Last night the hard-left Corbynite MP Apsana Begum’s local Labour Party voted to trigger a selection battle. Just before midnight her CLP procedural secretary Asra Anjum wrote to the branch’s executive committee to “confirm that the local Labour Party branches and the affiliates to our CLP have voted for a Full Selection.” All 10 wards voted for open selection, just one – Lansbury & Poplar – tied on 43 votes for and against. Begum will automatically be included on the shortlist…
According to former local Labour councillor-turned blogger Puru Miah, “no other contemporary Labour MP” has achieved the accolade of being deselected in every single ward in their constituency. It may not be an accolade she uniquely holds for much longer – as Guido reported yesterday, Sam Tarry is facing a very similar uphill battle…
Angela Rayner raised eyebrows this week after a photo emerged of her posing with Corbyn for a campaign – despite his continued suspension from the Labour Party. Compounding the controversy is the fact Rayner attended antisemitism training sessions with the Jewish Labour Movement just two days ago. She clearly wasn’t paying attention in class…
Today Angela excused herself, claiming she was merely “photobombed” by Corbyn and that she didn’t speak to him. Hardly convincing given the photographic evidence showing the two looking very friendly side-by-side whilst she delivers speech…
Was it an accident, or another deliberate attempt by Rayner to schmooze the hard left of the party? Guido will let co-conspirators decide…
One of the hottest-button issues in the Labour Party right now concerns a territorial dispute over two thousand miles away. The Jewish Labour Movement hustings last night asked each of the candidates whether they would identify as a Zionist. Guido brings you the lowdown…
Thornberry
“I am a zionist”
Starmer
“I don’t describe myself as a Zionist”
Nandy
“I believe that Jewish people have the right to national self determination, that makes me a Zionist.”
Long-Bailey
“I suppose that makes me a Zionist”
Who would have guessed that Long-Bailey would be more willing to describe herself as a Zionist than Sir Keir QC…
The Jewish Labour Movement’s closing submission to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission has been leaked in full.
The conclusion – based on testimonies of 70 serving and former Labour party officials – damningly says “The Labour Party is no longer a safe space for Jewish people”.
100 additional testimonies from party members say they have suffered or witnessed antisemitism at party events. Labour were desperate to change the final election week’s narrative – this might make that difficult…
Britain’s Chief Rabbi has taken the unprecedented step of describing Corbyn as not fit for high office. Unfortunately coinciding with the launch of Labour’s ‘race and faith’ manifesto…
In a Times article, Ephraim Mirvis writes “the overwhelming majority of British Jews are gripped by anxiety” and asks “What will become of Jews and Judaism in Britain if the Labour Party forms the next government?”, finishing off by saying the very soul of the nation is at stake. Naturally, Corbynites have responded by calling Mirvis a supporter of Netanyahu, a Boris supporting Tory and a Mossad agent. Even worse, they accuse the chief Rabbi of being “a Zionist”!
Today’s intervention would bad enough for Labour, however it will also undoubtedly overshadow their race and faith policy announcements, which include:
- Creating a new body to oversee the legacy of colonialism
- A race equality unit at the Treasury
- Reduced charges for Home Office documents and tests
- Changes to the curriculum to teach children about the injustices of the British Empire
- Make the Equality and Human Rights Commission – the very body investigating the party for institutional Antisemitism – “truly independent” (a proposal heavily criticised by the Jewish Labour Movement)
Meaning today’s uncosted announcements come to (drum roll): a meagre £1.5 billion…
In what Guido thinks is a political first, the Labour affiliate group the Jewish Labour Movement has called for the whip to be removed from Labour’s newly elected MP for Peterborough before she has even had a chance to be sworn in as an MP. Tragi-comedy…
