, largely beneath the political radar there are attempts to move Labour more solidly and permanently to the left and to ensure that, when the time comes, Jeremy Corbyn would be able to hand over the leadership to someone who largely shares his political outlook.
So at this year's Labour Party conference, there will be a move to shift the power in future leadership elections from MPs to party members.
This would mean just 5% of MPs - not the 15% of MPs and MEPs at present - would be needed to put a candidate on the ballot.
With a snap election, most anti-Corbyn MPs were returned to Parliament so while a left-wing candidate still might struggle to get 15% support, 5% is considered no barrier.
This move has already been reported extensively.
Momentum nationally weren't chuffed with a Facebook post from the South Tyneside group suggesting MPs such as Chris Leslie and Jess Phillips should "join the Liberals".
Instead of pushing existing personalities out, largely beneath the political radar there are attempts to move Labour more solidly and permanently to the left and to ensure that, when the time comes, Jeremy Corbyn would be able to hand over the leadership to someone who largely shares his political outlook.
So at this year's Labour Party conference, there will be a move to shift the power in future leadership elections from MPs to party members.
This would mean just 5% of MPs - not the 15% of MPs and MEPs at present - would be needed to put a candidate on the ballot.
With a snap election, most anti-Corbyn MPs were returned to Parliament so while a left-wing candidate still might struggle to get 15% support, 5% is considered no barrier.
This move has already been reported extensively.
'Quiet revolution'
Mr Corbyn's internal opponents call it "the McDonnell amendment" - as shadow chancellor John McDonnell is a red rag to any of the party's more moderate bulls.
Groups of what were called Blairites and Brownites - they would call themselves modernisers or moderates - in organisations such as Progress and Labour First have been working hard to secure enough delegates to the annual conference to defeat the leadership changes.
With the deadline for deciding delegates drawing to a close, it's not clear yet who has the upper hand.
But something of a quiet revolution could be under way that would see the power of Jeremy Corbyn, and his supporters, entrenched.
Under Labour's rules, some topics need to be put on the table this year if they are decided next year.
So a slow burning fuse will be lit in the autumn that could blow up in to a more major row in 2018.
There are moves by those on the party's left to make it easier for local parties to oust sitting MPs in future.
Mr Corbyn's internal opponents call it "the McDonnell amendment" - as shadow chancellor John McDonnell is a red rag to any of the party's more moderate bulls.
Groups of what were called Blairites and Brownites - they would call themselves modernisers or moderates - in organisations such as Progress and Labour First have been working hard to secure enough delegates to the annual conference to defeat the leadership changes.
With the deadline for deciding delegates drawing to a close, it's not clear yet who has the upper hand.
But something of a quiet revolution could be under way that would see the power of Jeremy Corbyn, and his supporters, entrenched.
Under Labour's rules, some topics need to be put on the table this year if they are decided next year.
So a slow burning fuse will be lit in the autumn that could blow up in to a more major row in 2018.
There are moves by those on the party's left to make it easier for local parties to oust sitting MPs in future.
Top official
This would involve party branches being encouraged to put forward alternative names for consideration, or for sitting MPs to be required to demonstrate they had 66% support locally to continue.
There will also be a move to increase the number members of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC), who are elected not by MPs or the unions, but by the rank-and-file members.
The assumption is that they are more in tune with Mr Corbyn's agenda.
This would involve party branches being encouraged to put forward alternative names for consideration, or for sitting MPs to be required to demonstrate they had 66% support locally to continue.
There will also be a move to increase the number members of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC), who are elected not by MPs or the unions, but by the rank-and-file members.
The assumption is that they are more in tune with Mr Corbyn's agenda.
Image caption - Iain McNicol (second right) sings The Red Flag at the 2015 Labour conference
The NEC approves party candidates for elections - and a panel of its members chooses by-election candidates.
There was an attempt to disbar the pro-nuclear and anti-Corbyn candidate John Woodcock at an NEC meeting just before the election.
That failed, but if the balance of power on the body were to change, so could the career prospects of the leadership's critics.
And indeed the career prospects of Labour's general secretary Iain McNicol would be called in to question by another proposed change.
There will be an attempt to give members the right to choose the party's top official in future.
Again, this can't be decided until next year but could put Mr McNicol on notice.
The NEC approves party candidates for elections - and a panel of its members chooses by-election candidates.
There was an attempt to disbar the pro-nuclear and anti-Corbyn candidate John Woodcock at an NEC meeting just before the election.
That failed, but if the balance of power on the body were to change, so could the career prospects of the leadership's critics.
And indeed the career prospects of Labour's general secretary Iain McNicol would be called in to question by another proposed change.
There will be an attempt to give members the right to choose the party's top official in future.
Again, this can't be decided until next year but could put Mr McNicol on notice.
Poll lead
He is blamed for trying to deny new (and, it was assumed, more radical) members the right to vote in last year's leadership contest and for not putting enough resources in to Labour/Tory marginals at the general election.
He would contend that the party HQ's strategy of defending vulnerable seats - as well as swiftly moving resources to seats which looked promising as the campaign progressed - was a success.
So by its actions in the coming months, Labour - 8 points ahead in one opinion poll today - could choose to remain a broad church.
Or further expose the fact that many of its MPs and grassroots members aren't really singing from the same hymn sheet.
He is blamed for trying to deny new (and, it was assumed, more radical) members the right to vote in last year's leadership contest and for not putting enough resources in to Labour/Tory marginals at the general election.
He would contend that the party HQ's strategy of defending vulnerable seats - as well as swiftly moving resources to seats which looked promising as the campaign progressed - was a success.
So by its actions in the coming months, Labour - 8 points ahead in one opinion poll today - could choose to remain a broad church.
Or further expose the fact that many of its MPs and grassroots members aren't really singing from the same hymn sheet.
Jezza's Broad Church (30/12/17)
The problem with Jeremy Corbyn's latest recruit to Labour's high command is not so much that Jayne Fisher once worked for Sinn Fein, but that the upper echelons of the party now are dominated by people whose unrepresentative political views are so far removed from those of ordinary Labour voters.
The Politics Home web site reports on the latest row to have broken out in Labour ranks, but alongside Jayne Fisher key 'movers and shakers' in the Labour Party already include:
- unreconstructed old 'Stalinists' like Seumas Milne (Jezza's official spokesperson) and Andrew Murray (Len McCluskey's chief of staff at Unite)
- Karie Murphy a key figure in the Labour leader's office who is referred to in the media as a 'close friend' of Len McCluskey and who was once tipped to become the Labour candidate in Falkirk before the 'vote rigging' scandal and Ineos dispute blew up
In days gone by Labour liked to present itself as a broad church, where a wide variety of political views were welcome, whereas now it appears to be operating as a 'leftist' dominated Jeremy Corbyn fan club.
Read the full story via this following link to Politics Home.
