THEY’RE OUT TO GET JACKIE!

According to a report on Channel Four news the steering committee of national Momentum is considering removing Jackie Walker from her position as vice chair of national Momentum.

This is based on “secret filming” at a fringe event of the Labour Party Conference at which, it is alleged, Jackie made some controversial remarks including criticising Holocaust Memorial Day.

Norman Thomas, chair of Momentum Thanet was present at the meeting and says the account of Jackie’s remarks were distorted and unfair.

Mr Thomas said: “I was at that meeting and can testify she said nothing whatsoever anti-Semitic. She did not in any way “criticise” Holocaust Memorial Day or imply that it was not possible to define anti-semitism.

“She did wish that Holocaust Memorial Day might be open to more groups who have experienced terrible suffering in the past, prior to WWII, and she did say, quite rightly, that the presenter at the meeting had failed, despite repeated requests, to come up with a coherent definition of anti-Semitism

“Jackie is a long-time anti-racist campaigner, is of Jewish descent and has a Jewish partner. She is not and never has been anti-Semitic. I have stood alongside her demonstrating against fascist thugs and bullies in Margate and Dover. To accuse her of anti-Semitism is disgusting.

“On Channel Four news her remarks were taken out of context and the short fragment of film shown on TV was totally unrepresentative of the full discussion which took place.This is an outrageous attempt to smear Jackie and so damage Jeremy Corbyn by association and it is utterly unfair and unjust.”

Added Mr Thomas: “Momentum is taking its decision this Monday — so people wishing to support her should act urgently”

Anyone wishing to express support for Jackie Walker should email emma.rees@peoplesmomentum.com stating if they are a member of the Labour Party etc.

THE S WORD IS BACK!

We leave the Labour Party Conference with one word of the Great Leader Corbyn’s final speech ringing in our ears: “socialism”.

Since the days of Saint Tony Blair the word’s been a bit of dirty word in the Labour Party establishment. But now it’s back and Jeremy is even talking about “socialism for the 21^st century.” Wow!

Just saying the S word brought huge roars of approval from the packed conference audience.

For the first time this year they had an overflow room for the leader’s speech where people watched JC on a giant video screen and that was pretty well fully, too.

Having finished his speech in the main conference, Jeremy popped into the overflow room and, in true Corbynesque fashion, ended up giving the cheering hordes there an impromptu summary of the speech they’d just heard. The comrades lapped it up.

But not everyone’s so keen on the S word.

Take anti-Corbyn MP Chuka Umunna for example. The other day a mischievous TV presenter asked Chuka if he considered himself a socialist. Chuka squirmed a bit and said that he saw himself as a “democratic socialist.”

That struck Old Mole as quite funny in the light of what’s going on in the Labour Party at the moment.

Chuka, pal, would you say it’s really all that democratic for a small fraction of the Labour Party to use every dirty trick in the book to try to subvert the will of the vast majority of the members? To suspend large numbers of people likely to vote the way you don’t want on any manner of ridiculous pretext?  To even command an end to all meetings at a local level in case members have the audacity to discuss the election and the monstrous shenanigans going on?

Is any of that democratic, would you say, Chuka?

Your answer on a picture postcard please to general secretary Iain McNicol.

WHERE’S THAT BRICK?

The delightfully chaotic Momentum-organised festival “A World Transformed” continues to be far more interesting than the Labour Party Conference itself. Went to a fascinating meeting the other day where there was huge support for nationalising the big banks. Ah Tony Blair if only you were alive now.

And the whole place was packed out for a meeting with Paul Mason, former Channel Four and BBC TV economics commentator. Paul very clearly explained why Jeremy Corbyn is never going to get anything like fair coverage in the mainstream media.

From the Sun and the Mail to the Guardian and the BBC, the whole industry is weighted against JC, in particular because of the class bias of the key reporters and managers who run everything.

And in that connection I’ve also invented another Old Mole Guessing Game. It’s called “Find The Brick”.

Remember when the soaring Angela Eagle put himself forward to valid challenge Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and there was huge media coverage of a brick being put through her window? And how the BBC then trailed items talking about “bricks going through windows” as though there were gangs of bullies stalking the land attacking anyone who dared to oppose JC?

Well, I can tell you that despite extensive investigations, not one brick has been found or even the smallest bit of evidence that a brick was ever thrown.

So start guessing now. Where is that imaginary brick do you think? And who invented it? Entries to inmeds@yahoo.co.uk.   Your prize will be a life sized Tom Watson vodoo doll.

http://www.momentumthanet.org.uk

 

MCDONNELL MAKES THEM WAIT

One of the most extraordinary features of this Labour Party Conference is the Momentum festival which is running in parallel just a mile or so away.

This is called “A World Transformed” and it is a lot more exciting and noisy and sweaty than the conference proper and it takes place in some massive old building that used to be an old church.

