Nothing democratic happened Thursday. Lies, injustice, power and murderous wealth violently manipulated the public.
Democracy requires that we are told the truth, that the decision we make is based on clear and accurate information from both sides. Our rights were taken away.
Propaganda won. Many people I spoke to were robotic, repeating media lines over and over, the truth was impossible for them to navigate. That was the point, to disinform, to prevent people knowing what was true and what was not. The narrative was controlled at every level. And terrifyingly it was extraordinarily successful. Psychological warfare works and we have to learn how to combat it effectively if we are to save our humanity. As the left wing media are targeted and the far right emboldened it will become more difficult than ever for the general public to know what is real. This is the toxicity we have to wade through now.
The injustice we feel is real because of this. Our future was stolen not freely chosen. Most people did not knowingly chose to vote against their own needs. We have a consciously vile emboldened far right for sure and that must always be acknowledged and treated seriously, but most people who voted for them were not aware of how dangerous things had become, they care about kids going hungry and people sleeping on the streets.
Democratic impartial truth would have seen a decent government installed in number 10. The money pumped into propaganda prevented it. The general public largely are not to blame for what is about to occur, but sadly they must experience the consequences of their actions, along with all of us who fought it. Hopefully those consequences wake people and inoculate them from the propaganda sooner rather than later.
Saturday, 14 December 2019
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
The NHS Under the Conservatives 2010-2019 - Labour Doorstep Campaign Sheet
The NHS Under the Conservatives 2010-2019
What an honest Conservative Manifesto would have been, covering the last 10 years of Conservative government (in coalition with the Lib Dems 2010-15).
NHS
We'll make NHS cuts of 20 billion between 2010 and 2015 and then demand further cuts of 22 billion.
All while the NHS has to cope with a growing population living longer.
At the same time, to put extra pressure on the NHS we'll slash billions from local authority social care budgets.
Our Neoliberal approach to the economy means we run the NHS as a market, this costs us at least 4.5 billion a year. Private finance initiatives meanwhile cost the NHS an estimated £3,700 every minute. Private firms such as Virgin Care were given £9.2bn of the NHS budget in 2018.
We will always put profit before people.
"This paper sets out how the wider costs of the market have included both opportunities foregone and likely harm to the system" "The only reasonable conclusion is that that market policy is based upon ideological dogma, pressure from commercial interests or both." Calum Paton - Professor of health and public policy, Keele University.
SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES
Under our care and economic management:
NHS operation waiting lists reached a 10 year high in 2018. In 2019 even with new funding deal "There is little prospect of performance being restored across the board in the foreseeable future."
The 62-day waiting standard for cancer treatment hasn't been met nationally since 2013/14.
There are now record numbers of patients waiting more than four hours in A&E.
The NHS is facing a debilitating shortage of 70,000 nurses. We scrapped nurse bursaries in 2015 to make things worse and as expected there has been a huge drop of new applicants.
We gave nurses and midwives a wage freeze which will be equivalent to a £4,000 pay cut by 2020.
Fact check
Claim - The Conservatives have increased spending on the NHS every year. The truth is that NHS budgets have to rise by an average of 3.7% each year to keep up with growth. The Conservatives have reduced this to only 1.5% over the past 10 years. This has caused massive underfunding and required the NHS to make unmanageable cuts.Claim - we are now funding the NHS adequately - Whilst the new 5 year funding deal sees some health spending increase by 3.4% and will ease current pressures "it is not enough to simultaneously restore performance against key waiting times standards and transform services to deliver better care"
Claim - 50m more GP appointments a year and 6,000 extra GP's by 2024/25 - This pledge has been made 1 year after their failed pledge and dropped deadline to recruit 5,000 GP's by March 2020. The workforce has only risen by 474 and when trainees are excluded fully qualified GP's have actually dropped by 539.
Claim - We are building 40 new hospitals - This is incorrect, the government is reconfiguing six new hospitals rather than building 40. Money has been committed to upgrade six hospitals by 2025. 38 hospitals have received money to plan building work between 2025 and 2030, but no money has been given to begin any work.
Labour on the doorstep campaigning sheet / shareable image - NHS:
Saturday, 28 September 2019
Labour on the Doorstep 2019 - Economics
Economic updates 2019 - this is an unfinished open post and more will be added:
The Economy Going Forward - Labour or Tories?
As major banks warm to the idea of Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister, economic forecasts predict the economy would be 5% bigger under a Labour government and Britain could be significantly better off under his stewardship.
