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: The blistering attacks against Jeremy Corbyn continue this time with Lord Alan Sugar leading the charge.

With such a short time left before local elections in May undermining the Labour leadership and spearheading a leadership coup seems the prime objective.

The attitude shown toward Jeremy Corbyn by some highlights that people like Sugar will never accept him as party leader.

Sugar quit Labour when Ed Miliband was party leader over alleged anti-business politics.

Like many on the rich side of life they do not want a Labour Party that even inches over to the left.

So it is no surprise that he attacks Labour with Mr Corbyn at the helm.

Sadly he and other dissenters have a loud voice in the mainstream media in effect manipulating the electorate.

This time Sugar is voicing his concerns over the upcoming election for mayor of London.

He has attacked Labour candidate Sadiq Khan presumably preferring fat cat Tory candidate Zac Goldsmith.

Sugar may claim to be a non-affiliated Peer these days but he is a Conservative in all but name or maybe his only affiliation is Alan Sugar?

Either way the big winner from mainstream media attacks on the Corbyn leadership is the Tory government. The big loser is 'we the people'.

The Jewish News reports "The billionaire businessman accused Mr Khan of being personally responsible for wrecking the Labour Party as Lord Sugar branded the City Hall favourite and Jeremy Corbyn the “Laurel and Hardy” of politics. Lord Sugar, who quit Labour to become a non-affiliated peer in protest at what he called its anti-business stance under Ed Miliband, warned Mr Khan would be a disaster for London if he wins the May 5 showdown with Tory Zac Goldsmith."

Sugar was writing in Murdoch's Sunday Times and the Jewish News was quick to follow on.

They posted a piece damning Khan, Ed Miliband and Corbyn claiming "labour now welcomes anti-Semites and terrorist sympathisers to its ranks, the TV star warned."

It is a hate filled piece but if you are a Labour Party member or supporter be careful how you respond.

Those with their own agenda are quick to shout anti-Semitism.

It seems it is fine to call those of the left of Labour the 'hard' left with the obvious connotations but not to call those from the Blairite camp attacking the Corbyn leadership ' bitterites'.

And of course the Tories love and welcome Sugar's distraction coming at a time when that party is split over Europe and not fit for government.

Sugar is quoted as saying “Under Corbyn, the lunatics have truly taken over the asylum" which is divisive and biased.

Those on the left will simply explain they are turning the Labour party back to its roots and changing it from a second class Tory party to a real party of the people.

Sadiq Khan is from the Muslim faith and Alan Sugar the Jewish faith-that should not be relevant but these days it is.

Last week David Cameron used parliamentary privilege to launch an attack on Khan and as always he uses the mainstream media as a drip feed.

Guess he will be sending Sugar a thank you note then.

Jewish News
Cameron called racist but allowed free rein by Bercow