The Labour party’s governing body – the National Executive Committee (NEC) – agreed on Friday (1st May) to appoint barrister Martin Forde to chair the investigation, aided by a panel of three experts.
They will include Baroness Wilcox, a former head of the Welsh local government association, former Labour general secretary Lord Larry Whitty, and Baroness Ruth Lister, an emeritus professor of social policy at Loughborough University.
Let us start with Baroness Wilcox.
Do you trust her?
How about this tweet she re tweeted?
It is possible she merely wanted to stimulate debate. Is that what was really on her mind?
How about Lord Larry Whitty?
Paul McGowan: I’m more concerned to see Lord Larry Whitty, sitting on the panel. He is the former Labour general secretary between 1985-1994 who oversaw many of the party reforms implemented by Labour leader Neil Kinnock, including the mass expulsion of left wingers from the party.
Steve Bush: Whitty, whom female Labour staff members had to be warned not to get in the lift alone with?
Also as Skwawbox identified:
Where is the Jewish representation?
‘Astonishingly, a panel meant to investigate allegations that include obstruction of the processing of racism complaints including antisemitism – and comments by staff members described as antisemitic – includes no Jewish person.
A move to include the highly-regarded Labour peer Alf Dubs was blocked by the Labour right on the NEC because he made comments supportive of Jeremy Corbyn during the 2019 general election. The vote to include him was defeated by 18 votes to 16.
So apparently it’s ok to have Corbyn opponents and Starmer supporters on the panel, but not to have a supporter of the Labour leader whose electoral campaigns were undermined by right-wing staff.’
Numerous voices are summed up by:
Lesley Mary Stewart: It needs to be in court , and ALL the culprits , liars and those who were paid by Israel should be in prison , they owe us all Big Time.
Or Dilys Hadley‘s great idea: I’m surprised we can’t take it to court and sue the Labour Party.
When Covid-19 is over and the establishment have stitched democracy up yet again perhaps all those who no longer see the Labour Party as a going concern should use their monthly subscriptions for a better purpose. To unite behind one massive court action and sue all those responsible for their deceit, lies and corruption, both inside and outside of the Labour party.
As Kathleen Bakewell states much better work is now being done outside of the party: ‘Where do we go from here? Here in Northern Ireland we have a real socialist party in People Before Profit. Their councillors have been out distributing food parcels since lockdown began. For now Labour is still getting my membership fee but I’m hanging on by my fingertips and someone is prising them from the ledge one by one.’
The big question is of course ‘should one stay or should one go?’. That is an individual matter. But a Torylite party will serve no one but the rich and powerful.
Overall I agree with Skwawbox. This is going to be yet another establishment whitewash aimed at pacifying wealthy lobbyists whilst screwing democracy. Put gang lords in charge and the outcomes are relatively predictable.
Douglas James
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