Should we really be doing this?

MaizieD

You all seem to have missed my post about Lynton Crosby. An Australian running campaigns for the tories. And being knighted for it' A foreigner interfering in our political processes.

Where was the indignation about that?

What has that got to do with whether it’s right for LP members to get involved with US politics?
Your post doesn’t make this clear so
do you think that what happened about Lynton Crosby was right? In which case +you* may well approve of the LP actions.

I’d never heard of him, but if I had I’d have objected to it happening, and I object to LP members who will be seen as representing our country, involving themselves in US politics.
This idea that someone else doing something you disapproved of justifies someone else doing the same sort of thing is weird.

Lynton Crosby is a political strategist and has been employed to manage election campaigns for parties (right of centre) in many countries. He's paid to do a job.

Rather different from a group of people deciding they will go en masse to another country to campaign for a certain candidate themselves.

Allira

Lynton Crosby is a political strategist and has been employed to manage election campaigns for parties (right of centre) in many countries. He's paid to do a job.

Rather different from a group of people deciding they will go en masse to another country to campaign for a certain candidate themselves.

This in a nutshell.

en masse?

100 people?

I’d never heard of Lynton Crosby either, so thanks for explaining Allira.

I’ve made my view clear. I’m neither influenced in my view by left or right. I simply believe that British politicians or activists of any political party, should be going to other countries trying to influence the outcome of their elections. Likewise I don’t want representatives of any other country trying to influence the outcome of our elections.

This particular event is not a storm in a teacup at all because Americans could easily believe that Labour Party activists represent our government, given that at the moment, we have a Labour government. This could be problematic for us in diplomatic negotiations. Particularly if (unfortunately) Trump becomes President.

It’s really not rocket science. An A Level Politics student could see the possibly of future difficulties with this situation. We have no idea what any Labour (or Conservative, Reform, or LibDem) Party activist might say or do which could embarrass our government whilst they’re over there. These people are not diplomats and one or more could be a loose cannon. We just don’t know.

100 is pretty en masse to me, depends on your definitions. Interference in another country’s electioneering is not on. The Americans should tell them, and Nigel Farage come to that, to butt out.

I think they are helping out in about 4/5 states, each with numerous local democratic offices - I really cannot see how this is considered to be intrusive or indeed interference for this vast country.

I certainly would not be supporting a party with doddering demented genocide Joe. The poor sod can be heard shouting I scream or is it ice cream. I would support a third party where if they get more than 5% of the college votes they get access to funds. Anti Zionist parties for me which a large number of jews and arabs will be supporting.

Seems a very odd thing to do but then Trump is very odd and dangerous.

So, bringing foreigners in is fine if they're paid...

I don't see how people born and bred in another country can canvass on local issues, and I don't think Americans are so concerned with world affairs as we are. Makes the election even more false than it is already.

I agree eazybee, local issues pertain to those who know and live in the area, one could even argue that MPs should be local to their own constituencies let alone bringing in people from overseas.

To address the balance, though regarding Maizie's comment above, no I don't think we should pay to bring in the Lynton Crosbys of this world which the Tories did.

As I've only just seen this, I've only skimmed it. But I'd like to point out that most political parties across the world send staff to work in election campaigns in other countries. It's good experience and they share ideas.
I have known several who have come to join British election campaigns over the years, including Americans. Friendships are made, and a greater understanding of how the election systems work - not just at the top, but on the doorsteps and at local level.

No one bothers with us lot- too small on the world stage, thankfully. I suppose when you think about it the UK was in at the start of the USA foundation.

We must stay away from the US election just as we would expect them to stay away from ours.
Is this something to do with "the Special Relationship" between the UK and the US? (which has always only worked one way - and not ours!)

It's to do with very long term ties between groups in both countries on both the centrist left and the right. Small numbers of democrats have helped in UK elections, again as unpaid individuals.

Contacts and links at conferences and think tanks are common/shared USA/UK and again across the spectrum - and ongoing.

Some Republicans are currently decrying the 100 low level volunteers who have gone in their own time and are unpaid (staying in democrat activists homes)

But some Republicans are happy to look the other way when things like this happen: look the other way look at what is going - on as regards paid involvement in the states by a UK MP:

“Farage given free team of US PR advisers by former Bannon aide’s firm
Reform UK leader received support for his American activities after becoming an MP but has not declared the services as a benefit”

“Nigel Farage has used a team of three US advisers to help him with “perception management” and public relations in America, as well as with settling a $3,500 hotel bill this summer, new documents show.”

.....the MP for Clacton has been assisted at least 15 times....

According to the documents, CapitalHQ was hired to take on activities for Farage including “promotion, perception management, public relations, speeches, appearances, communications, travel, accommodation and logistics and other political activities in furtherance of political interests of the foreign principal”. It describes his address as the House of Commons in London

www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/17/farage-given-free-team-of-us-pr-advisers-by-former-bannon-aides-firm


www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/17/farage-given-free-team-of-us-pr-advisers-by-former-bannon-aides-firm

This story hasn’t made the main media channels yet, so I wonder it’s bigger news on Gransnet than of national importance.

Yes Casdon - I've been checking - googling and checking out any references it remains only in the 3/4 newspapers that released it as a shock horror story and some minor outlets.

Still, its allowed us to check the impressions given in those stories that it was some kind of paid official delegation as opposed to a volunteer unpaid "do it in your own time" move, or that it was some kind of new event in terms of the way connections are made by like minded groups across the pond.

nanna8

100 is pretty en masse to me, depends on your definitions. Interference in another country’s electioneering is not on. The Americans should tell them, and Nigel Farage come to that, to butt out.

I believe Nigel Farage is a personal friend of Trumps, and has been for many years. Big difference.

Think the headline should read"should Labour be doing this"? We as a country are not involved,it is the LP that are possibly condoning this. Let's face it if Trump does get in,they've blown any cooperation due to the FS Starmer promoted above his competence. They have already shown their bias in kowtowing to Biden re letting the Chagos Islands be taken over by a country that never owned it in the first place.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

ah - "Friends" in high places, justifying special treatment,a welcome, a political platform, plus fringe paid for benefits -that makes it all Ok?

Can someone tell me where they discovered the Labour Party us funding this anyway please?

I believed the Democrats were paying for the help.

Freya5

nanna8

100 is pretty en masse to me, depends on your definitions. Interference in another country’s electioneering is not on. The Americans should tell them, and Nigel Farage come to that, to butt out.

I believe Nigel Farage is a personal friend of Trumps, and has been for many years. Big difference.

It’s not different at all. He was specifically there to support Trump’s election campaign, and said so. It wouldn’t matter if it was his brother, he would still be a UK MP supporting an election campaign in another country.

NotSpaghetti

Can someone tell me where they discovered the Labour Party us funding this anyway please?

I believed the Democrats were paying for the help.

Actual political parties are not allowed to pay foreign helpers.

"Can someone tell me where they discovered the Labour Party is funding this anyway please?

It reminds an unfounded assertion in the small group of newspapers who reported it so dramatically shook horror the news.

We do know its not an official L Party act as people going are doing it in their own time.