Graun reckons Brexit has cut Labour membership – but the figures tell a different story
What are they on about? You could forgive Jeremy Corbyn for facepalming in response to The Guardian‘s claim that Brexit and anti-Semitism are pushing people out of his party.
Fake news rears its head at The Guardian again!
The paper is saying unrest over Labour’s stance on Brexit has led to a 10 per cent fall in the party’s membership, with 6,000 leaving each month in the last two months.
But its own story goes on to state that this drop-off is due to “lapsers” – people who joined in the pro-Corbyn surge following the 2017 general election who have allowed their annual membership to lapse.
They do not show up in membership figures until 18 months after they joined / their last renewal because the party gives them time to choose to renew.
Obviously if these people lapsed their memberships six or seven months ago, they weren’t thinking about Labour’s attitude to Brexit in the EU Parliament elections at that time!
For one thing, we didn’t know we would be taking part in that poll.
Ah, but the Graun reckons “several MPs claim scores of local activists have become disillusioned and drifted away, as a result of what they regard as the party’s ambivalent stance on Brexit”.
Would these be Remainer MPs who think Labour should alienate half the UK’s population by joining demands for a new referendum – which may only confirm the mandate for the nation to leave the EU?
No mention is made of their own views on Brexit so the report omits important information. How are readers supposed to make up their own minds on this if they don’t have all the facts?
Also harmful is the claim that Labour’s attitude to claims of anti-Semitism in the party is turning members away – although this is more nuanced than mainstream rags like the Graun are reporting.
People aren’t merely dismayed that the party may be “institutionally anti-Semitic” as The Guardian (and others) has claimed.
They are also angry that the Labour leadership has not defended itself – and its members – against false accusations but has tried to find excuses to dismiss high-profile members facing them.
So while Labour’s membership has fallen – as is usual in the middle of a Parliamentary term, let’s not forget – the Graun is not being straight over the reasons.
My advice: Don’t take this nonsense at face value. Do your own research. Think for yourself.
Source: Labour membership falls 10% amid unrest over Brexit stance | Politics | The Guardian
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Sloppy journalism? Or intentionally biased and misleading?
Having had my PIP stopped a few months ago due to austerity, I had to leave the party due to being unable to meet all my commitments. Have just had it reinstated, so just rejoined the party. With Corbyn at the helm, I believe we have our best chance of a good future. I might not agree with him on some things, but heck, he is the first leader in some time to really care about everyone.
One reason for leaving that you won’t see in the Guardian as it doesn’t fit the narrative; this is my resignation letter from mid – May that was hastened by a retentions call and an email headed ‘HOW TO RESIGN’ (all caps):
I cancelled my direct debit on the suspension of Chris Williamson, and the loss of Neil Ploughman made my decision final. The treatment of Mr Ploughman hit home because he is now my local (Independent) councillor. It showed me what would have happened had I truly committed to the Party, worked for years to become a candidate and said what I truly believed when asked: I would have been the headline news, dumped instantly into ruin and disgrace. I simply don’t feel safe representing you and so cannot support you with more than my vote.
I come from a Labour voting family. I will note vote Labour because of the Brexit stance from Corbyn. There are millions of remainers, insultingly called remoaners, like me who also will not vote Labour and no doubt have not renewed their subscription. Not many people will pick up a pen and cancel a subscription, but they will not renew. So how many of the “lapses” are in that category?
I will not be supporting Labour or voting Labour until the party commits to a second referendum and opposes Brexit.