That Corbyn fella...

that was in March, his lack of action despite words has changed that somewhat

Not really convinced but I should have stayed out of this, out of respect for your heritage and middling bike polo skills.

Yes, I read that Guardian article when it was original published, this quote from it illustrates my objection to suggesting that often being pro Palestinian means being antisemtic.

I hope that, as a result, many on the left will pause next time Jews raise the alarm about antisemitism. I hope they’ll remember that, while most anti-Israel activists are acting in good faith, some are motivated more darkly, while others carelessly express their opposition to Israel in language or imagery that has a melancholy history.

middling...I take that as a great compliment x

can labour be elected now though or is this damaging long term. if it isn't what does that say about the U.K. Potentially indifferent to jewish folk and maybe mildly anti islamic (best case senario).

If labour cant sort themselves out were going to be stuck with the tories for a good while yet.

I don't know, I don't thing it'll make a big difference overall.

The majority don't pay much attention to these types of stories. I bet if you asked a cross section of people what their 50 biggest issue in the country anti semitism in the labour party wouldn't make the list.

It's got to the point where the legitimate concerns of the Jewish community have been so weaponized by the right wing press it becomes all to easy to dismiss them as just more political point scoring and all the time Boris and Zac are tag teaming over who's the biggest islamophobe it all cancels itself out.

Who know's given the yougov data over anti semitism perhaps all these stories will have Tory voting antisemite's of the daily mail flocking to the Labour ranks.*

*I'm joking.

I bet if you asked a cross section of people what their 50 biggest issue in the country anti semitism in the labour party wouldn't make the list.

I think this situation lends credence to the view that because Corbyn hasn't spent his time preparing for power he is having to rely on - or is being used by - (some) allies who are either plainly idiots or who have rather controversial views, to put it mildly. This is manifested in his slowness to remove those who have stepped over the line, and the tit for tat attacks against those like Hodge who have confronted him.

I'd imagine this doesn't help attract the swing voters they need.

Re a few pages back ...

TBF, although Margaret Hodge does have form in the past on a number of less-than-wonderful topics, she has been fairly open about admitting she didn't move anything like fast enough on the child grooming thing.

However as chair of the Public Accounts Committee she was pretty good at exposing the tax manipulations of Amazon, Google, Starbucks, et al. Her book 'Called to Account' is a fascinating retelling of those events.

I was pretty unimpressed however when she went off on one to JC about anti-Semitism, and then went on to add further fuel to the fire. She's not a Corbynite, so it's hard to see her actions as entirely disinterested.

I was a bit of a fan after the Amazon tax exposure; now I'm not. Does the Labour right even want to topple the Tory Government? Most of the time it's hard to tell.

More evidence of the state labour and it’s supporters find themselves in. I find it hard to see them challenging for government any time soon, I wonder if they can survive and heal this divide.

"She's not a Corbynite, so it's hard to see her actions as entirely disinterested."

So you're saying that if people don't support Corbyn they can't be objective? Really?

Not during the current Labour civil war, no. If anything, Hodges is a high positioned centerist, one of the last ones left from the Blair years. Those people generally hate Corbyn for destroying their legacy of whatever it is that Tony Blair did.

Ok - your choice. Describe this as civil war, say people are either with Corbyn or against him, and polarise supporters enough that you won't reach across the barriers and actually build enough support to do some good.

It's infuriating, it really is. You guys are just the Brexiters of the left

No, that is not what I said. She may indeed be playing it entirely straight as she sees it. It's possible.

However most observers of the current Labour thing – with the exception of those in the press and elsewhere who are using it as a means to denigrate Labour generally – acknowledge that Corbyn himself is not a racist nor an anti-Semite.

Yes, opinions vary on how well he has handled the issue; most people who are largely supportive of his direction, myself included, think he could played his hand a lot better*. Yet Hodge admits that she called him an “anti-Semitic racist”. That is so over-the-top it is laughable.

She is without doubt a bitter opponent of JC. Don't forget she was one of the two Labour MPS who attempted to trigger a coup against his leadership back in 2016 by submitting a motion of No Confidence.

Under these circumstances it might be difficult to see her actions as entirely disinterested.

*Good thing by Gary Younge in today's Guardian addressing this very issue.

You guys are just the Brexiters of the left

lol what does this mean

who knows.

we had a "you people" earlier on.

You said something about a mate

FYI:

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-institutional-racism-in-my-local-labour-party/

...Park...Life?

Jesus the comments under that one all look like they've come from a Russian bot factory leased by Bannon.

I've never been to any party's local meeting, so naturally assumed it was all fairly dull chat. But 7/9* motions being about Israeli issues? What on earth are these type of votes meant to achieve? Do they also put forward motions on global nuclear disarmament policy?

*Did make me think of

Go home dad, you're drunk.

https://youtu.be/Dv43zr2xQhg

Maybe they’ve gone quiet because you keep bellowing at them?

The ignore function makes the thread much quieter.

i'm sure everyone will get back to punching you in your tiny internet cock forthwith.

I’m not even sure what you’re on about tbh.

I have seen the story about Corbyn refusing to answer the question ‘will Britain be better off outside the EU’, which I’m sure all sides will interpret to support their beliefs.

I don’t think he does think that (euroskeptic =/= brexiter) but is still being advised that he’ll lose leave voters if he comes out and says it.
Then again as opposition it’s not really his problem to solve, so fair enough - let’s see Channel 4 nail Theresa May on the question first.

Hey Boris, what are your thoughts on disc brakes vs. rim brakes?