| Authoritarian Labour Party 13:49 - Nov 14 with 2701 views | DJR |
The following is just one example of the increasing authoritarianism and illiberalism in the Labour Party, with, for example, short-lists being fixed to exclude anyone remotely left wing.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/14/jeremy-corbyn-will-never-stand-
The Party used to be a broad church, but these days Clement Atlee wouldn't stand a chance of being selected.
I have been a member since 1987 but in the last three years have cut down my subscription to the bare minimum. And every time something authoritarian like this happens, I do wonder whether I should just end my membership because they are not the Party I first joined. [Post edited 14 Nov 2022 13:49]
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 15:46 - Nov 14 with 627 views | tractordownsouth |
The rules making it easier to de-select sitting MPs were brought in by Corbyn himself. Starmer increased the threshold and thus made it more difficult but it’s ironic to see the people who were cheerleading for deselections in 2019 now getting angry when they are happening today. For what it’s worth, I don’t think de-selecting people from different factions is a good use of time (except in exceptional cases like Sam Tarry) but there’s definitely a double standard going on when what was previously classed as party democracy is now deemed to be a stitch up.
As for JC, all he had to do was delete his Facebook post and he’d have been back in. But it’s been 2 years so that bridge has probably been burned now. He’s brought it upon himself. |  |
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 15:51 - Nov 14 with 613 views | Darth_Koont |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 14:19 - Nov 14 by GeoffSentence |
I was going to suggest maybe The Respect Party as an alternative, but I see they no longer exist following an internal rift.
This is why we are not a socialist or social democratic country these days and remain at the mercy of the loony right, because the left can't get their sht together and rally round something good enough, just to get a foot in the door. Or in the 80's a Foot in the door. |
To be fair the left did rally around Corbyn to a large extent.
The main problem is that the new breed of Labour MPs and its media supporters came in with Blair and are pretty much centre-right. Hence, social democracy let alone socialism is beyond the pale for too many of them.
The good news is that, even without Corbyn, the overall mobilisation and movement around kinder, gentler politics that are better for people and the planet haven't gone away. "Enough is enough" is a good example of that, bringing left-wing volunteers, activists, journalists, unions and the few remaining left-wing Labour MPs together.
But I don't see how an establishment and right-leaning Labour Party will align itself with that or offer the same level of opposition officially. In reality, they should merge with the LibDems to offer a centre ground option and stop blocking social democracy which is the one option that's really missing. Missing for voters but also missing from our ridiculously limited and short-sighted political debates. |  |
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:04 - Nov 14 with 594 views | DJR |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 15:08 - Nov 14 by WeWereZombies |
Although back in 1917 the terms Menshevik and Bolshevik were bandied around a fair bit... |
Yes, the left is famed for its factionalism but I was talking about the term's use in this country. [Post edited 14 Nov 2022 16:04]
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:07 - Nov 14 with 587 views | DJR |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 15:46 - Nov 14 by tractordownsouth |
The rules making it easier to de-select sitting MPs were brought in by Corbyn himself. Starmer increased the threshold and thus made it more difficult but it’s ironic to see the people who were cheerleading for deselections in 2019 now getting angry when they are happening today. For what it’s worth, I don’t think de-selecting people from different factions is a good use of time (except in exceptional cases like Sam Tarry) but there’s definitely a double standard going on when what was previously classed as party democracy is now deemed to be a stitch up.
As for JC, all he had to do was delete his Facebook post and he’d have been back in. But it’s been 2 years so that bridge has probably been burned now. He’s brought it upon himself. |
What do you have against Sam Tarry? | | | |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:13 - Nov 14 with 589 views | Clapham_Junction |
I went to a Tower Hamlets Labour Party event last week. We have two MPs - one on the right of the party and one on the left. The latter did not attend as local officials ignored her requests to put in place safeguards for her (her ex-husband, who she claims abused her, was a local councillor until May and the council took her to court over claimed Housing fraud (she was cleared at trial)). Her name was not mentioned once, and on several occasions speakers spoke as if there was only one MP representing the borough.
The guest of honour, a shadow front bencher, inferred in his speech that she should be deselected. The same person had earlier called Corbyn senile in the House of Commons.
The party lost the local elections in May and there is a complete lack of awareness/acknowledgement of the reasons (a viable left-wing alternative and a leadership giving the impression it is unfriendly to the Muslim community).
Labour are riding high in the opinion polls, but I don't think I have ever been so depressed about the future direction of the party. The refusal to allow the Labour group leader on Kensington Council (a former MP) to be on the shortlist is ridiculous. Are up to four or five CLPs where the committee has resigned en masse due to selection stitch-ups? |  | | |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:18 - Nov 14 with 575 views | Darth_Koont |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 15:46 - Nov 14 by tractordownsouth |
The rules making it easier to de-select sitting MPs were brought in by Corbyn himself. Starmer increased the threshold and thus made it more difficult but it’s ironic to see the people who were cheerleading for deselections in 2019 now getting angry when they are happening today. For what it’s worth, I don’t think de-selecting people from different factions is a good use of time (except in exceptional cases like Sam Tarry) but there’s definitely a double standard going on when what was previously classed as party democracy is now deemed to be a stitch up.
