Gransnet forums

News & politics

Labour MP's harassment

(562 Posts)
POGS Thu 03-Dec-15 12:56:04

For a while now there have been reports of Labour MP's being bullied, harassed by left wing activists. They have been threatened with deselection, sent photos of dead babies to put pressure on them to vote on Syria etc.

Yesterday during the Syrian debate many Labour MP's made reference to this happening and Labour MP John Mann called for Cameron to apologise for his words but also said the Labour front bench should also apologise for the harassment the Labour MP's were recieving. Labour MP Stella Creasy literally left the debate to go to her office as the staff were receiving phone abuse and there were anti war campaigners causing them harassment. This point will be refuted by those who attended so we must all make our own decision as to whom we believe.

I mentioned in posts last night how disgusting I think this behaviour is on the Should we bomb Deash/IS thread. I genuinely feel very sorry for the Labour MP's and to be honest I think there is going to be more trouble ahead if the Labour Party do not back their MP's a little harder than has happened so far.

What gives people the right to assume their opinion , their view should not be doubted, not debated and must be adhered to or they resort to threatening behaviour. It is not democratic and I agree with those MP's and commentators who believe this wave of activism is a backward move for the Labour Party..

rosequartz Wed 23-Dec-15 21:15:08

Why not speak of a world without this fear
We can speak of it, but unless other leaders agree with Corbyn's stance then it is just a dream.
Perhaps he'd like to make it his mission in life to go around and persuade every world leader with a nuclear deterrent to promise never to press the button.
Then disarm and have a jolly good time destroying them hmm

rosequartz Wed 23-Dec-15 21:11:01

I've got a file full of letters she has sent to me in response to my queries.
shock

Well, if every constituent did the same there would be a crisis in the paper industry and it wouldn't be good for the environment.
I just email my MP - he always responds promptly, and he often fights for a cause which means he does not toe the party line

Sorry, that is not meant to be sarcastic; he used to write back even if someone emailed him, but now he emails back for environmental reasons - although I must say receiving a letter written on that nice thick paper was very nice.

Elegran Wed 23-Dec-15 20:50:49

Anniebach Where exactly do you think I am wrong? Was it in saying that you and dj are quite quick to verbal combat? Because that is true. Enjoying battling with words is not necessarily a bad thing - there are people who make a career out of debate.

Going looking for a verbal fight to get into would be a bad thing - that would be aggression. Going looking for a physical fight to get into - wanting there to be war - would also be a bad thing - physical aggression. I don't believe that anyone is going looking for a war.

Elegran Wed 23-Dec-15 20:29:33

The nuclear button point may be relevant to people's views of Corbyn and the premiership, but it is not relevant to MPs and their responsibilities toward ALL their constituents, which was where you put it, durhamjen

Ana Wed 23-Dec-15 20:24:08

So could I, but it wouldn't be kind...tchwink

whitewave Wed 23-Dec-15 20:11:47

I could reply to that but wouldn't be so rudetchgrin

rosesarered Wed 23-Dec-15 19:58:18

Well, it is the Panto season after all Ana tchgrin

Ana Wed 23-Dec-15 17:02:55

The problem is that you expect sarcasm all the time, as I said in my last post.

No you didn't.

Sigh...

durhamjen Wed 23-Dec-15 16:58:12

The problem is that you expect sarcasm all the time, as I said in my last post.
I see little point in bothering if you are always going to accuse me of things that are not there.
This is the last response you will get from me, so do not accuse me of not replying to you again. You have been told why not.

Ana Wed 23-Dec-15 16:54:53

Both you and Anniebach use sarcasm a lot, durhamjen, as of course you know. I was just pointing out that it's not the same as 'verbal dexterity'.

I wasn't reading anything 'in that wasn't there'. Just a general comment, following on from Elegran's 'blunt instrument' observation.

durhamjen Wed 23-Dec-15 16:40:54

Who was being sarcastic? Not me.
You need to be careful that you do not always read things in that are not there.
I wasn't trying to be impressive, either, just honest.

Elegran, I did not say that there should only be one matter that they should want to discuss with their MP. I gave that as an example. I think anyone who wanted to bomb Syria and was in his constituency would be daft to try and change his mind, and on the use of the nuclear bomb.
You are trying to read into it things I did not say.
Anyone in Corbyn's constituency who did not know his views by now is not interested in politics.

