"I was asked to attend a sham 45-minute online meeting via email just hours before my deselection, with three members of the National Executive Committee–one of whom never put his camera on or said a word–and my fate was decided. More than four years’ work thrown in the bin. My connection to my community brushed aside. My deep and utter commitment dismissed. And the desires of thousands in my constituency disregarded"
Faiza Shaheen
I am pleased for Diane Abbott that Starmer felt he had to capitulate. But it is crystal clear the LP is no longer a home for any one with progressive values, and/or concerned about the plight of Palestinians.
The need to constantly check yourself, and humilating apologies, such as Faiza Shaheen yesterday for criticism of Israeli lobbying, when lobbying is a fact of political life (its not a trope when its a fact), so you're not purged. Why stay? #Labour#ukpolitics
So Diane Abbott is free to go forward as a candidate.
Whatever you think of Diane what a wasted 5 months since December which has done harm to the reputation of a party whose election USP is 'we can't do much more than the other lot but we can do it more compassionately'
Delay was a very bad decision. Unable to read the consequences even worse. Not a good omen if competence is to be a USP.
"For a variety of reasons, I'm pretty sure that if I said that I wanted to be in the Labour Party, I wouldn't be allowed in.
Then I thought, that if I really did want to be in the Labour Party, the best route for me would be to join the Tory Party first, and then announce that I was defecting from the Tories to Labour. I'm pretty sure that would work..."
I see another white male Tory has defected to the Labour Party. Mark Logan, MP for Bolton North East says the Conservative Party isn't the same one he joined 10 years ago. It took him long enough to find out.
Meanwhile, take a look at his voting record, particularly on the environment, immigration and human rights. He's another opportunist weathervane who sees which way the wind is blowing. Perfect for today's Labour Party.
Our comrade #FionaLali just launched a campaign for the coming #ukelection as MP for Stratford and Bow.
As communists we should have no illusions that the problems of the working class can be resolved by parliamentary means. This campaign will be used at every turn to expose the #tory and #labourparty alike as war criminals complicit in British #imperialism.
For healthcare, not warfare!
For books, not bombs!
Kick out the war criminals!
The Labour Party, selecting General Election candidates, should be wary of ignoring the voters of 2019 - 10,295,912 who voted Labour, “for the many, not the few.” The House of Commons arithmetic disguises the fact that more people voted against Conservatives than for them. If the party does not welcome Corbyn or Abbott, how much of a home will it be for the voters it needs? Please don’t throw out the baby with the bath water, the UK needs change! #ukpolitics#labour#KierStarmer#DianeAbbott
"In the case of Diane Abbott, you sense that the #Labour party is staring over a cliff edge. How it deals with Abbott in the next 48 hours will be a defining moment."
Here's the Financial Times interactive model to estimate the UK General Election result in every constituency, using the latest polls OR what you think the result will be.
Today's Guardian briefing focuses on the shabby treatment of Diane Abbott and the latest suspicious purge of leftwingers by Labour, including Lloyd Russell Moyle, Faiza Shaheen and Apsana Begum.
"The way Abbott has been treated by the party.... creates a real problem for Labour and its future relationships with Black communities.
..as someone who was blocked from standing for the Labour party in 2022, I have felt its treatment of her personally. To many Black people, it feels like a mirror of the disrespect we still face on a daily basis"
Maurice Mcleod , anti-racism activist, social commentator and Labour councillor
#GE2024 What have Labour done in their first campaign week? Deselected left-wing (not Israel supporting) candidates!! Diane Abbott (not sure but looks like it), now Doctor Faiza Shaheen, in Chingford, and more. This is appalling. Really angry. #UKPolitics
EDIT: it’s become a bit of a 🧵 because i am so angry. But honestly: everyone should be very angry about this, on Faiza’s behalf and for us all.
#GE2024#UKPolitics Ok this was one among 14 tweets. 14 tweets in 10 years! Listen to Faiza on Newsnight last night. And please join me in being outraged about this. Faiza is a fantastic candidate and person all round. This is deeply wrong. And look at who exactly is being deselected. Really really angry.
“Labour using risible claims of antisemitism to bully and ruin the political fortunes of women of colour is one of the most obnoxious things I've seen in politics. It is using fake
accusations of racism to be racist. Utterly shameful. No self-declared antiracist would tolerate it.”
Faiza Shaheen left wing Labour candidate, suspended today earnt this lead 👇 from years of campaigning in her constituency. She increased Labour's share of the vote n lost by a narrow margin in the last GE. She is local n highly respected. Another working class brown woman with a PHD in economics not respected by the Starmerites.
It's disgraceful that they get rid of her now. I hope she stands as an independent, no one else deserves to win it 4 Labour #ukpolitics