If Black Lives Matter to Keir Starmer, why hasn’t he acted against Labour’s racists?
New direction: Labour leader Keir Starmer (right) and deputy Angela Rayner (left) spot Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis at a PLP meeting.
Labour seems slow to comment on anything lately, but these words seem to have struck a raw nerve:
Then deal with the racist staffers in the Labour Party – otherwise, these are just empty words
— The Prole Star (@TheProleStar) June 5, 2020
It’s a good point, well-made. The Labour report that claimed party staff members had deliberately obstructed anti-Semitism investigations in order to make then-leader Jeremy Corbyn seem anti-Semitic himself, and that suggested the same staffers had conspired to prevent Labour from winning the 2017 general election (the 2019 election was not part of its subject matter), includes evidence of anti-black and minority ethnic racism too.
But new party leader Keir Starmer has not lifted a finger to investigate these claims.
Alleged anti-Semites are suspended the instant claims are made against them – true or false – and the allegations are now pursued with a fervour not seen since the Salem witch trials of the 17th century.
But Starmer’s – and Rayner’s – Labour seems to think it fine for staff members to persecute the UK’s first and longest-serving black female MP, who already suffers more than half of all the racist abuse directed at any MPs.
Perhaps this is the reason Labour is allegedly haemorrhaging BAME support, as reported by the Huffington Post:
Labour Party voters are still reeling from the aftermath of a leaked Labour report that has fuelled allegations of anti-Black racism at the heart of the party – and many have told HuffPost UK that they now feel “politically homeless”.
It also did something else that was not on the tin: raised grave concerns of anti-Black racism, otherwise referred to as Afriphobia, which campaigners argue have not been adequately addressed by the party’s leadership.
Labour officials used a string of insults in private WhatsApp groups to describe senior Black MPs and officials including Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler and Clive Lewis, the lengthy document revealed.
For a number of Black voters it meant it was time to part ways with the party.
For many, this scandal is the latest let-down in a long list of concerns around Blackness and the Labour Party such as lack of representation.
Now we see Starmer and Rayner making a token display of support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
This Writer has contributed more with the articles published on This Site about that subject.
Could it be that Labour really has become as racist – under Starmer – as some complained it was under Corbyn?
And do we really have to wait until July, when an inquiry into the Labour report is due to release its findings, for that to become clear?
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They are in opposition. Let’s hear some criticism of the Tories.
The leader of the party is not responsible for either.HR or member disciplinary issues, that is the remit of the NEC, but with you being an ex-member I guess you knew that already when you wrote the above. What point are you trying to make with your unusual choice of photograph.
A satirical one; sorry if it sailed over your head.
As for disciplinary issues, it is well within the rights of the party leader to seek action as required by the party’s rules and codes of conduct, where no such action has taken place.
The greedie ones used the race card when it suits now the blairites are back in power there isn’t any need to unless that person is a true labour person
Labour is dead as by throwing 2019 election, they left BAME to the high Covid19 death rate, as politicians knew Covid19 was already in Europe in November 2019.
BAME people need to now join the NATIONAL HEALTH ACTION party, which has many policies beyond the vital fully public NHS policies, to get medical professionals (many of whom will be BAME) running parliament.
The NHA party offers more social housing, ending Bedroom Tax, more humane benefit (in or out of work), curtailing zero hour contracts, paid carers getting a better deal (so many are BAME), ending benefit sanctions, bringing down rail fares by nationalising train companies, and regulating buses better.
We need a 100 per cent postal election (not run by Idox too close to Tory party) now.
Could BAME people sign and widely share my petition please.
https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-boris-johnson-demand-election-today-vote-only-national-health-action-party-mps-who-are-nhs-doctors-e2203c5b-e58b-4a19-8316-8b4d47e276c7?cs_tk=AkNp_cYt5U3wA_663l4AAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvNBAdLTTBrR4vCfFbGtcrgU%3D&utm_campaign=5234bd331cf549fe86e2ba1a8ee323ac&utm_content=initial_v0_0_1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=recruit_sign_digest&utm_term=cs
Do you ever do research? Or just rely on gossip, conspiracy theories and plain defamation? The occasional fact might be useful. The SWP style rant is now very dated. I’ve no doubt there is racism in the party as elsewhere, but why aren’t the far left invoking the law themselves? Because they’d have to get off their fat, middle class backsides and do something, rather than telling people what the members think?
Hey everybody, here’s Nick Gee. Ridicule at your pleasure.
Of course I do research. I’ve been heavily involved in the Labour Party’s attitude to race for years – since before I was falsely accused of anti-Semitism. I know my subject thoroughly, thank you very much.
You, on the other hand, come across as an ignorant keyboard warrior of the type that darkens every serious political website’s metaphorical door from time to time, shoots his bolt and leaves with an air of having done something useful. Sling your hook and take your trash talk with you.
The words “politically homeless” really struck a cord with me. When made homeless in October last year I at least had hope with Jeremy Corbyn, that died when the hatchet job by the traitors within the party finally bared fruit. Now I am both homeless and politically homeless! What hope is there for people like me now, persecuted for being sick and disabled, persecuted for being homeless and no one to fight in the corner for the likes of me.
Some of us are still doing our best.
There are plenty of options available to black voters. Lib Dems Greens SNP Plaid Cymru, and many more. A new party of the left can further erode support for Labour across the country.
You seem to have missed the fact that some people have loyalty to the ideals and philosophy that made the Labour Party one of the great parties of government in the United Kingdom. Some people aren’t so fickle that they would run off to another gang (with no guarantee they’d be treated any differently there). Some would rather stay and fight for their party.