The increasingly impressive James Purnell mooted some pretty well trodden ideas last week. The former Labour MP had the audacity to question whether millionaires should really get a pensioners free bus pass and state supplied fuel. A long overdue debate, but Labour grassroots have whipped themselves up into a fury of self-righteousness, that only they do best. The pitchforks and iPads have been out in force, culminating in one of the greatest headlines on LabourList that Guido has seen in a long time:

“Purnell is a heretic, and he’s in the wrong party”

He should then of course be burnt at the social-democratic stake right? Sentiments like that go a long way to explain Labour aren’t being taken seriously. A well deserved Order of the OTT…

Lee Jasper’s racist Twitter outbursts are rumbling on. It seems the disgraced former City Hall aide is running out of friends. One person that constantly stands by him though is Simon Woolley, the leader of Operation Black Vote, the campaign to get more black people involved in politics. Last month when Jasper came under fire for comparing the British police to Apartheid South Africans. In response to Woolley said:

“There have been times throughout our history when politicians, newspapers and funders have indicated that if we cast aside Lee Jasper we will gain their support and funding. I’m pleased to say at every juncture that has occurred we’ve showed them the door. Without integrity we have no organisation. Keep with us and spread the word. Our strength is in our unity. “

Does this still apply given Jasper’s latest tirades against “white boys”?

Guido wouldn’t normally care who or what a private organisation chooses to condemn or support, but Freedom of Information requests shine an important light on Operation Black Vote:

• In July 2009 OBV was allocated £271,228.00 grant funding for the period July 2009 to March 2011 by Communities and Local Government to promote civic and political representation in minority ethnic communities.
• OBV has also received departmental funding of £85,000 in 2009-10 and £85,000 in 2010-11 for their MP Shadowing Scheme.
• Between April 2006 and March 2009, OBV received grants totalling £448,510.00.

OBV pretend to be politically neutral, yet backed Diane Abbott’s leadership campaign and Yes2AV. Given that they choose to hug left-wing agitators and race-agitators like Lee Jasper close to their chest, why exactly should we all pick up the tab? If they do nothing about Jasper then it’s time to reconsider that taxpayer funding…

Ken Livingstone’s former aide Lee Jasper left his post after emails linked him to the dodgy use of City Hall funds. Anyone that dared question him about this was slammed as for being racist. He is the eternal victim, but seems to be in the midst of a full on breakdown on Twitter. Ken has already run a mile.

It started on Monday with a sick joke about Boris and the Norwegian murders, but it seems our old friend has been on a downward spiral of decline ever since. Remember that he is an equalities activist and “Chair of London Race & Criminal Justice Consortium” when you take a look at a selection of his tweets from the last twenty-four hours:

• “White men are obsessed with black mens ****s.”
• “Disabled or black we are all the undeserving poor as the ideological attack on the poor is prosecuted with zeal . Disablism and racism.”
• “White boy hysteria once again reveals its penchant for the overly dramatic when it comes to black men
• “I know you white boys have a thing about black men’s tackle”
• “Anyway racist pedophiles, NI acolytes , assorted miscreants of the wretched right wing I must go and ferment racial harmony among the masses”
• “ Well you would having pedophile tendencies an all…”
• “Good sit back whilst I give you a very unhappy ending”

Our esteemed friend went on to tweet that he wants “equality and harmony”. When Red Ken abandons you, you know you’ve crossed a line…

In the words of Amy Winehouse herself, “No, No, No…”

Via @cllrmackenzie

With Labour attempting to rewrite history all over the airwaves this morning, it was only a matter of time before someone was going to say something stupid. Step forward Lord Kinnock, who for some reason has it in for Murdoch. The welsh-windbag just called for a “balanced press” on the Today program. Legislation would ensure that there is no “political pre-determination”. Apparently censoring the free press would mean that would live “in a much freer world”. The exasperated reaction from John Humphrys and even Nick Robinson was priceless.

Given Kinnock’s close relationship with Ed Miliband, Guido thinks it’s only fair that we know if the Labour leader shares his mentor’s illiberal views?

UPDATE: The full interview is now up:

“I see no reason at all why the rules of impartiality governing the broadcast media, could not be extended to the newspapers.”

Does Ed agree?

Though he has often strayed, eco-toff George Monbiot (Stowe and Brasenose, Oxford) has finally exited the reality based community. Here was his orgasmic reaction to NewsCorp withdrawing the bid yesterday:

This is our Berlin Wall moment.—
  (@GeorgeMonbiot) July 13, 2011

Guido thinks a special order of the OTT and all round mocking is in order.

Though we should pause to remember the thousands of hacks shot dead trying to escape East Wapping.

Jon Cruddas on Saturday told Compass lefties…

“The idea that you don’t move beyond Labour, that the party contains all the solutions and anything else is counted as betrayal, or is counter-productive, is a morbid symptom of our own decline and actually an obligation of our responsibilities to the country. Similarly a continuous preoccupation in members Ed and David who carries the flame or Ed and Yvette or Ed and Andy or Ed, Ed and Eddie is that Labour is not a top class PPE Oxbridge gig, the question is then, what is it for? 29 policy review groups won’t answer that question, indeed I would tentatively suggest that a couple of compass criticizing bedroom bloggers won’t necessarily answer supply the answers either. I applaud the Compass member’s decision to search out for new ideas and big inspirational political vitality aside of the confines of the parliamentary party whose culture resembles at times a Sopranos tribute band. I believe this change is essential.”

Ed Miliband was out campaigning in Gloria De Piero’s seat at the weekend in the run up to the locals. It was all smiles and door knocking as per usual. One local council candidate Keir Morrison looked very happy to see the leader, though Guido wonders what the leader would make of the young man’s attire.

Always one for a good march, will Red Ed be joining his Labour colleague as one of the generation that “will dance on Thatcher’s Grave”?

Director Neil O’Brien has written his account of the “occupation” of Policy Exchange’s offices yesterday by UK Uncut spin off group N4s – NHS Not for Sale;

“But why are “direct action” groups so trendy on the Left right now? Why are Dave Spart and his chums back on TV, occupying shops and breaking windows, and ruining peaceful protects for everyone else? Part of the reason is, simply that they are idiots”

That may well be true, but looking into some of those attending the protest, the suggestion that this is all peaceful and fluffy disappears rather quickly. When Kit Withnail, (“independent researcher & Birkbeck student, currently writing a book on marxist antihumanist anarchism”), isn’t “shouting about Policy Exchange and pretending to be Lansley killing folk” he has a passion for writing about his admiration for German left-wing terrorists Andreas Baader.

His dark, sexually charged, blogposts aren’t for the light-hearted. Mark Wallace recently asked how close we are to seeing an anti-cuts terrorist group. If Guido was watching out for which part of this “movement” could get dangerous, young Kit would be high up on a list.

Remember when the British left joined the passing bandwagon from the States and suggested that violent political rhetoric could be blamed for violence against actual politicians? Guido never bought the line, but for all the song and dance they made, it’s funny that there has been no outcry about this posting from online looney lair Left Futures:

The Photoshopping is pretty poor, but you get the point. Left Futures is run by senile old fool Michael Meacher and his head-banging, Lufter Rahman supporting, aide Jon Lansman. The list of reasons Labour might want to tread with caution around them grows ever longer…

Via Harry’s Place