Op-ed: If you are British or have a vote in the UK EU In / or referendum there is a fair chance you are sick to the back teeth with scaremongers, threats and downright lies.

Both the in and the out camps have been playing fast and loose with the truth.

The fact is no person has the benefit of a fully working crystal ball and what happens should we stay or leave is open to debate.

Maintaining the status quo could be the best option if you are one of those "better the devil we know" types of vote.

If you have been turned off the European Union over successive years and bad news stories you may believe it cannot get much worse if we skid addle.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is between a rock and a hard place on many matters and that includes the EU and the referendum.

Some party members and his own MPs simply want him gone and fast and they are prepared to sacrifice our futures and future elections for that end.

Saturday the Daily Mirror posted a piece titled” Jeremy Corbyn angers Labour MPs AGAIN by 'hijacking' appeal for unity over EU referendum" which begins "The Labour leader has been under fire over his 'lukewarm' campaigning on the EU issue and his latest meddling has further alienated his own MPs."

Note the word meddling!

That is a report from the Daily Mirror a left wing supporting publication at this time. It is not truly a Corbyn supporting publication though.

That Mirror piece says:

Part of the problem appears to be that Labour officials and MPs are not used to a man with principles leading the party; a man who is a stickler for his beliefs.

Then there is the fact that many in the PLP, parliamentary Labour Party neither wanted nor support Mr Corbyn.

The mainstream media has been quick to post damning reports on Corbyn in part as they get plenty of eyeballs and make money but in some cases as they prefer a watered down Tory Party in opposition rather than a true Labour Party.

Labour MPs should consider blaming the Tory Party for the current EU referendum mess.

UK PM David Cameron opted to allow his party to split over Europe; it was the only way to keep them in government.

But both sides have said a great deal in anger that will be hard to ignore post the referendum June 23.

The Tory Party is not just fractured it is collapsing.

The MSM is pushing the two Tory campaigns, leave and stay and by and large ignoring the Labour Party, Lib Dems, Greens and others.

So let the Tories get on with it.

It is there referendum; Cameron promised it to win the GE2015 and it worked although there are allegations of Tory election overspending which is a criminal offence.

Whichever way Mr Corbyn jumps as he tries to remain true to those who elected him party leader and himself he will be castigated.

You can never please them all and in many ways Jeremy Corbyn cannot please many of them!

Op-ed: Thursday this blogger will be out voting in local council and PCC elections. Paula Baxter, Labour, a local woman who knows and understands the many challenges voters face on a daily basis will get my vote in Boothferry Hull Ward. Humberside PCC candidate Keith Hunter, Labour, will also be my choice.

In 2016 local council and PCC elections are more important than ever to Labour voters.

The Conservative party is tearing itself apart over the upcoming in / out EU referendum but unless you look closely you may miss that; the mainstream right-wing section of the media is concentrating on Labour party woes which are part of a Tory smear campaign.

So first the Tories who are:

• ​failing on the economy
• fighting each other over Europe
• looking at a new party leader any time soon
• unfairly penalising Labour councils financially so they can prop up traditional Tory areas; in effect making poorer people even poorer and buying votes
• facing possible criminal charges over allegations of election fraud in 2015
• making U Turns on matters such as the TU Bill
• looking at boundary changes to help them win future elections
• are unable to resolve the junior doctor's dispute
• showing themselves to be loud mouthed buffoons in the House of Commons simply shouting loudest but one lie after another
• failing on immigration
• failing on policing
• failing full stop

So if you live in Hull it is fair to say that the Tories have little to offer you.

But when they are on the ropes the so-called Nasty Party, the Tories, run true to form.

In the House of Commons Thursday Chris Grayling, Tory and Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons since 2015, used and abused parliamentary privilege.

He made vague allegations against Labour's Humberside PCC candidate Keith Hunter.

The Yorkshire Post reported Thursday "Mr Grayling was responding to a question in the Commons today from Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy over whether former police officers standing to become PCCs should be forced to make public their service records.The Leader of the Commons responded: “I am aware of allegations about the Labour PCC candidate in Humberside. “If the stories alleged about that candidate are true, he is unfit for public office, and it is a matter of public interest that the truth should be known before election day."”

So there the 'allegation' sits festering in the air ahead of the election.

Andrew Percy later tried distancing himself from Grayling's naming and news channels reported Thursday night that Grayling's office had not responded to requests for comment.

​He has still not responded.

Sunday the affair was mentioned on the BBC morning political shows along with the John Mann and Ken Livingstone row that has been grabbing headlines since Thursday.