Labour will spend 1.2tn - this is a completely false made-up figure by the Conservatives - This figure included things the party ruled out, doubled the cost of other policies, counted 10-year commitments as happening over 5 years etc.
Nationalising Water, Energy & Royal Mail will save UK households £7.8bn per year and pay for itself within seven years.
Labour Do Economists Agree with Labour's Economic Proposals?
129 Economists and Academics back Corbyn's economic proposals - https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/jun/03/the-big-issue-labour-manifesto-what-economy-needs
41 Economists back Corbyn - "His opposition to austerity is actually mainstream economics, even backed by the conservative IMF."
Economic Competence - Labour or Tories?
Our UK economy is one of the worst-performing in the developed world
Strong on the economy? The Tories are weak - and the media should say so.
Labour Governments GDP growth per head averages at 1.7% 1997-2009. The Conservatives 2010-2018 averages at 1.2%. This is a much better measure of how much prosperity is growing than GDP growth and demonstrates that the economy under a Conservative chancellor since 2010 has been weak, not strong.
Historically Labour have always been more economically competent than the Tories.
https://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/economic-competence-revisited.html
Labour borrows less and pays back more. Labour also invests more in society.
"Labour has a record, in key respects, of being more fiscally conservative than Conservatives" - Economist Ann Pettifor - Why Business could prosper under a Corbyn government.
Trickle Down Economics
An IMF (International Monetary Fund) report authored by 5 economists found that income distribution matters for growth. If the income share of the top 20% increases GDP growth declines, so the benefits do not trickle down. Increasing the income share to the bottom 20% of citizens results in a 0.38% increase in GDP growth. Increasing the income share of the top 20% citizens yields a decline in GDP growth of 0.08%.
Austerity - was it Necessary or a Political Choice?
The Conservatives imposed austerity against majority academic opinion
https://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/economic-competence-revisited.html
Austerity cost the average household £10,000 in lost resources.
Austerity cost the average household £10,000 in lost resources.
The Deficit
The Tories often point out that they have reduced the deficit, but the way they have done this has damaged the economy and society, demonstrating severe economic incompetence.
The Crash and Resultant Debt by 2010 was all Labour's fault - The Overspending Myth.
The Tories can't keep blaming Labour for their mistakes. The financial crisis would have been even worse under the Tories who wanted less regulation for the banks.
Former Bank of England Govenor - Labour were not responsible for the crash.
Even Peston at the BBC has to agree that Labour did not overspend and that Thatcher's public spending was significantly higher, he forgets to mention that the Conservatives also wanted less regulation for the banks.
The Overspending Myth exposed.
Here is a video of George Osbourne admitting that Labour did not cause the crash. He states 'The (Labour) government did what was necessary in a difficult situation'. Also, noted is that the Conservatives were promising to match Labour's spending and calling for less regulation for the banks. Link to the full interview here. The difficult economic situation would have been worse under a Conservative government.
Here is a video of George Osbourne admitting that Labour did not cause the crash. He states 'The (Labour) government did what was necessary in a difficult situation'. Also, noted is that the Conservatives were promising to match Labour's spending and calling for less regulation for the banks. Link to the full interview here. The difficult economic situation would have been worse under a Conservative government.
George Osborne finally admits that the "Labour crashed the economy" lie is well.... a lie. pic.twitter.com/jpYf5R80pw— EL4C (@EL4JC) 16 October 2017
Tories Economic Incompetence
The Tories have refused to allow the Office for Budget Responsibility
to compare their manifesto with Labour's so that the public can be
properly advised. Ask yourself why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7pgpVlhYig&t=3s 2:50 onwards
Welfare cuts - Tories spend more than they save.
Benefit sanctions regime costs taxpayers 153million more per year than it saves https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/official-report-reveals-hated-benefit-9361944
Even Plutocrats agree with Corbyn's Economics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2gO4DKVpa8
Despite the severe and socially destructive austerity cuts the Tories have almost doubled the national debt since they came to power in 2010:
Despite the severe and socially destructive austerity cuts the Tories have almost doubled the national debt since they came to power in 2010:
Source: https://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_national_debt_analysis
Where has all the money gone?
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Some excellent articles on debt, where money comes from, how we keep inflation in check and how are taxes don't pay for everything: https://duncanpoundcake.wordpress.com/2018/11/01/rethinkmoney-part-5-taxits-all-lies/
Jeremy Corbyn - Answering the Smears - Labour on the doorstep 2019
"The real threat to this country today is not someone who champions Jewish causes outside Israel, or someone who sees that our current economic system is failing too many. The real threat lies in far right thugs and a government that wants to destroy our pluralist democracy." - Emeritus Professor of Economics Simon Wren-Lewis
Jeremy Corbyn is the most smeared politician in history, we have all been influenced by four years of constant negative and blatantly false headlines, this article explains why. This post provides factual information to counter the inaccurate claims. Anybody who is interested in the truth can verify all the information. To win the next election we need to counter these claims but also focus all we can on the transformative policies Labour is offering the public.