It was in one of its many rooms that stalwarts of the Momentum Thanet put on an impromptu workshop in which they shared with other Momentum people the secrets of their success.

Thanet is now famous among political people from across the country as the place which denied Nigel Farage the parliamentary seat he set his heart on winning. And members of Momentum Thanet got laughs and applause when they recounted the famous day when the Thanet Stand Up To UKIP group dumbfounded the massed ranks of Kippers in Ramsgate by meeting them with a continental breakfast and cakes.

Hard on the heels of the successful workshop came an absolutely splendid  huge meeting with star speakers including Matt Wrack of the Fire Brigade Union and Ian Hodson of the Bakers Union. People spoke angrily of the barrage of unfair suspensions they’d experienced as shadowy figures inside the party tried, unsuccessfully, to stop Jeremy Corbyn winning the leadership for a second time.

Most moving was Greg Hadfield speaking about the way his entire local Labour Party in Brighton and Hove has been suspended in the most unjust manner to try to subvert the course of democracy.

Oh, and yes, some bloke called John McDonnell was due to speak, too. Except it was getting very late and he was nowhere to be seen and for a moment or too the organisers seemed to be going potty and it was announced he wasn’t coming.

But then, at the last gasp, he did turn up and he spoke, too. And everybody cheered until the rafters rattled. Seemed a terribly nice chap. I think he’s the Shadow Chancellor or something…

http://www.momentumthanet.org.uk

 

WHY DID MP “SNITCH” ON HIS CONSTITUENTS?

The other big topic of discussion at the Labour Party Conference is anti-Semitism, false allegations of which have been used to suspend innumerable members of the party and so stop them voting Jeremy Corbyn for leader.

Most of these allegations have come either from anti-Corbyn Labourites or anonymous characters, presumably supporters of the state of Israel.

But our own Thanet MP, Tory Craig Mackinlay, tried a novel variation on the practice.

A few days before Jeremy came to the Great Ramsgate Rally, which obviously propelled him to victory in the leadership race, Craig wrote to him claiming that four of the Tory MP’s constituents (including our very own Christine Tongue) were “examples of anti-Semitism,” – quoting, I have to say, pretty pathetic evidence taken from social media.

Christine was so horrified by Craig’s attack on her that she submitted a formal complaint to the Comssioner for Parliamentary Standards.

In the event the four constituents were quite rightly not suspended and, I’m sure, all ended up voting for the triumphant Jeremy.

But why ever did our Craig go in for this bit of nastiness? A desire to combat anti-Semitism in the Labour Party?   Really? On the part of a Tory MP who was actually one of the founders of UKIP?

No, I don’t think so either.

More likely it has something to do with the fact that three of the people he picked on recently took part in a demonstration against local arms maker Instro Precision.

Instro are owned by an Israeli company and Craig declared the demonstration an act “reeking of anti-Semitism.”

Now this seems a bit odd, not to say nonsensical, as the demo was actually organised by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade a long-standing pressure group who for many years have been protesting against the arms trade – utterly irrespective of the nationality of the arms-maker. In fact mostly CAAT go after our own British “dealers in death”.

So maybe, just maybe, it has less to do with Craig’s concerns about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party more to do with the fact that back in February our boy Craig was funded to the tune of £2,000 by Conservative Friends of Israel Ltd to go on a “fact finding” trip to Israel.

What do you reckon?

www.thanetwatch.wordpress.com

 

 

OLD MOLE’S GUESSING GAMES

 

There are two big guessing games preoccupying folks at the Labour Party Conference currently.

Game One: How much Jeremy have won by if all those members hadn’t been so unfairly  purged from the party just to put the mockers on him?

Moley’s enquiries among those that know reveal that the most conservative estimate is 70% (as opposed to the 61% he actually got).

Game Two: What reason will the plotters agin Corby give for the next coup – the one in January?

Despite my best endeavours can’t get a consensus on that yet, so I’ll hand it over to you. Send your suggestions please to inmeds@yahoo.co.uk – the winner gets a limited edition pair of signed Owen Smith socks.

http://www.momentumthanet.org.uk

 

 

 

 

OLD MOLE – JEREMY WAS RIGHT!

Old Mole is en route for the Labour Party Conference when the news comes through Jeremy has won.

I can’t believe it. All my secret sources said Jem was going to lose and that his rumoured lead was all disinformation put out by the Owenites.

But what can I say but  … oops?

Meanwhile, as if by an omen, I finds himself on a train to Liverpool from Wales  ram-jammed with people. Every seat is taken, every standing space is taken – no room even to sit on the floor by a toilet! 

The cause I discover is that an earlier train has been cancelled because the company “doesn’t have enough train drivers.”  And talking to regular passengers who are extremely fed up I discover this is a regular occurrence.