Ana Wed 23-Dec-15 15:57:54

Sarcasm is seldom persuasive, or impressive.

Anniebach Wed 23-Dec-15 15:53:21

No Elegran, you are wrong

Elegran Wed 23-Dec-15 15:16:56

And no reason why he should agree to change his mind if he doesn't want to, but also no reason for their opinions on other matters to be of no interest to him/her. There are other issues that MPs can vote on and influence, not just one. This one issue may be top of the agenda at the moment, but an MP is a three-dimensional person - as are all people of all parties or none.

As Lilygran said - "People vote for the individual as well as the party, some more for one than the other!" and the individual responds to his constituents according to his own lights as well as his party policy.

( And verbal dexterity can be wielded as a blunt instrument at times! smile )

durhamjen Wed 23-Dec-15 15:02:31

Not at all, Elegran. I hope to persuade others by the use of my verbal dexterity. Not at all the same. Hope not hate. Words not war.
Mentioning nuclear bombs is not a red herring. That is the reason many people think that Corbyn should not be leader of the labour party, let alone PM.
There is no reason why his constituents should not go to his surgery and ask him to change his mind about that, despite him having been a pacifist all his life.

Elegran Wed 23-Dec-15 14:48:50

Pressing nuclear buttons is a red herring. AB and not one that I introduced. That was durhamjen

I'll rephrase my post to say " You and durhamjen are very quick to verbal combat with other posters - does that really mean that you WANT to have a word fight and come on looking hopefully for someone to disagree with you so that you have to get stuck in? That is what you are saying when you say that others WANT to push the button - that they HOPE to have the opportunity to use force"

That nuclear button is not in question in any case, but the "wanting" is the point of my post.

Plus - on further thought, yes, I do suspect that you both greatly enjoy the adrenaline of a word fight, despite abhoring physical violence.

durhamjen Wed 23-Dec-15 14:29:01

www.globaljustice.org.uk/blog/2015/dec/23/2015-was-big-year-us-%E2%80%93-and-were-not-stopping-2016

For anyone who campaigns, this is what we can pat ourselves on the back for this year.
Looking forward to next year.

Anniebach Wed 23-Dec-15 13:59:41

And who are the - don't do anything to defend ourselves people Elegran? Do you really think pressing the button will ensure a good defence ?

Anniebach Wed 23-Dec-15 13:56:20

Perhaps grumppa, perhaps

grumppa Wed 23-Dec-15 13:45:15

That's fine Anniebach if, to pursue my analogy, all the poker players agree to put all their cards face up on the table at the same time. Perhaps JC can have a pacifist heart to heart with Putin about it.

Elegran Wed 23-Dec-15 13:40:21

The important word is "want". I doubt there is anyone who wants the button pressed (presumably a nuclear button) Same with any other intervention, whether with planes or boots on the ground.

The "don't-bomb-or do-anything- to-defend-ourselves people" on here are very quick to verbal combat - does that really mean that they WANT to have a word fight and come on looking hopefully for someone to disagree with them so that they had get stuck in?

That is what you are saying about all tories "WANTING to push the button"

Anniebach Wed 23-Dec-15 11:53:30

Why not grumppa? We have lived under the threat of 'the bomb' for decades, the man is honest, something which seems to carry little respect . We all know pushing the button will result in world devastation yet we carry on pretending it is saving us from world devastation. Why not speak of a world without this fear

grumppa Wed 23-Dec-15 11:45:46

I doubt whether any voters, including tories, want JC or any other Future prime minister to "push the button", dj. What people object to is someone declaring in advance that they never will; it's like playing poker with all one's cards face up.

Elegran Wed 23-Dec-15 11:41:21

If you are referring to my posts, Anniebach, they were to counteract the posts which seem to imply that they don't and should not look after and represent those in their area who did not vote for them or who are not members of their party.

A good MP is respected by all, whatever their political views, and there are many examples. A bad MP is not - and unless he is has a constituency which ignores his personal qualities when voting, he will not stay in office at the next general election.

durhamjen Wed 23-Dec-15 11:40:17

I'd be interested to know how many non-voters actually speak or write to their MPs.
I've got a file full of letters she has sent to me in response to my queries. Usually they are of national importance, telling me how she will vote.
Just to prevent sad comments, I keep the letters just to make sure I do not write or email more than once about the same topic.
Local stuff is usually to do with housing in the village.