Our energy can't be wasted on trolls who are after a reaction or paid shill's whose job it is to waste your time. If the person you are engaged with refuses to listen to the reality and keeps moving on to the next smear, send them here and move on. All the images below can be copied and shared.
If you come across somebody who is genuinely misinformed and confused by the messages they have received in the media post Labour's policies on taking care of our Veterans and Forces personel. Because ultimately these smears falsely suggest that Jeremy Corbyn is disloyal to our Country, whilst the Tories claim to be patriots and yet allow our troops to suffer homeless on the streets without access to mental health care.
Peace Awards
In 2013 Jeremy Corbyn was awarded the Ghandi Foundation international Peace Award.
“in recognition of his consistent efforts over a 30 year Parliamentary career to uphold the Gandhian values of social justice and non‐violence. Besides being a popular and hard‐working constituency MP he has made time to speak and write extensively in support of human rights at home and world‐wide. His committed opposition to neocolonial wars and to nuclear weapons has repeatedly shown the lack of truth in the arguments of those who have opposed him.”
In 2017 Jeremy Corbyn was awarded the Seán MacBride Peace Prize for his sustained and powerful political work for disarmament and peace.
IRAN
IRA
ANTI-SEMITISM
https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/app/uploads/2019/11/Doorstep.pdf
Sunday, 7 July 2019
Anti-Semitism - What Panorama Won't Tell You
In preparation for BBC One's Panorama, 'Is Labour Anti-Semitic'.
Anti-semitism exists in all areas of society, we must do all we can to call it out and report it when we see it. Weaponisation of anti-semitism is no less troubling and we must also call this out when we see it.
This is a collection of factual information and easily sharable images concerning anti-Semitism, backed up with sources, to assist you in defending Labour online or on the doorstep. Thank you to everybody who has produced the work I have collected here!
Official Statistics taken from Jennie Formby's release of the data from disciplinary cases concerning anti-semitism April 2018 to January 2019 and copied from Jewish Voice for Labour's article - the truth behind the stats:
Two images demonstrating Jeremy Corbyn's commitment to the Jewish population over many years: Source: @Toryfibs on twitter.
Review of the evidence in Stephen Law's Introduction to the battle of ideas debate on anti-Semitism today. Discusses how confirmation bias has shaped the narrative of 'rampant' anti-Semitism:
Links to the evidence above:
Jewish Policy Research September 2017 full document here
Cross-Party Home Affairs Select Committee here see page 48 point 120
Chakrabarti Report here
Dispatches Momentum - article here
Some related images to share:
Background on John Ware, the man behind the Panorama programme - here
John Ware presented a Panorama documentary on Jeremy Corbyn four years ago - Jeremy's team made an official complaint to the BBC and hundreds of viewer complaints were made - here
Twitter thread on John Ware’s previous biased dealings with Corbyn - here
How right-wing Labour staff and Mps obstructed Labours disciplinary process whilst publicly criticising it was too slow:
Margaret Hodge submitted 200 anti-semitism complaints to Labour about 111 people, 91 of those people were not even members of the Labour Party. Source
Shredding 1000s of disciplinary documents then handing copies to press - here
Tom Watson 'undermining' Labour on antisemitism to undermine leader here
Twitter thread by Justin Schlosberg - here
"If next week's BBC Panorama is based on anything that preceded Jennie Formby then it is most certainly a hatchet job.
Anti-semitism exists in all areas of society, we must do all we can to call it out and report it when we see it. Weaponisation of anti-semitism is no less troubling and we must also call this out when we see it.
This is a collection of factual information and easily sharable images concerning anti-Semitism, backed up with sources, to assist you in defending Labour online or on the doorstep. Thank you to everybody who has produced the work I have collected here!
OFFICIAL STATISTICS
Official Statistics taken from Jennie Formby's release of the data from disciplinary cases concerning anti-semitism April 2018 to January 2019 and copied from Jewish Voice for Labour's article - the truth behind the stats:
Action taken by Labour to raise awareness of and combat antisemitism
Source: @Toryfibs on twitter.Two images demonstrating Jeremy Corbyn's commitment to the Jewish population over many years: Source: @Toryfibs on twitter.
REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE
Review of the evidence in Stephen Law's Introduction to the battle of ideas debate on anti-Semitism today. Discusses how confirmation bias has shaped the narrative of 'rampant' anti-Semitism:
Links to the evidence above:
Jewish Policy Research September 2017 full document here
Cross-Party Home Affairs Select Committee here see page 48 point 120
Chakrabarti Report here
Dispatches Momentum - article here
Some related images to share:
QUOTES
ARTICLES
Jonathan Cook discusses moral panic and how journalists and politicians are struggling with the dread of their world view and inner narrative breaking apart: here
Antony Lerman - The Labour Party, 'institutional antisemitism' and irresponsible politics: here - discusses EHRC investigation.
Harry Tuttle's superb thread on Jewish members who have been accused of anti-semitism here
Jonathan Cook - The plot to keep Corbyn out of Power - discusses anti-Semitism here
Jonathan Cook - Guilt of anti-Semitism now needs no evidence here
The Lobby - Al Jazerra documentary Part 3:
SUPPORT FROM JEWISH COMMUNITIES
Open letter Jewish Voice for Peace here
Orthodox Rabbis' statement in support of Jeremy Corbyn here
200+ Jewish members and supporters of the Labour party signed letter supporting Corbyn here
This is by no means an exhaustive list and if you have any more information or links you would like to see added here please message me with the details.
JOHN WARE - THE MAN BEHIND THE PANORAMA PROGRAMME
John Ware presented a Panorama documentary on Jeremy Corbyn four years ago - Jeremy's team made an official complaint to the BBC and hundreds of viewer complaints were made - here
Twitter thread on John Ware’s previous biased dealings with Corbyn - here
OBSTRUCTION OF THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS
How right-wing Labour staff and Mps obstructed Labours disciplinary process whilst publicly criticising it was too slow:
Margaret Hodge submitted 200 anti-semitism complaints to Labour about 111 people, 91 of those people were not even members of the Labour Party. Source
Shredding 1000s of disciplinary documents then handing copies to press - here
Tom Watson 'undermining' Labour on antisemitism to undermine leader here
Labour are not trying to cover up claims and challenged those who leaked confidential information to the press months ago - here
"If next week's BBC Panorama is based on anything that preceded Jennie Formby then it is most certainly a hatchet job.
A senior Labour source back in 2016 vented frustration to me about how Labour staffers opposed to Corbyn were deliberately obstructing AS investigations to make the party look bad. Now they appear to have been blaming their own disgraceful behaviour on Jeremy Corbyn.
After Jenny Formby, a Corbyn supporter, took over from Ian McNichol, a vocal opponent of leadership, the rate of investigations into AS increased fourfold. That's surely all we need to know. Cynicism & corruption of the highest order. Sincerely hope BBC hasn't fallen for it."
Saturday, 8 June 2019
Labour on the Doorstep 2019 - Poverty & Homelessness
Labour on the doorstep is a resource of shareable images with factual information backed up with sources on this blog. Please use all this information freely. Designed to assist you in debating and informing online and on the doorstep. Updating for 2019 and new topics will be added.
Poverty in the UK 2019
People in poverty numbers - link
Joseph Rowntree Foundation statistics and graphs on poverty - link
Foodbank data - link
Philip Alston’s UN report on UK poverty in full - link
Philip Alston’s response to Tory Government denials of poverty - link
DWP Civil Servants admit Alston’s report on U.K. poverty was ‘factually’ accurate - link
Various statistics on child poverty in the UK - link & link
Labour manifesto on social security - link
Labour social justice prioritised over social mobility alone - link
Shareable Image:
Philip Alston’s UN report on UK poverty in full - link
Philip Alston’s response to Tory Government denials of poverty - link
DWP Civil Servants admit Alston’s report on U.K. poverty was ‘factually’ accurate - link
Various statistics on child poverty in the UK - link & link
Labour manifesto on social security - link
Labour social justice prioritised over social mobility alone - link
Shareable Image:
Homelessness in the UK 2019
Rough sleeping link
320,000 recorded as homeless link
Overcrowding link
Shareable Image:
Homeless Children in the UK
Child Homelessness Surges by 80% Under Conservative-led Government - Link
Labour Manifesto - plans to create secure homes for all Link
Shareable Image:
Further useful links and quotes:
Single mother wins court battle after being forced into homelessness due to benefit cuts - link
Some quotes from Philip Alston UN rapporteur's report on extreme poverty:
Unless austerity is ended, the UK’s poorest people face lives that are “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”.
