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Labour Party and anti semitism

(739 Posts)
Anniebach Sun 29-Jul-18 12:49:18

both Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin now face disciplinary action , Margaret for telling Corbyn he was anti semetic and Ian for telling a close friend of Corbyn the party has become a sewer . Freedom of speech not allowed in the party.

PECS Mon 30-Jul-18 11:24:25

Annie I have never implied that but the BDBJ is a conservative (small c) organisation and it is strongly (understandably) supportive of Israel so may find JCs outspoken support for Palestine worrying. But they are humans and not above criticism any more than the Synod, Vatican or British Council of Muslims are.

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 11:26:15

PECS, the young members were not involved with politics in 1983 when we had the disastrous election. I say this even though Michael Foot was a family friend. Too much faith is put in young party members, no thought that it is the voter in every constituency who will bring in the next government . I really do not believe the country will vote for a far left government .

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 11:32:10

I did not say the Board of Deputies of British Jews were above criticism PECS. I do say accusing any criticism of Corbyn comes from the far right is not true . I am constantly told here I am a Tory supporter, even accused of lying when I say I have been a party member for over fifty years, I have stayed loyal to the party, this does not mean I must have any loyalty to Corbyn.

trisher Mon 30-Jul-18 11:38:10

Perhaps if you stopped referring to this as a "far left" party Annie, and accepted that it is simply redressing the awful and catastrophic decisions made by those who were to the far right of the party, and introducing policies which the majority of people agree with, such as taking back control of the railways, building more social housing and providing support for the poorest, the party would stand much more chance of election. Instead you constantly undermine the party you say you believe in. It isn't far left unless of course you actually believe in Conservative policies position from which it may seem to be. I have yet to see you post one party policy you actually support.

PECS Mon 30-Jul-18 11:41:18

Annie I have said upthread that I support your right to disagree with the LP leadership! I think though that you are wrong not to entertain the idea of rt wing infiltration to destabilise the LP . Sadly you are correct the world is moving right at an alarming speed.. Look at Bannon now influencing our UK right wingers.. so chances of a Left wing UK government is small because people have been frightened off by scaremongering and are seeing right of centre as normal.

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 11:47:20

trisher, the communist party chose to join the Labour Party, they have become left of centre ? Corbyn holds Venezuela as Utopia. I respect the fact that you have positive views on communism, I do not. Perhaps you should stop denying Corbyn is of the far left.

trisher Mon 30-Jul-18 12:45:46

Ah the old "You are a communist" defence. I am not, nor have I ever been a member of the communist party grin. Still no LP policies you DO support Annie same old far left accusations.

Fennel Mon 30-Jul-18 12:49:24

Annie - to some extent I share your disappointment with Corbyn. He took over a very divided party and I hoped he could unify the various factions. An impossible task for anyone, the previous leaders couldn't do it.
But what upsets me most about this antsemitism issue is that eventually it is going to be turned against the Jews. We've managed to survive here quite happily since WW2 by keeping a low profile and conforming as far as possible to British norms. Keeping out of trouble with the law. Jews are eternally grateful to Britain for giving a tolerant refuge.
But this political highlighting isn't helpful.

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 12:52:19

What / who could have drawn the communist party to the Labour Party ?

Why did the communist party attend the Momentum conference last year , held a few hundred yards from the Labour Party conference, and why did Corbyn have the need to address the momentum conference?

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 12:55:06

Fennel, Jews have never had to keep a low profile since the war , only in the last three years have they become targets for racists

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 12:56:42

Fennel, the party was not a very divided party untill Corbyn became leader

trisher Mon 30-Jul-18 13:08:02

Even Jews are divided over the definition of anti-semitism and the adoption of the IHRA code www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/27/antisemitism-ihra-definition-jewish-writers

PECS Mon 30-Jul-18 13:57:02

Anniebach you must live a sheltered life if you think anti Semitism was not happening until JC became leader! How ridiculous! Where I lived in London the local synagogue was targeted by the local NF and I, along with many others joined the protest and stood outside the synagogue decrying the assault & showing solidarity with the Jewish worshippers. I was a member of the anti Nazi league in the 70s because of the open racism and anti semitism being promoted at that time so brazenly.

