John Mann pulls BBC stunt, Ken Livingstone suspended from Labour

Op-ed: OK so first things first. This writer is not racist, sexist, a Nazi sympathiser or an anti-Semite. But using false flags of anti-Semitism is as bad as being an anti-Semite in her opinion. She was one of many who tweeted a range of views and memes during the last Gaza invasion by Israel and stands by that. She is after all supposedly living in a free country and entitled to have opinions and share other opinions at times that she may not agree with.

Watching Labour backbencher John Mann Thursday verbally attack NEC candidate Ken Livingstone conveniently close enough for BBC reporters to film events was uncomfortable viewing.

Once again the BBC Daily Politics featured. Livingstone appeared on the BBCDP and offered some sympathy for Naz Shah and was pounced on by Mann outside of the studio.

But it looks as if Livingstone made the initial comments on LBC and was then invited onto the BBCDP to explain.

Another BBCDP publicity stunt at the expense of the Labour Party.

Livingstone has since been suspended from the Labour Party and Mann faces a reprimand whatever that may be.

An investigation by the Labour Party will follow.

Mr Livingstone was put on the spot by Mann in what looked once again like a carefully crafted BBC stunt.

Of course it warranted first billing on BBC lunchtime news ahead of all other world news Thursday but why? Draw your own conclusions on that one.

All political parties will have some 'ists' somewhere in the pot.

But why is the Labour party suddenly facing such headline making accusations?

Wednesday a Labour MP was suspended and apologised for comments on social media she made in 2014. 2014 was the year that Israel invaded Gaza killing many and social media was used by all sides to share anger and views.

Naz Shah was not an MP in 2014 when she shared a tweet and appeared to add her approval in a comment but it has been enough to draw wide scale mainstream media attention resulting in her suspension from the Labour Party and accusations that she is an anti-Semite.

Mr Livingstone was attacked by Mann for showing some support for Shah; John Mann dramatically for the camera called Livingstone a 'Nazi apologist'.

Ken Livingstone, a former London Mayor and once called Red Ken by the MSM was a thorn in the side of Tony Blair and New Labour. He was removed from the Labour Party but is back in the fold though not widely accepted.

Jeremy Corbyn won the Labour leadership race by a huge mandate but Labour lights that swing to the right are not happy.

Reports of planned coups could simply be right-wing media hype but they seem to have more than a touch of truth to them.

So is the Labour Party now full of anti-Semites or are some in and out of the party spinning a way of attacking and undermining Jeremy Corbyn?

Livingstone has now been suspended from the party but surely John Mann should face a similar fate until investigations are complete? This use and abuse of the BBC is damaging.

Ahead of local elections next week the Tory party is in disarray and Labour could and should do well at the polls.

However with such well publicised spats those wishing to undermine Corbyn even at the expense of election results will be patting each other on the back.

New Labour is dead but some still try to resurrect its corpse and oust Corbyn turning Labour back to another Conservative to centre right wing political party.

Those playing their political games are guaranteeing the Tories electoral success.

Feel free to comment but watch out for Labour's dreadfully named Compliance Unit or perhaps that should be 'thought police'.

My opinion? Follow the money trail.

Guardian
BBC