There was one moment during yesterday‘s speech by Keir Starmer that I have not mentioned in any of the posts I have published on it, so far.
I am not talking about his unfortunate error in referring to Israeli hostages in Gaza as sausages. That was a simple human mistake, and we all make them, and they should then be forgotten.
I am, instead, referring to his disgusting indifference to the protester who heckled him at one point during the speech. When Starmer talked about his supposed concern for children, the heckler in question made the entirely valid observation that he appeared to have no concern for the children of Gaza. For making this comment the person in question was, of course, evicted from the conference, but it was Starmer's reaction that I am interested in.
His off-the-cuff quip was that the person in question obviously had a pass for the Labour 2019 conference, which was the last one when Jeremy Corbyn was in charge.
He added that Labour is not a part of protest now.
Those in the conference hall cheered Starmer.
Those who understand the desperate need for a genuinely compassionate social democratic lpolitical party in the UK that might represent the opinion of many millions of decent people in this country will have groaned in disgust.
Whatever faults Jeremy Corbyn might have had, nobody can say that he did not care for everyone who needed the support of the state, including children wherever they might be.
I can also say from my own personal experience of meeting him, which I have, that I never noted a hint of antisemitism in his behaviour, although I do think that so firm was his conviction that this was unacceptable that he was blind to that prejudice in others.
Corbyn would not, and does not, stand aside and watch the genocide of tens of thousands of innocent people by a neo-fascist Israeli government and say nothing. Starmer still is.
And Starmer might also claim that Labour is no longer a party of protest, but what he fails to understand as a consequence is that it is not, in that case, the Labour Party at all. Without the campaigning zeal that drives both protest and change it is nothing but an agency tasked with maintaining the status quo. In his own description of the Party he now leads, Starmer provides a precise reason for what will be the ultimate and inevitable failure of his premiership.
No doubt, this heckler will have charges bought against him for a breach of the peace, just as the person who interrupted Rachel Reeves on Monday has been charged. That, though, makes a mockery of everything Starmer sought to communicate during his speech.  He said everyone should be heard in this country. He forgot to mention the small print in his terms and conditions for doing so, which state that as far as he is concerned that means that everyone will be heard so long as they agree with Starmer.
Starmer's was the action of someone with no faith in democracy and no faith in people's right to disagree. That might make him typical of the Single Transferable Party that governs this country, but it sets him apart from almost all Labour traditions. The organisation he leads is nothing that looks like a Labour Party. We need one of those again.
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When you live in a bubble all you see is your own reflection and all you hear is your own voice and the echo of the sycophants sharing your bubble.
Reeves and Starmer’s reaction to hecklers reminds me of how Humza Yousaf responded to a “heckler” at Caird Hall, Dundee, when he interrupted his speech and went down into the audience and spoke with the lady in question.
Al Jazeera this morning was telling us of the growing anger among UN members in New York at the escalation of the conflict.
The UK has not condemned the Israeli action. It is a permanent member of the Security Council and has a role-one of the few remaining compared to the last century. Starmer risks losing it in the long term if he continues to oppose the opinion of most of the world.
Protesting these days is seen as a sign of failure to get with the the programme. If you protest you are not ‘legit’. You have not ‘arrived’. You are not one of the ‘tribe’.
Labour are infected with a culture of contentment brought about by just being in power.
How fortunate they have been benefiting from a mixture of shit previous government and Farage is lost on them as much as thinking about what they should do when they have got power – which they obviously haven’t.
It was all about the Labour party winning an election. That’s it. Winning.
Nothing else.
Here’s the Starmer authoritarian playbook of denigrating and ignoring others at its extreme in other parts of the planet:-
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/08/trump-threatens-jail-adversaries
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/25/china-economist-zhu-hengpeng-disappearance-xi-jinping-wechat-comments
For morality to operate there’s a need to engage in dialogue with those with different views not brush them aside. I note that Starmer has left the Labour Conference on the day the conference might debate the unions’ motion on the Winter Fuel Allowance.
As for Starmer saying the Labour party is a party for the workers. I don’t believe a word of that – he is a proven liar after all – particularly as he denigrates public sector workers at every opportunity and they are a large percentage of the workers he claims his party represents.