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 14:30:19

I am quite aware that anti semetism has always existed, the trouble with some who live or have lived in London is their assumption that those living in other parts of the country have little or no knowledge of life, so patronising.

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 14:32:56

trisher, five peoples opinions !

trisher Mon 30-Jul-18 14:54:28

5 Jewish people's opinions Annie do you find them unacceptable in some way?
Interesting that the Commons Select Committee actually recommended the adoption of the IHRA definition but with similar additions as those now adopted by the LP.
We broadly accept the IHRA definition, but propose two additional clarifications to ensure that freedom of speech is maintained in the context of discourse about Israel and Palestine, without allowing antisemitism to permeate any debate. The definition should include the following statements:

It is not antisemitic to criticise the Government of Israel, without additional evidence to suggest antisemitic intent.
It is not antisemitic to hold the Israeli Government to the same standards as other liberal democracies, or to take a particular interest in the Israeli Government’s policies or actions, without additional evidence to suggest antisemitic intent.
Why wasn't this done?

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 15:01:30

I respect everyone has the right to voice their opinions trisher, but five people ? hardly proof the majority agree

So five Corbyn devotees can post here praising him as honest so it must be true ?

PECS Mon 30-Jul-18 15:46:08

annie you were the one who
stated there was no anti semitism post war until 3 years,ago!! I gave you a personal anecdote to demonstrate Ì had a different experience. That was not patronising! It was not a reference to where you or I live! The nation's media covered many dreadful racist events so did not mstter where you were!

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 16:34:25

PECS, you are not the first Corbynite to state - you must live a sheletered life, I live/ lived in London.

I was referring to anti semetism in the Labour Party not the sodding country. This will surprise you but the Jewish community in South Wales is a large community.

You were claiming when you fought anti semitism in the 70’s you were fighting Labour Party members ?

I was fortunate as a youngster into my early twenties a family friend who happened to be a Rabbi joined my family regularly to share supper, interesting, a Baptist minister and a Rabbi. I learned much.

trisher Mon 30-Jul-18 16:52:48

Annie I never said all Jews agree I simply pointed out that the discussion about anti-semitism is taking place amongst Jews as well. You have so many times tried to make it appear solely a LP issue. It isn't.

varian Mon 30-Jul-18 16:55:03

What a huge disappointment Jeremy Corbyn has been. This nonsense would never have happened under either of the Millibands.

Anniebach Mon 30-Jul-18 17:03:44

Rubbish Trisher, I speak of anti semitism in the Labour Party , this doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen outside the party, what do expect, a thread - anti semetism in the north/south ?

lemongrove Mon 30-Jul-18 17:39:46

Of course you meant within the LP Annie it would be ridiculous for anyone to think you meant the whole of the UK.
Corbyn was always going to be a huge disappointment, he managed as a backbencher although spent his life defying the whip, he is a one man protest party.That’s what he enjoyed, giving rabble rousing speeches to the converted.
As a Leader of the Opposition......hopeless.

PECS Mon 30-Jul-18 18:02:18

Annie I genuinely thought you meant generally. London suburbs are where I have spent much of my life..can't help that!
I am very aware that there are Jewish communities across the UK..it is not unusual & as for your having a family friend who happened to be a rabbi.. that is not unusual either in my experience. It really is pointless continuing this conversation because you refuse to engage in debate but just throw in one liner ripostes to redirect back to your dislike of JC.

OldMeg Mon 30-Jul-18 18:05:16

Corbyn isn’t a big disappointment, in fact he managed to pull of a very good result in the last GE despite it being called at the last minute and May thinking she was going to increase her majority in the house.

That result was purely down to JB.