Child poverty in Britain “not just a disgrace but a social calamity and an economic disaster
The “endlessly repeated” mantra about rising employment overlooks that “close to 40% of children are predicted to be living in poverty two years from now, 16% of people over 65 live in relative poverty and millions of those who are in work are dependent upon various forms of charity to cope”.
"the department of work and pensions has been tasked with designing a digital and sanitised version of the 19th-century workhouse, made infamous by Charles Dickens.”
Alston said he had met people who had sold sex for money and joined gangs to avoid destitution.
“much of the glue that has held British society together since the second world war has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos ... British compassion has been replaced by a punitive, mean-spirited and often callous approach apparently designed to impose a rigid order on the lives of those least capable of coping.”
Shareable Image:
Further useful links and quotes:
Single mother wins court battle after being forced into homelessness due to benefit cuts - link
Some quotes from Philip Alston UN rapporteur's report on extreme poverty:
Unless austerity is ended, the UK’s poorest people face lives that are “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”.
Child poverty in Britain “not just a disgrace but a social calamity and an economic disaster
The “endlessly repeated” mantra about rising employment overlooks that “close to 40% of children are predicted to be living in poverty two years from now, 16% of people over 65 live in relative poverty and millions of those who are in work are dependent upon various forms of charity to cope”.
"the department of work and pensions has been tasked with designing a digital and sanitised version of the 19th-century workhouse, made infamous by Charles Dickens.”
Alston said he had met people who had sold sex for money and joined gangs to avoid destitution.
“much of the glue that has held British society together since the second world war has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos ... British compassion has been replaced by a punitive, mean-spirited and often callous approach apparently designed to impose a rigid order on the lives of those least capable of coping.”
Tuesday, 5 March 2019
Labour & Anti-Semitism - Psychogical Techniques Used In The Smear Campaign
There’s no smoke without fire. Repeat something often enough and people will come to believe it. These are the great friends of Propaganda, even if we know they play into our natural human biases we are all still susceptible. A skillful lie always has a grain of truth. If you want to falsely accuse somebody of something to build a big lie, it’s best that they can’t deny the accusation in totality.
Anti-semitism exists in all areas of society, because racist
individuals exist in all areas of society. Claims that anti-semitism does not exist in any large group of people, including the 550,000 Labour membership would be absurd. An accurate statement to make, based on available evidence, would be that Labour has less anti-semitism among its members than in general society. To claim that anti-semitism is 'institutionalised' and 'rampant' in the Labour Party is also absurd, because it is a baseless smear. Under the leadership of life-long anti-racist Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party has put tremendous efforts into combating anti-semitism. The success of these steps is borne out in the statistics and experiences of many Jewish members:
This reduction is something to be proud of, and yet the headlines still scream that anti-semitism is
'rampant' in the Labour Party. Politicians who have fought against change in the party since the election of a democratic socialist leader, cite
anti-semitism as a reason for leaving the party, joining a group of
‘independents’ who will support the Conservatives, thereby doing all they can to try to prevent a general
election and Labour Government. Their loyalties are clear, but their motives are destructively and duplicitously offered to a public brainwashed by a largely and persistently biased mainstream media, that fuels the 'rampant' anti-semitism smear.
Meanwhile, many Jewish people (including my own family) consider Labour under Jeremy Corbyn an ally in their fight against Anti-semitism. Support for Corbyn's position is growing globally and the full open letter from the Jewish Voice for Peace can be read here. Many Jews do not feel represented by the Jewish organisations who claim to be representing them, and Rabbis who represent many congregations and educational establishments in Greater London make this clear in their letter of support.
So what is going on in that two very different narratives are happening at the same time? Is anti-semitism so rampant in Labour that it's driving out MP's because it's not being dealt with? Or is Labour considered an ally in the fight towards it, doing everything in its power to fight for the Jewish community?
Many Labour members have been caught in a trap. Democratic socialists are brought together because of a desire for a society based on equality, fairness and justice. Racism of any form is repulsive and violates those values, it has no place in an anti-racist party. It can be unanimously agreed that there must be processes to deal with any incidences of anti-semitism, and with many leaders and members having stood on the streets fighting racism all their lives, the Party is very well placed to devise any necessary strategies required.
That desire for justice means that as a collective there are strong expectations that all reports of abuse will be taken seriously and effectively acted upon. Member's will not tolerate policies that could be considered to deliver racism, nor will they be satisfied only with being 'seen' to tackle racism, or accept the lack of accountability demonstrated in the Conservative Party. These values are not claimed only to win votes, they are principled to the core. Those values sadly leaves members vulnerable to manipulation due to their contentiousness. In striving to respond openly to allegations members will not be quick to dismiss concerns, and that can mean that initially, responsibility is taken for exaggerated or false allegations.