Helped along by backstabbers within the party, those wanting to oust Jeremy Corbyn as leader, the right-wing is having a field day; and that includes the right-wing of Labour.

As I type BBC lunchtime News again has Jeremy Corbyn, John Mann and Ken Livingstone as the lead story this time with London Mayor candidate Sadiq Khan thrown in for good measure.

The top billing spot should tell you all you need to know; it is a smear campaign pure and simple.

In Humberside the current PCC and up for re-election is Tory Matthew Groves.

Mr Hunter has accused Groves of failing in the role he has held since 2012. Grayling and his colleagues have a vested interest in ensuring Groves is re-elected and follows the party line on policing.

And Sunday the smear hangs in the air possibly affecting how some people will vote.

If you are a Labour supporter in Humberside voting locally has never been so important.

Tory and Ukip voters will be out in force and we must follow suit.

If you support Jeremy Corbyn as Labour party leader ignore the hype, smears, right-wing media manipulation and backstabbers in the party and send a message to the Parliamentary Labour Party and the Tories.

Labour often lose out to voter apathy but not this time if you play your part.

PCCs are a fairly new and Tory concept. But like it or lump it they are here to stay at least for the foreseeable future.

Thursday May 5 get out and vote and make that vote count.

http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/how-we-work
​http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/grayling-raises-labour-candidate-allegations-1-7882517
​http://www.apccs.police.uk/role-of-the-pcc/

Op-ed: It is Easter Sunday and if you are an active Christian you will be celebrating the idea that Jesus has risen. If you are instead or also a Jeremy Corbyn supporter in the UK you may think that Judas Iscariot has been cloned and his clones are sitting pretty in the Labour party and feeding various right-wing Rupert Murdoch publications news of a future Labour Party coup by backbenchers.

Parliament is in recess with PM David Cameron sunning himself in Lanzarote; yes if you fell for his Easter message which appears to have been given at home think again.

So this latest batch of offensive Labour attacks appears to be political opportunism gone mad.

Are they megalomaniacs or on a Labour party suicide mission? And remember these vile and very public attacks are from Labour party MPs.

But do for example any of the three in the image above think that such disloyalty will improve Labour's chances at the polls? If they do they are delusional.

We are weeks away from local elections and the EU in/out referendum and Mr Corbyn, Labour party leader, has been doing well but not if you listen to in-party backstabbers who want Labour to be their idea of the party.

Yes their way or the highway.

They continue to set Corbyn up to fail while putting their hands out for nice little earners; along the way they waste too much time backstabbing.

Easter then we have the well-known Tory rag and some would say publication that is not fit to be toilet paper posting "Labour Backbenchers call to oust Jeremy Corbyn in leadership coup."
​
Murdoch's other end of the toilet paper spectrum, the Times, followed suit.

In the piece in the Sun Ms Smith is even quoted as attacking Corbyn for attending the British Kebab Awards; perhaps she would prefer him to attend arms fairs like others involved in the alleged future coup?

Will Ms Smith share her diary with us for perusal so we can decide what is suitable for her and what is not?

As we all know with friends like these who needs enemies?

If the Sun and the Times are simply using poetic licence to craft a story out of spin and propaganda we will happily share the truth.

Last week IPSO forced the Sun to publish a retraction after a damning front page which could have incited Muslim hatred; sadly the weak and ineffective British press regulator IPSO did not manage to get the apology on the Sun's front cover. The story was posted late November and three months later a half-ass apology is not fit for purpose.

But it is no good blaming the right-wing media when you have a website run by a section of the Labour party posting the following "UK could be destined for a permanent Tory government Labour MP warns."

That post on the Labour list is yet more tosh from a Blairite or as John Prescott would say a Bitterite.

Tory election campaigns have heavy financial support but they are now also being helped along by a series of backstabbing Labour politicians who claim to have our best interests at heart.

Now why do we not believe them?

More:
Bitterite John Woodcock backstabber without a cause
Labour listgate but Tories look the buffoons

At the Independent - John Prescott says some 'bitter' Blairites are trying to sabotage Labour's election chances

Op-ed: This writer has a good socialist heart often arguing for others when it will not make a halfpenny of difference personally. That in many ways is how I see the Labour party; a fair and just political organisation not founded on personal wealth or greed or a desire to get rich and just benefit a few.

No university education for me; in some ways a series of hard knocks in my younger years; a graduate of life.

But just because I am now aged 64 does not mean I do not care about the young or the next generation. Contrary to popular opinion not all pensioners vote Tory.

