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Perhaps the biggest development within Labour’s antisemitism row over the weekend has been the assertion by the deputy leader, Tom Watson, that he does not follow the Corbyn line.
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It's therefore slightly odd to feel that he's on the right side of this issue, tinged with a certain amount of schadenfreude that he is now victim of the sort of campaigning he has used against others.
But it could be that MPs get, as well as negatives, a comfortable echo chamber.
I doubt that's helpful either.
https://skwawkbox.org/2018/08/05/resignwatson-reaches-no-1-global-trending-spot/
They are not really comparable
Whilst there may be a little truth in that, there' s a whole host of wrongness swimming merrily in a lovely hole of wrong.
(as an aside, there seems to be some debate over whether Orwell actualy said that quote: http://blogs.umb.edu/quoteunquote/2012/09/25/even-if-it-looks-sounds-walks-and-quacks-like-an-orwell-quote-it-still-might-not-be-an-orwell-quote/ )
If that's the case, then it would be hard for him to withdraw the comments, or water them down even if he wanted.
I don't think this is going to blow over: the Twitter mob are too loud. So what next?
(*) I'm slightly surprised to find myself saying that about an arch-plotter.
https://twitter.com/europeelects/status/1026339278824136704?s=21
I am fed up with continued discussion of this minor issue, and the way that many in the media are using it to hound the Labour party and Corbyn in particular. There are much more important matters to focus on, such as the disgraceful behaviour of the Home Office, put in place by a certain T.May, towards those (particularly those with children) whose residency/immigration papers are perceived to be not quite in order. At least Trump is honest about his approach.
But the new NEC doesn't meet until AFTER conference - the existing one is in charge in September. You can see where this one is going.
The Leader and Deputy Leader at each other's throats
A legitimate NEC making decisions that will be denounced as illegitimate
The NEC and PLP clashing
Everyone who isn't making the new pledge for Jeremy "I follow #JC and know antisemitism is just a Blairite plot despite Jeremy sending all members an email saying the opposite" will be seen as the enemy by the Kali Ma and demands for purges will grow
Meanwhile I and thousands of other Labour candidates will be campaigning for council elections next May where both Labour and Tory parties seem fixated on a "lets make ourselves hated" programme.
Instead of a boycott, I think we are going the other way.
Increasingly you see articles online which are based almost entirely on what someone on twitter said. Now I'm okay with that if it's someone like Trump, because he's actually a big deal. But when it's Tim from Ruislip, and you don't even know if Tim really exists...
I fail to see any 'anti-racist' principles in him. He *thinks* he is anti-racist and has spent decades telling himself he is anti-racist; his words and deeds on this issue point in a very different direction.
If, that is, you count anti-Semitism as racism.
Whilst it's true Watson cannot be easily removed (and if the MP revolt necessary for a leadership challenge is required for the deputy then it's immensely unlikely), he's also not in the position of power, now is he able, unlike Corbyn, to try and stuff the NEC or rewrite the rule book so there's a far left successor.
Staying power alone is insufficient to rid Labour of its far left problem.
https://twitter.com/_Kate_Allen/status/1026344541610299393?s=20
Nevertheless I retain the right to be horrified that in a relatively stable country as Sweden, about a quarter of votes are going to parties I would classify as "extreme" on one side or the other. And that in a country so important as France, le Pen would reach the final round. Or that in Germany, the AfD would become the official opposition.
Elections in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Bulgaria, Cyprus have all produced results which are worth worrying about. I could have listed more.
UKIP won the 2014 Euros in the UK. They were second in 2009 (when the BNP also picked up 2 seats). If Brexit reduces them to a mere polling blip, then despite whatever dissatisfaction I have with the three main parties, I'd find it a blessed relief.
This means that the deputy leader can be completely sidelined and there is some evidence that this has happened to Watson under Corbyn's leadership. Watson was also Labour Party Chair for a time but replaced by Lavery last year. He is the shadow minister for CMS, a relatively unimportant role. He is clearly not on the Corbyn express. He may not be sackable but he can be ignored.
What I think Watson is reflecting is the pretty deep disgust of a significant chunk of the PLP. But they are increasingly ignored too.
As for seeking to undermine eery aspect of the civic infrastructure, I don't know how else you'd describe David Cameron's calling of a referendum without any contingency plans with what he'd do if he lost it.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/09/is-david-cameron-right-leaving-eu-brexit-increase-risk-war
He's not the only person who's made that totally spurious argument either. Some of my German friends make it, as does my father. There are good economic, social and environmental arguments for us to remain in the EU, but none at all on security or peace grounds.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/david-cameron/news/91572/official-eu-remain-campaign
Not that I think he would be a good leader, but perhaps the Noncefinder General might adapt well to other witch hunts.
And the second paragraph is a spectacular example of blaming other people for your own failings. If Leave didn’t have a clue what they were doing or wanted (and they didn’t), you can’t expect others to fill the gaps.
Is the procedure for ousting a deputy leader the same as a leader? i.e. 20% nominations from the PLP and EPLP to trigger a contest?
And if so might Watson be vulnerable to that?
Also, in the old days when the voice of members wasn't there, he had great connections with the Unions. Today that power is greatly diminished.