As for JC, all he had to do was delete his Facebook post and he’d have been back in. But it’s been 2 years so that bridge has probably been burned now. He’s brought it upon himself. |
I think that's a fair bit of narrative-building there when Labour are unquestionably now a top-down authoritarian party who want to limit the role of members and CLPs. That's the issue with the current selection/de-selection approach.
And Corbyn has said nothing wrong. Unless you have evidence I haven't seen. He was also entitled to defend himself from very serious and personal accusations that turned out to be false.
It's the biggest political and journalistic scandal I've ever seen. But just because our frankly awful politicians and press now thinks it's all about moving on doesn't mean we should. This lack of accountability and dishonesty needs addressing and reforming. | |
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:18 - Nov 14 with 577 views | DJR |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 15:35 - Nov 14 by BlueBadger |
This is the Labour equivalent of being upset because Boris isn't in charge.
Or the politics equivalent of wanting Lambert back on the coaching staff. [Post edited 14 Nov 2022 15:44]
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As the original poster and a Labour member, it's got nothing to do with being upset that Corbyn isn't in charge. Indeed, I voted for Starmer as leader. But he stood on a manifesto which he has completely abandoned. He has been quiet on the damage Brexit has done. And the intolerance he has introduced is pretty distasteful. At the end of the day, one has a choice whether or not to join a party, golf club etc. and the way it behaves may well tempt people to leave. | | | |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:24 - Nov 14 with 566 views | DJR |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:13 - Nov 14 by Clapham_Junction |
I went to a Tower Hamlets Labour Party event last week. We have two MPs - one on the right of the party and one on the left. The latter did not attend as local officials ignored her requests to put in place safeguards for her (her ex-husband, who she claims abused her, was a local councillor until May and the council took her to court over claimed Housing fraud (she was cleared at trial)). Her name was not mentioned once, and on several occasions speakers spoke as if there was only one MP representing the borough.
The guest of honour, a shadow front bencher, inferred in his speech that she should be deselected. The same person had earlier called Corbyn senile in the House of Commons.
The party lost the local elections in May and there is a complete lack of awareness/acknowledgement of the reasons (a viable left-wing alternative and a leadership giving the impression it is unfriendly to the Muslim community).
Labour are riding high in the opinion polls, but I don't think I have ever been so depressed about the future direction of the party. The refusal to allow the Labour group leader on Kensington Council (a former MP) to be on the shortlist is ridiculous. Are up to four or five CLPs where the committee has resigned en masse due to selection stitch-ups? |
I read about her a few weeks ago. That's terribly depressing, and further evidence of the racism that the Forde Report brought to light.
The shadow cabinet member you are referring to is Wes Streeting who is a particularly nasty piece of work. | | | |
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:33 - Nov 14 with 547 views | DJR |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 15:46 - Nov 14 by tractordownsouth |
The rules making it easier to de-select sitting MPs were brought in by Corbyn himself. Starmer increased the threshold and thus made it more difficult but it’s ironic to see the people who were cheerleading for deselections in 2019 now getting angry when they are happening today. For what it’s worth, I don’t think de-selecting people from different factions is a good use of time (except in exceptional cases like Sam Tarry) but there’s definitely a double standard going on when what was previously classed as party democracy is now deemed to be a stitch up.
As for JC, all he had to do was delete his Facebook post and he’d have been back in. But it’s been 2 years so that bridge has probably been burned now. He’s brought it upon himself. |
I am not sure when the rules change, but the charge that Corbyn would oust those MPs who didn't support him was a further false narrative used by the right in the party to denigrate him. The fact he did nothing was probably because he was too soft or nice, not like ruthless Starmer. [Post edited 14 Nov 2022 16:34]
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 17:28 - Nov 14 with 507 views | WeWereZombies |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 16:04 - Nov 14 by DJR |
Yes, the left is famed for its factionalism but I was talking about the term's use in this country. [Post edited 14 Nov 2022 16:04]
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Ho hum, the spectrum from far left to just left of right wing in socialism has been around in our four nations for over a hundred years. You just have to look at Ramsey MacDonald's later political career and the widespread opprobrium that generated. |  |
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| Authoritarian Labour Party on 17:41 - Nov 14 with 494 views | DJR |
| Authoritarian Labour Party on 17:28 - Nov 14 by WeWereZombies |
Ho hum, the spectrum from far left to just left of right wing in socialism has been around in our four nations for over a hundred years. You just have to look at Ramsey MacDonald's later political career and the widespread opprobrium that generated. |
Sorry, I wasn't trying to be picky but probably came across as such. I think I just objected to a modern term being applied to 1945 when the country and the Labour Party as a whole were pretty at much at one on what radical socialist policies the country needed. | | | |
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