It would be a poor socialist who no longer cared because it no longer affected them.

So to me that is socialism in simple terms.

But if that is the Labour Party how come a group of unnamed Labour MPS are feeding the right wing media a series of divisive and nasty snippets of gossip?

Supporters of Mr Corbyn and his shadow Chancellor John McDonnell have been fighting hard to support the Labour party which in turn keeps these same MPs in a good standard of living.

Now either the MSM are using political licence or pure lies or someone or some MPS are playing the backstabbing card.

When last week we posted an Open letter to Chuka Umunna and his team after a Guardian report which appeared again to show backstabbers working within the party we hoped that would be our 'last post' in every sense.

That letter still needs a response.

But in a short time it garnered a huge number of signatures highlighting that many people in the party, Labour voters and floating voters are sick and tired of the backbench games.

If the MSM is to be believed those leading the charge against Corbyn and McDonnell include some politicians who dropped out of the leadership race last year for their own reasons or preferred the backbenches and being a foot soldier rather than a commander; it includes others who are keen to get their backsides on the front benches; and it also includes some who refused to work alongside Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.

If they are leading by example little wonder the MSM is having a field day.

And the knock on effect is a Labour party leader undermined time and time again.

If you receive undue criticism at work it is doubtful your standard of work will improve. If you receive helpful criticism and support you could soar.

So Monday the Torygraph aka the Telegraph went for "'Dreadful, dire, laughable': Labour MPs lay into Jeremy Corbyn after he fails to mention Iain Duncan Smith in key speech" after Jeremy Corbyn gave a thoughtful and intelligent speech that did not fall into the Commons theatrics trap. Corbyn has his own style and remember the tortoise and the hare? He who shouts loudest may be heard but may not get the last laugh.

That story has the usual Torygraph drivel but this is worth noting. It says "Jeremy Corbyn was yesterday attacked by his own backbenchers after he failed to mention the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith in his response to a Commons statement by David Cameron. MPs said he lacks the "intellect" and "experience" to think on his feet after he was unable to capitalise on the biggest Tory crisis for 20 years."

So which MPs?

Is that Torygraph piece deliberately misleading? Was it Tory MPs saying he lacked intellect and experience? Or was it his own backbenchers once more talking out of turn?

Politicshome went for "Labour MPs in despair over Jeremy Corbyn performance" but again who is the mole?

According to the Independent three days ago "Jeremy Corbyn allies call for second reshuffle ahead of Labour party conference" so is that what has rattled their cages? This time if the Independent report is accurate it is MPs supporting Mr Corbyn that are making waves.

An internal power struggle especially a public one does the electorate no favours but helps the Tory party out no end.

And having angered Labour supporters wounds will be difficult to heal.

This long time Labour voter, fairly recent party member, is one of many watching and waiting.

Ed Miliband was Labour's sacrificial lamb in 2015. Overpaid MPs did not take any blame for GE2015 but it is never about just one man.

In unity we win and are all powerful in division Labour will be in the doldrums for years and the Tories laughing all the way to the bank.

We need to make a stand against vile stories circulating in the media. We need clarification. Either they are fantasy or we have a double agent or two in the ranks.

Someone should be calling the MSM out and finding who is putting their hand out each month for a nice little parliamentary salary and running to the press wrecking Corbyn's and thus our political future.
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We posted  "Jess Phillips feeds the mainstream media more negativity" three weeks ago and after that continued with "International Womens Day, an open letter to Jess Phillips."

That was written as an earlier email to Phillips got no response. I tweeted that to her and she blocked me declining I guess to comment.

So we know some of those feeding the MSM but we need a clear picture and then the party must act. If it lets down Mr Corbyn, Mr McDonnell and their supporters many will simply walk away and that includes me.

Op-ed: With the lyrics of The Backstabbers by the O'jays seemingly on a loop running through my brain I can only look on in horror as a series of Labour politicians, past and present, appear to feed the right-wing mainstream media a great deal of drivel and a diet of crap.

It could be that the MSM is in some cases making it up as they go along or selectively taking words and sentences out of context but it certainly does not look that way.

So let's take a brief trip along the anti-Jeremy Corbyn hype to nowhere on offer this week.

Jess Phillips MP
The week began with the fallout from a series of articles featuring Jess Phillips. She opted to attack Corbyn almost from day one when he was elected the party's new leader in September 2015; as the year moved on she vowed she would not stab him in the back but rather in the front if he was damaging the Labour party.