Personally, I think he should just be ignored as the media should also be ignored. What will they do ? The general public are not interested. There has not been a collapse in the polls for Labour.
Tom Watson, to his eternal discredit, has shown which side of the line he stands on - the vile 'labour' traitors for whom anything but two main parties devoted to endless war abroad and endless privatisation and wealth accumulation by a tiny unaccountable elite at home is an anathema.
He deserves everything he gets. And is showing exactly why mandatory reselection is vital, when such a prominent part of teh party are actively sabotaging it when they should be trying to damage this desperately destructive Tory-led non-government.
Neither is there anything new to be said over the antisemitism issue. I cannot see Jezza caving in on this rather arcane dispute over an illustrative example of the code.
There doesn't seem much need to force the deputy leadership issue (if that is what this is about) as DavidL noted there isn't much to it. It is another little piece but you wouldn't want to waste goodwill, time or effort on it if you had better uses for it which I would assume they do.
Big moves on the market. Gasly stays 1.5, Sainz out to 4.33, Alonso down to 6 (he had been 51 or so on the day Ricciardo's move to Renault was announced). Mr. B's [believe it was him] tip on the elder Spaniard certainly seems value, although it remains to be seen whether it'll come off (do hope so as I put down a small sum myself).
Hartley is out from 15ish to 26, Raikkonen steady at 29. Meanwhile, Kubica's gone from about 17 to 34, and Wehrlein is now longer odds than the Finn (also 34). Kvyat's gone from middling-long odds to 101.
The other question of course would be, 'do Corbyn's allies actually constitute 20% of the PLP?'
Also, Alonso to Red Bull could suit McLaren for getting Key quickly from Toro Rosso.
In the good old days, so they tell me, when a criminal was apprehended, his first comment was always "It`s a fair cop!" (as reported in the magistrates`court).
If we have elections, it is essential that the losing side should feel that the process has been fair, and the outcome legitimate. I do not feel this about the Referendum, nor about the last two general elections. I therefore see Mrs May and her government as totally illegitimate. I don`t think OGH goes quite this far.
This is the cue for Mr Mark to appear and to insert some kind of distracting comment.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6030379/Vandals-attack-Jacob-Rees-Moggs-home-spray-paint-sex-toy.html
All part of the kinder gentler politics I see.
There is a real nasty element being formulated in politics. On both sides. Someone needs to step in and shut this down asap, or we'll have another Jo Cox incident.
How dare the population go against their views. Don't they know that some people have superior intellect, display better judgement and know everything. By voting wrongly, they are showing how stupid they are, and therefore the vote should be invalid.
It's a common human trait, but chill out; perhaps consider you may not always be the font of all human wisdom. It is possible, you know. Of course, if I get any response, it will be along the lines of "Its the Leavers that are doing this, we are being calm and dignified against intolerable bigotry."
Still these threads would be far less interesting if we were all saints.
Are you seriously arguing that the relatively minor overspend by a side that was significantly outspent invalidates the result?
The style from Corbyn so far hasn't really required people to back him so much as not oppose him, rather than attack it has been more of a defence so rather than require his MPs to attack for him it is his internal opponents who have got to raise people to attack. Generally not attacking is easier to justify on both fronts so by staying somewhat defensive Corbyn doesn't need a huge base in the PLP just as long as his opponents don't have one. Which a mix of the leadership election and general election killed.
https://twitter.com/DavidLammy/status/1026101667304038400?s=19
https://twitter.com/estwebber/status/1026367512060022784
Mogg himself appears less well informed about their identity:
"“It appears to be someone who can’t hold their drink — and probably not Catholic...."
Are those exclusively 'remain' traits ?
Also, people take Carney more seriously...
Dr. Foxy, alarming to see the damage done to Mogg's property, and a bookshop under attack.
1. quite happy for there to be no similar level of scrutiny undertaken of the Remain spend and
2. think it a wizard wheeze that the Govt. spent £9m of taxpayers money on Remain propaganda sent to every home just moments before the tight spending limits kicked in.
I guess in their eyes the ends justify the means ...
As a remain voter I'd complain but I figure most people will be switching the blame to my other political faction of Labour.
Well I'm blaming angry Cameronites!
Edit: Also of course no politicians should face harassment at their homes or damage to their property, even the actual despicable ones (eg BNP) which JRM is far from. Outside of normal peaceful protest they should be left alone.
He was doing his job.
Just like when his predecessor warned about the dangers of too much government borrowing during the last Labour government.
https://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2009/07/crisis-king-bank-governor
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8469373.stm
If UKIP go to a polling blip it will be because we get full Brexit, however the Chequers Deal has already revived them somewhat in the polls and there is talk of Farage standing in a Peterborough by election, though he has denied it.
Sweden is quite similar in position to the UK in that like us it is outside the Eurozone and like us was one of the few EU nations not to impose transition controls on free movement from the new accession countries in 2004 which adding to concerns about migrants from North Africa and Syria etc has surely boosted the Swedish Democrats as it boosted UKIP
https://twitter.com/standardnews/status/1026371642770030592
Muppet!
(It also amused me that the Mail says the damage was discovered by the "maid". We really need to know though whether it was the scullery maid or the kitchen maid....)