Once it is realised justice is being subverted those values come to the fore again, and defences rise alongside an attempt to restore accuracy and protect those who have been wronged by unjust allegations. This kind of situation is resolved swiftly when there is clarity about what has transpired. Problems arise when an issue is deniable and motives are concealed, and those who wish to manipulate a situation for their own ends are rarely forthcoming with the truth. When a group is kept off balance through lack of clarity, they are unable to navigate between what is the right or wrong thing to do to resolve a situation. It's a technique used in abusive and controlling romantic relationships, if a person is unsure of what the reality is, if they are being gaslighted, they are unable to set clear boundaries. Where does justice reside? Who is and who is not being harmed? Is the group being manipulated and causing harm to the person or people being wrongly accused, or are they further victimising genuine victims?
The way out is through open discussion. And if there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear in that.
That desire for justice means that as a collective there are strong expectations that all reports of abuse will be taken seriously and effectively acted upon. Member's will not tolerate policies that could be considered to deliver racism, nor will they be satisfied only with being 'seen' to tackle racism, or accept the lack of accountability demonstrated in the Conservative Party. These values are not claimed only to win votes, they are principled to the core. Those values sadly leaves members vulnerable to manipulation due to their contentiousness. In striving to respond openly to allegations members will not be quick to dismiss concerns, and that can mean that initially, responsibility is taken for exaggerated or false allegations.
If you want to manipulate a person or group, keep them off balance.
Once it is realised justice is being subverted those values come to the fore again, and defences rise alongside an attempt to restore accuracy and protect those who have been wronged by unjust allegations. This kind of situation is resolved swiftly when there is clarity about what has transpired. Problems arise when an issue is deniable and motives are concealed, and those who wish to manipulate a situation for their own ends are rarely forthcoming with the truth. When a group is kept off balance through lack of clarity, they are unable to navigate between what is the right or wrong thing to do to resolve a situation. It's a technique used in abusive and controlling romantic relationships, if a person is unsure of what the reality is, if they are being gaslighted, they are unable to set clear boundaries. Where does justice reside? Who is and who is not being harmed? Is the group being manipulated and causing harm to the person or people being wrongly accused, or are they further victimising genuine victims?
The way out is through open discussion. And if there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear in that.
Transparency and discussion that may lead to accountability are the enemies of those trying to exert control and power over others, and the friends of those trying to seek truth and justice. Where people are prevented from defending themselves against what they consider inaccurate, false or exaggerated accusations, our suspicions must be aroused.
The oldest propaganda tricks in the book are being used to prevent even the questioning of, let alone the discussion of, the favoured narrative of those claiming baselessly that there is 'institutionalised' and 'rampant' anti-semitism in the Labour Party. Ignore the facts, rely on the public's desire for quick soundbites, and attack any justified opposing statement as an aggression. Further to this de-contextualise and inflate reasoned comments as equalling the blatant denial and absurd suggestion that anti-semitism doesn't exist in the party at all. The aggressor making false accusations is seen as the victim, and the actual victim of false allegations is seen to repeatedly be the aggressor. The binds are tied tightly, question the 'rampant' narrative at all and be accused of denying a victim of racism their rights and even of being anti-semitic yourself. Questioning our representatives is most definitely not allowed.
It's a wonderfully effective spin. It's also an aggressive lie and mind-bending manipulation of the truth. Anti-semitism exists and we will do all we can to root it out. Propaganda also exists where damaging false allegations are being made and the party is being brought into disrepute. These two things exist for anybody who has a genuine desire to seek the truth informed by facts.
Actively oppose any defence or discussion that may bring clarity.
The oldest propaganda tricks in the book are being used to prevent even the questioning of, let alone the discussion of, the favoured narrative of those claiming baselessly that there is 'institutionalised' and 'rampant' anti-semitism in the Labour Party. Ignore the facts, rely on the public's desire for quick soundbites, and attack any justified opposing statement as an aggression. Further to this de-contextualise and inflate reasoned comments as equalling the blatant denial and absurd suggestion that anti-semitism doesn't exist in the party at all. The aggressor making false accusations is seen as the victim, and the actual victim of false allegations is seen to repeatedly be the aggressor. The binds are tied tightly, question the 'rampant' narrative at all and be accused of denying a victim of racism their rights and even of being anti-semitic yourself. Questioning our representatives is most definitely not allowed.