Since that time she has continued to seriously damage Labour's chances of election success; the right-wing press has lapped it up and she has enjoyed her 15 minutes of fame but at the expense of those who voted for Mr Corbyn, voters in general, the Labour party and the man himself.

Her assumption that only, as she calls them, £3 affiliates voted for Corbyn as party leader sends out a negative message, is simply not true and in effect spits on Labour party democracy and unity.

In her defence Phillips is relatively young and perhaps politically naive; she is however ambitious and it is difficult not to conclude that her appeals for more women in Labour's top jobs has at least some self-motivation.

Dan Jarvis MP
Ex-paratrooper Dan Jarvis may have been off your radar before this week but it is doubtful he is now. A series of press reports this week included claims that Mr Jarvis was about to stage a Labour coup, or at least do so some time soon.

On March 4 the Guardian reported "Labour donors flock to Dan Jarvis as he renews speculation of a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn with a warning the party must change to win back the voters."

News that a hedge fund manager who also donated to the Labour party under Ed Miliband's leadership has donated £16,800 to Jarvis will not sit well with many Labour supporters.

Hedge fund managers may not quite be as dirty words as bankers and banking system but it is a close.

One report in the Guardian two days ago said "Backbencher [Jarvis] tipped as Corbyn challenger to call for party to be ‘tough on inequality, tough on the causes of inequality’." That was ahead of a keynote speech by Jarvis. He has reportedly been raising money from other former Labour donors.

One day later, and in the Guardian again, a new report begins "Backbencher touted as potential leadership challenger signals concern over current strategy but also criticises Blair’s tactics" as he allegedly tries to position himself away from Blair's New Labour.

Friday remarks by Ken Livingstone, a supporter of Mr Corbyn, have had an angry response; the Daily Mirror opts for "Ken Livingstone has provoked fury by saying a Labour MP accepting a City donation was like "Jimmy Savile fundraising for a children's group" but it is not difficult to understand that analogy.

Who is actually feeding the MSM all of this drivel is not clear. The above report also claims "Rachel Reeves, the former shadow work and pension’s secretary, could be in line for the shadow chancellor role if Jarvis were to win the leadership" in spite of the fact a new party leader was only elected September 12, 2015.

The Kinnocks
Neil Kinnock is claimed by many to have been the great Labour party reformer. He failed to gel with the electorate, was demonised in the press and ultimately was party leader but never Prime Minister. He of all people should know about the need for loyalty but he does not.

Three days ago the Independent reported "Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock warns Jeremy Corbyn he cannot lead if his party [meaning Labour MPs] will not back him" but what about the ordinary man and woman on the street, supporters and party members?

Kinnock's wife went into politics and they are joined by their son Stephen these days.

In February we reported "Why are old Labour heavyweights doing Cameron's EU bidding" after five senior politicians posted an open letter on what they see as the benefits of the UK staying in the EU.
One of the men is a former Labour leader Neil Kinnock who is now backing David Cameron’s new EU deal. But when you post such letters you best make sure your house is in order. Thursday an old story relating to Kinnock and his wife is doing the rounds and it will offer voters cold comfort. A news report in Wales Online that dates back to 2009 but was updated in 2013 has this to say";

Friday we have Kinnock junior, Stephen, telling Wales Online "Questions will have to be asked about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership if Labour fails to hit “ambitious” targets in the May elections."

Kinnock senior, Neil, was leader of the Labour party from 1983-1992.

So how come he was given nine years with poor election results and Corbyn has to shine in eight months and against a backdrop of deceit, backstabbing and undermining?

Like so many Labour backstabbers Kinnock junior's news report came by way of the Huffington Post and a podcast.

"Describing how Mr Corbyn would “get judged” on the results, he said: “The big question is when people look at him do they see somebody that could be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? And I think we will know a large part of the answer to that question following the elections on May 5, and also based on how the Labour party carries itself now through to June 23 and the referendum. “And you know, Jeremy, as any leader, gets judged on performance, gets judged on results.” Unlike your father is the only appropriate reaction to that I guess.

Overall
Open letters are not ideal but when you have well-paid Labour MPs constantly spouting negativity in the MSM such a letter adds a little balance.

Do those regrouping and jockeying for position, including people like Jarvis who not so long ago did not want to stand as party leader, have the best interest of Labour and the electorate at heart or are they shoring up their political careers?

We can include Peter Mandelson, Tony Blair, and a few others in that group.

Because essentially politicians also have a vision of how they see the future and it is not always a selfless vision.

[Stephen Kinnock MP is married to Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who is the prime minister of Denmark]