THE REPORT THAT HAS EXPOSED THE ROT IN UK DEMOCRACY AND BLOWN IT WIDE OPEN
Yes, the Covid-19 crisis is THE most important thing right now. But, OBVIOUSLY, this can go in in parallel and that must not be used as an excuse…
Here is my current thinking re these revelations about Labour. I am staying in the party as things stand for the following main reasons.
1. To see a full apology is made to those people who allegedly suffered racist abuse and were potentially denied justice by people because of purely political motives.
2. To see a full apology issued to Jeremy Corbyn and all people affected, including members.
3. I will be holding to account my party and our new Leader. The litmus test for Starmer is how he handles this. We absolutely cannot have unity until the people now proven to have jeopardised our party and Jeremy Corbyn from being in government (he was less than 2500 votes from being PM in 2017), are removed. I do not care what position they held. They must be removed. If that means sacking them, sack them. If there are criminal charges to face, they must face them. If the whip needs to be removed, remove the whip. If peerages need to be removed, we push for them to be removed. If Keir does not act on this, then I and the majority of the membership will not shut up about this. It will go on and on and on until action is taken. So, if you want unity, remove those who have proven without doubt they have betrayed everyone, and denied justice for the victims of racism. To try and frame Jeremy Corbyn. There is no ‘compromise’ here. You are either serious about being transparent and wanting to unify the party, or you are not. There is no middle ground. Equally, if Welsh Labour people are found to be involved, then the aforementioned obviously applies to them (ditto Scottish Labour etc). I repeat, we will not shut up, and so act now. Not a half-ars*d job, either. Oh, and BTW, in case there is any doubt…no, doing little or nothing will not get me and many others to leave. It will just make your life more difficult. You cannot have unity when you have any of this culture remaining.
4. There needs to be an immediate, full investigation that includes ALL this evidence published. No BS ‘not in the parameters of the investigation’ etc. No one linked to any of those accused can be involved in said investigation. Everything must be transparent with regular updates. This investigation clearly has to include the 860 page official document leaked.
5. That 860 page document must immediately be handed to the EHRC to be included as evidence in their investigation.
6. We have NEC elections coming up very soon. We need the membership to stay and vote on the Left slate in full. This is a HUGELY important thing as the NEC is massively influential.
7. Keir must reassure members this cannot & will not happen again and show he is on the correct side if a very visible line that has been drawn. He must do this via internal letters, media appearances and asking, and answering, every conceivable difficult question honestly & transparently.
That’s enough to be getting on with for now. Solidarity with all!
Adam Samuels