It's a wonderfully effective spin. It's also an aggressive lie and mind-bending manipulation of the truth. Anti-semitism exists and we will do all we can to root it out. Propaganda also exists where damaging false allegations are being made and the party is being brought into disrepute. These two things exist for anybody who has a genuine desire to seek the truth informed by facts.
Deny acknowledgement for successes and escalate accusations
One of the main arguments by some MP's has been that the disciplinary procedure was not effective or quick enough in dealing with reported cases of anti-semitism. Deputy Leader Tom Watson
now claims that he will have to oversee complaints because not enough is being
done, even if he has to break the law and trample over member’s privacy rights
to do so. And yet, the process has improved dramatically since the new secretary Jennie Formby took over and the majority of the complaints received between April 2018 and January 2019 have now been effectively processed to completion.
The data
The data in fact makes very interesting reading. It demonstrated that out of 1,100 complaints lodged between April 2018 and January 2019, 433 were made about non-Labour Party members.
It was also found that MP Margaret Hodge had submitted 200 complaints about 111 people, 91 of those people were not members of the Labour Party. Hodge has been one of the most outspoken critics of the failure of the Labour Party to deal with anti-semitism. In anger and publicly to his face Hodge once branded Jeremy Corbyn "a f***ing racist and anti-semite" and likened receiving a disciplinary hearing letter for this aggression to Nazi persecution. She was it seems, responsible for a very large proportion of the false or exaggerated claims against the Labour Party.
Of the remaining 673, there was no evidence of a case to answer in 220 of the complaints. So of 1,100 complaints only 453 required further investigation and/or disciplinary action. This is a tiny 0.08 percentage of the membership. At the most serious end of the scale 12 members were expelled from the party, this is 0.002% 0f members. Action has been taken including education, warnings, suspension and expulsions. This suggests a thorough and effective process that rightly identifies and roots out anti-semitic members. We can certainly conclude that the Labour party is not a safe or welcoming environment for anti-semites.
Questions then remain. Why would anybody concerned with how anti-semitism was being dealt with want to clog up a disciplinary process that had demands placed on it to speed up? Why were so many complaints from people outside of the party submitted, by people who undoubtedly understand that the Labour Party disciplinary process is only for Labour Party Members? Why were so many complaints about members, over half, found to have no case to answer? Due to privacy laws it's unlikely it will ever be known who exactly made all of these complaints. What can be expected is that the person complaining about the speed and effectiveness of the process, deputy leader Tom Watson, would be loudly criticising those slowing things down and making the job of his colleagues more difficult?
Tom Watson and other's silence on this, speaks volumes.
Tom Watson and other's silence on this, speaks volumes.
Deliberately twist and misinterpret what has been said.
Some would also argue that the disciplinary procedure is indeed far too harsh on some who are being accused of anti-semitism, when the accusations are considered by many to be baseless. Life-long anti-racists Jackie Walker and Marc Wadsworth among them. Most recently Chris Williamson's suspension was confirmed following his wish to show a film, hosted by the Jewish Voice for Labour group, in Parliament, that gives a voice to members who have been affected by accusations of anti-semitism, and for comments made at a Momentum meeting:
“We’ve done more to actually address the scourge of antisemitism than any other political party, and yet we are being traduced,”
“The party that has done more to stand up to racism is now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party.”
“I’ve got to say I think our party’s response has been partly responsible for that. Because in my opinion we’ve backed off far too much, we’ve given too much ground, we’ve been too apologetic.”
Chris Williamson has received a great deal of support as the clarity around what can and can not be said in the face of anti-semitism allegations becomes increasingly and dangerously muddy. Jewish Voice for Labour have made it clear that they deplore his suspension. His comments were deliberately misrepresented to suggest that he had said the Labour Party had been too apologetic about anti-semitism. He is clearly stating that the Party has been too apologetic in the face of inaccurate claims and false allegations.
Calling out and questioning unclear, false or exaggerated allegations of anti-semitism is crucially important, they not only risk damage to a person's reputation and career, but also serve to dilute the meaning of true anti-semitism. Those who value justice, fairness and equality for all, recognise instinctively the importance of this. How serious complaints are taken, how effective a disciplinary process is in dealing with racist individuals, and how the rights of every person can be respected during any investigation, depends on honesty, accuracy and transparency.
Calling out and questioning unclear, false or exaggerated allegations of anti-semitism is crucially important, they not only risk damage to a person's reputation and career, but also serve to dilute the meaning of true anti-semitism. Those who value justice, fairness and equality for all, recognise instinctively the importance of this. How serious complaints are taken, how effective a disciplinary process is in dealing with racist individuals, and how the rights of every person can be respected during any investigation, depends on honesty, accuracy and transparency.
