This post is a type of part two following on from Tuesday's "Since when was the word TRAITOR so abusive." The above letter was received by the person in Tuesday's story; a Labour Party member who was recently suspended from the party for a handful of angry tweets. Tweets which on the grand scale of abuse would probably be laughed out of court. No swearing, no nastiness and no threats. For me it is ironic that in so many ways Labour's NEC and General Secretary Iain McNicol are acting on a par with the management of American owned supermarket chain Asda. How so I hear you say? Well this is how. When an Asda colleague faced disciplinary action for a silly angry comment on Facebook, with no names but obvious hints that Asda was the target, he was hauled over the coals. As an older man months away from retirement he opted to act with his feet and walked. That person was and still is my husband. But among those hauled over the coals for his indiscretion, calling ASDA "shite factory" and the "head man" useless following a crappy night shift, was an older female colleague who dared to LIKE his post. She in fact was given "counselling" for her sins. So how is the Labour party different? The answer is that at this time it is not. People choose to join the Labour Party and pay for the privilege. They do so for many reasons. They use social media in their own time and what they choose to share and re-share should be down to them. If they break the law or are truly abusive that is a different matter. But if party members share another person's social media comment what then? Will the Labour Party like Asda offer counselling? Will they exclude a member for retweeting? The following was retweeted by our source and forms part of the suspension process in this case: ŷStrong stuff that makes your blood boil? Banter that will be a step too far for some? Hilarious? Silliness or what?
Opinion: aged 64 perhaps I am out of touch. Certainly some of those currently suspended from the Labour Party are my age or older. They have seen life and some. They know first hand real trials and tribulations. They are real adults living in the real world. Do the Labour Party want to be elected or not? Do they only want to be elected if they have removed Jeremy Corbyn? Do they think they can disrespect and or remove members and those same people will vote for them? I am increasingly at a loss as to WTF is going on and why. Do they think this constant "bad news week" will do the party's image any good? Will they say well you should not share it online? Too that I would have to say "on yer bike." Tough working-class people do not always swear but some do. Some are better educated than others. We the people are far from "champagne socialists." But as a point of fact many of those in Labour attacking Corbyn as some sort of "champagne socialist" are far from working class. But it is a convenient tool like allegations of perceived abuse. In much the same way unnamed sources within the Labour Party feed the right-wing mainstream media negative articles those accused and suspended are finding it increasingly difficult to get information from the NEC and are sharing their stories with people like me. Letters and documents legally requesting information are arriving with redactions. What have they to hide? Who is trying to hide? Let's face it any person can screenshot an angry tweet or comment, send it off to the dreadfully named Compliance Unit of the Labour party and have any person suspended. Jeremy Corbyn may not do personal but many ordinary people do. We lash out on social media often following provocation. The above letter received by our source is not the first. As a point of fact that person tells me "they just asked me to appeal. I've already appealed 3 times what do they want? Blood" and perhaps they do; their "pound of flesh" to quote Shakespeare but that is not a politically correct saying these days. Many things about all of this make me angry. As yet I am not directly affected but we lefties traditionally care for and about each other. Seeing the Labour Party act much like Asda chastising employees is more than worrying though. It is a bloody disgrace. OK now do your worst Mr McNicol. Related: Free speech ASDA or lack of it - http://www.wherebuttheuk.com/uk-news/free-speech-and-asda-or-the-lack-of-it
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In the run up to the Labour leadership election 2016 a series of party members where suspended from the Labour party.
Reasons were at times vague and many people smelled at least on big fat rat. For most their problems stemmed from activity on social media. For many it also appeared to be a McCarthy style witchunt with Jeremy Corbyn supporters targeted. If that was the case were or are Corbyn supporters excessively abusive online? Just where is the line between banter and abusive interaction online? If you are active online and drop by political forums, especially on Facebook, you may have already experienced abuse of some sort. It could be simple school yard type name calling or something more serious. It could also be by way of a "troll", possibly of the paid kind, and aimed at getting you to respond angrily. It is then as simple as them copying your response and sending it off to the Labour Party validation team. Initially this writer and Labour Party member was determined she would not stoop to that level but after too many online friends were removed from the party, perhaps temporarily, but all without due democratic process, it was a case of why not? I posted a series of reports which featured some high flying abusers in the Labour Party followed up by open letters to the validation team. Councillor John Ferret was one and he quit Labour recently. Did he jump before he was pushed? Who knows and in his case who cares. He has posted vile stuff on Twitter since Corbyn was first elected September 2015 egged on and supported by some MPs and he continues to do so. But here is the thing. A few things about the so-called #LabourPurge2 are worth noting:
One friend today has received details of five comments made on Twitter that used the word traitor. One was actually during an interaction with Jo Cox who was murdered in June of this year. But and there is a big BUT. No expletives were used, no nastiness either, but pure and simple anger in response to a lack of support for party leader Jeremy Corbyn. A party member, an ordinary retired person who responded angrily as Labour Party MPs who opposed and still oppose Corbyn closed ranks. TRAITOR. Traitor was one word some had warned would be off limits. However such ridiculous infringement of an adult's use of social media would act as a red rag to a bull in many cases. In truth for some it would become a fight for freedom of expression. Some of those suspended refused to toe a party line if that meant a curb of freedom of expression and can you blame them? There was a time the Labour Party would have supported Evelyn Beatrice Hall who wrote the phrase: ""I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" as an illustration of Voltaire's beliefs. Hall's quotation is often cited to describe the principle of freedom of speech." Social media at times is anything but social. It sometimes is more like anti-social media but how you choose to spend your free time is up to you as long as you do not break the law. Since when has the word TRAITOR broken any laws? I can think of far worse name calling, have seen it and experienced it in fact. There is always the block button or the police if abuse is actual real abuse not simply silly name calling. Remember some words hurt as they are close to the truth. For many Corbyn supporters those who plotted from day one to undermine and then remove him from office are traitors pure and simple. They feel they have been betrayed by those who vowed to support whoever was elected leader. So a natural choice of word is traitor. As for the Jo Cox comment hindsight is a wonderful thing. At the time my friend commented to Jo Cox "traitor" no person could have guessed what was to follow - the murder of Jo Cox. I have my own theories on #LabourPurge2 and I am sure you do too. Feel free to share your opinions in the comments section but remember the thought police may be watching. When I used that phrase in the Labour Party Forum on Facebook months ago I was ridiculed but hey I am a big girl and can take it. Sadly however it seems that was not such a silly notion after all. Note: The "traitor" person becomes my third online buddy to quit the Labour Party rather than face a foolish unnecessary investigation. This time though the person's partner is quitting the party too. Four Corbyn supporters gone but at what price? Four decent law abiding individuals who are valuable members of society. I presume the Labour Party will not want their votes come election time then? About that word Blairite. |
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The next General Election in the UK may not be scheduled any time soon but the British political landscape is changing. With that in mind this blog will concentrate on the political scene but with a left wing perspective. Opinion pieces and news will bring you the stories that the MSM prefer to ignore. Archives
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