So the train company Arriva is blatantly saving on its costs by providing a much worse service. Who’d have thought?

Whatever Richard “Beady” Branson says, you were right, Jeremy. Our trains need a shake up. Keep working on those nationalisation plans!  

MOMENTUM THANET: THE FIGHT GOES ON

Norman Thomas, chair of Corbyn support group, Momentum Thanet, argues that although Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected Labour Party leader, there is no time to pause or celebrate.

Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election as leader of the Labour Party is an historic victory both for the left in particular and for democracy as a whole.

Despite wholesale vilification in the mainstream media, despite blistering opposition from famous figures including Neil Kinnock, Tony Blair and J K Rowling, and despite – worst of all – a barrage of dirty tricks, smear tactics and bureaucratic mantraps laid by Jeremy’s own party, the Corbynistas have got their choice, the majority have had their way and a new and exciting path has been opened up in the moribund jungle of British politics.

But there’s no time for breath or celebration – the fight must go on.

Here’s why. In Thanet we have two Tory MPs and a UKIP-controlled council: people armed with the most backward, repressive and prejudiced policies of any politicians in the land.  With them in charge austerity will continue, inequality will grow and prejudice will flourish.

But this apparent domination of our community by the right is deceptive.

It has come about because of apathy and cynicism, the inevitable byproducts of a long-term depressed and impoverished local economy.  It has come about because of the readiness of individuals – without any rational basis for their beliefs – to blame immigrants for their economic ills.  It has come about because generations of our residents have no belief or trust – or interest – in their politicians. They don’t “do” politics any more.

But how do we fight this state of affairs?

Well, not by making promises. Thanet has had its fill of political hot air.

The only way forward is to get out into our community and actually DO THINGS – things which will make a real difference to people’s lives.

This is the point of Momentum Thanet’s “Another Thanet Is Possible” campaign which Jeremy Corbyn helped us launch in the Great Ramsgate Rally at the beginning of September. The aim of the campaign is to take on the big issues we face, including housing, jobs, health and education. We will gather hard evidence and data on these topics, we will enlist the aid of people nationally and locally and we will start CHANGING THINGS NOW.

When Jeremy Corbyn spoke at the Great Ramsgate Rally he inspired many. But one or two accused him of “preaching pie in the sky.” It’s the job of Momentum and all who supported Jeremy in his campaign to get to work and turn his pie in the sky into real food on the table for all.

NORMAN THOMAS, CHAIR, MOMENTUM THANET

 

 

 

 

COMPLAINT LODGED ABOUT MP OVER ANTI-SEMITISM ALLEGATION

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards about South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay.

The complaint has been made by Christine Tongue, a writer for the Watch, who says Mr Mackinlay has put her in fear for her personal safety.

Christine, from Broadstairs, said: “My own MP has made the most damaging allegations about me without giving me a chance to respond or defend myself in any way. And it has exposed me to danger of personal attack.”

The basis of Christine’s complaint is that on Friday 2 September Mr Mackinlay published an unfounded allegation of anti-Semitism against her on social media. He made the allegation in a letter to Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, which Mr Mackinlay then tweeted to his followers.

Christine, who is a well-known member of the Corbyn-supporting Momentum Thanet group, said: “In his letter Mr Mackinlay warned Mr Corbyn that I am an “example of ant-Semitism” and called on the Labour leader to ban me from his rally in Ramsgate which was due to take place the next day.

“He gave me no chance to defend myself against or respond to this utterly baseless and false charge before publishing it. I am in no way anti-Semitic and I am absolutely horrified to be attacked in this way.”

Christine said that the only evidence of her “anti-Semitism” Mr Mackinlay cited was a link she posted on her Facebook page to an article by the veteran Jewish US academic and author, Norman Finkelstein.

Christine said: “Far from being anti-Semitic, Mr Finkelstein himself is Jewish and his mother and father were survivors of the Holocaust.”

“Mr Mackinlay has published personal data on me in which, to my horror, he included my photo,” Christine said. “This means I am now exposed to the danger of physical attack by people who believe the terrible things he has written about me.”

Christine said: “Despite my repeated requests, Mr Mackinlay has refused to meet or talk to me to explain his allegations. He has also failed to explain why he picked on me for this attack.”

“Had he simply written a private letter to Jeremy Corbyn this might have shown that Mr Mackinlay’s concern was for the public good. But by tweeting it to the world at large he has gone far beyond what could be expected of a responsible MP.

“What he wanted, it appears, was to publically inflict as much damage as he could on me from a position of huge power and prestige, without care or regard for the impact these actions might have on me, a disabled, old age pensioner. This would be an outrageous and intolerable act by anyone – let alone my own MP.”

JEREMY CORBYN IN RAMSGATE