Questions again remain. With a genuine desire to combat anti-semitism, why would anybody want or need to deliberately misrepresent statements to make their case? The identification of genuine incidences of hateful racism would hold importance surely? This can only be achieved if allegations stand up without alteration of the facts. Also, to reduce anti-semitism among people who are simply unaware that what they are saying is anti-semitic, the solution is education. So why are anti-racists like Jackie Walker who want to discuss and clarify what is and what is not anti-semitic in order to educate others, being prevented from doing this? Where a twisting or misrepresentation of the truth is clear and being called out as anti-semitic, this reduces clarity, so why are so many people repeating the accusations and failing to call out this dangerous muddying of the waters? In the fight against racism of all forms, what is not being said is often as informative as what is.
Education, clarity, right of reply and defense against allegations are all tools that serve the anti-racist cause. Those who wish to block these just measures stray into perilous territory.
Education, clarity, right of reply and defense against allegations are all tools that serve the anti-racist cause. Those who wish to block these just measures stray into perilous territory.
Set an impossible goal and demand it is met.
It’s clear that nothing but a total eradication of
anti-semitism, in fact a total eradication of what a specific minority demand
must be viewed as anti-semitic, will be good enough for a
select group in or having recently left the Labour Party. This is unquestionably an impossibility for
any organisation that has a large membership group. And the impossibility of complete eradication is the
gift that keeps on giving. Criticism can
continue unabated and seen to be justified by the self-proclaimed victims of a
‘rampant’ and extensive assault within the party, that simply isn’t happening according to any
objective factual data source. Crucially, these data sources are also backed up by the lived experience of many Jewish Labour Members.
Abusers in personal relationships use these techniques all
of the time. Psychologists study them,
therapists have to navigate them.
Setting an impossible task and demanding a person (group or
organisation) completes it, is an abusive and emotionally violent action. It's also a technique used to remove employee's from their jobs, insist they complete an ever increasing workload until it becomes impossible, then suggest they leave if they are not up to the task. An impossible task is also set when an abuser
refuses to set clear and reasonable criteria for achievement.
Questions that must then be asked of those who make claims of ‘rampant’ and ‘institutional’
anti-semitism in the Labour Party are:
What is the reasonable and possible criteria to be met for you to conclude that Labour doesn’t have a 'rampant' problem with 'institutionalised' anti-semitism?
With 2-5% of the population considered to be anti-semitic is a 0.08% incidence among Labour members an indication that anti-semitism is not ‘rampant’ and ‘instituional’?
Is this data in fact evidence that there is less anti-semitism in the Labour Party than in society in general?
What specific and reasonable criteria do you require to conclude that Labour is combating anti-semitism effectively compared to any other group or organisation?
Accusations of failure to achieve a goal must be specific and accurate, and be accompanied by achievable guidelines that will satisfactorily demonstrate effective action is being achieved. This allows for clarity and progression, and ensures a harmonious working relationship as much as possible. Any person or organisation with a genuine interest in combating any form of racism would welcome a practice such as this. That is unless a person is using an accusation in an abusive manner where the accused is not really required to achieve an outcome, because the accusation and self proclaimed victim status of the accuser, serves that very person or group, and the main aim is not about reducing anti-semitism at all.
Racism cannot be combated without honesty, clarity, education and accountability. False allegations are damaging to any cause. We must have an atmosphere of transparency, where people are actively encouraged to share their views and most crucially are allowed to defend themselves. We cannot have justice if we oppose any of these actions, and those that wish to, their motives should be extremely suspect indeed. The weaponisation of anti-semitism to damage a political party is not unique to the UK and poses a threat to democracy wherever it occurs. Every time you are lied to by or about a political party your democratic right to clear and accurate information, from which you can make an informed choice, is taken away. Ultimately, if we want to beat the smear campaigns we have to be able to call them out for what they are.
Further reading and food for thought:
Two excellent articles discussing the Psychological aspects involved in perpetuating the 'rampant' anti-semitism smear:
Jonathan Cook discusses moral panic and how journalists and politicians are struggling with the dread of their world view and inner narrative breaking apart - https://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2019-03-04/anti-semitism-smear-corbyn-labour/
A brilliantly clear article by Philosopher & Author Stephen Law on how confirmation bias has shaped the narrative of 'rampant' anti-semitism - http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/2019/02/my-intro-to-battle-of-ideas-debate-on.html
Note: Accusations have now reached Orwellian levels of thoughtcrime:
Meanwhile:
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