This was Mick Lynch, Secretary-General of a large union (RMT) yesterday “And that’s the prize we’ve got to keep our eyes on – that union influence is universal across the United Kingdom, completely universal. The complete organisation of the UK economy by trade unions – that’s our aim.”
I think Mr Lynch will, very shortly, find that the opposite happens. I expect Starmer, Reeves, Streeting, et al, will be all out to reduce the influence of trade unions and I would not be surprised if the unions were banned – proscribed organisations (?) – like so much else these days in our DINO (democracy in name only).
In LINO’s view, the workers are there to serve the City of London, big business, including American Health Care & Insurance companies, and Labour’s billionaire and millionaire backers, not forgetting the Labour leaders who are on an acquisitive quest – for themselves. I very much doubt there will be any return to the influence trade unions had in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. That era is over, under Labour, and Labour has no intention of sharing control with the unions (and they get bigger pay cheques from millionaires and billionaires).
Sorry to be crude but, I think, LINO considers workers to be the Orcs in this relationship. As for the rest of the population – the retired, the ill, the disabled, the unemployed, the children and the elderly, for Starmer & co., they are a drag on their ambitions for these countries and, most importantly, their own aggrandisement.
LINO is shaping up to be much, much worse than even the Tories. We’ve fallen out of the frying pan into the fire.
@ A. C. Bruce
You say “LINO is shaping up to be much, much worse than even the Tories. We’ve fallen out of the frying pan into the fire.”
I have posted on Twitter (cannot abide Musk’s preposterous “X” appellation is”X” meant to mark the spot a tale of pirates?) my revision of that to read.
“This isn’t “out of the frying pan, into the fire”, but “out of the frying pan, into the industrial oven”.”
Here’s the full post from which it is taken:
“I’m finding it increasingly hard to find language to express my contempt and abhorrence for Starmer and his gang, & have already posted this elsewhere.
STARMER WORSE THAN THE TORIES
As feared, Starmer and his cult are going to be WORSE than the Tories,
The Tories suffered a coup by the headbanging ERG – sociopathic monsters – but they were just crooks, so still basically only interested in the dosh!
Starmer’s lot, by contrast, are sociopathic Zionist 1%er fanatics, who carried out a Right Wing Zionist 5th column coup, turning Faux-Labour into a clone of the Likud Party – a Likud-Labour Party, a lethal utterly vile mix.
This isn’t “out of the frying pan, into the fire”, but “out of the frying pan, into the industrial oven”.
And Starmer is in any event an illegitimate PM, since he lied his way into the Leadership, then destroyed the Party.
Progrssives must come together to oppose Faux-Labour’s Neoliberal neo-Fascism, to defeat it in 2029, or hopefully before, to ensure Likud-Labour is Pasockified.”
While I have never been to a party conference, nor am I a member of a party, I was under the impression that the whole point of a party conference is to liaise with the members, to get a feel for policy, and to discuss the direction going forward. I accept that interrupting a speech is maybe not the best time for it, but it does seem like these conferences are turning into grandstanding events and TED talks for the party elite. Why bother showing up at all if you’re not allowed to offer any dissenting opinions?
Excellent question.
“TED talks for the party elite”
Brilliantly put.
In the case of the heckler who interrupted Rachel Reeves, the security guards should be facing assault charges.
I suspect that if that case goes to trial it will be thrown out. I also think he should sue for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution.
I saw a social media post with a video of him being interviewed after his removal. He is a student, he didn’t have a 2019 pass, he wasn’t a Corbynite, but a recent joiner from Starmer’s period as leader who was enthused by Starmer’s earlier commitments. So Starmer couldn’t have got it more wrong in his response to the disruption. He really is going to need to learn to listen – but I doubt he is capable of that.
There is an element of the WFA decision over pensioners that is being missed, and it is increasingly coming out in a Labour narrative that the WFA is not a good way of delivering help to the needy. The argument is being made as a Labour narrative, that the way to pay benefits is by “means testing”. This is the real purpose of the WFA withdrawal – it is the preliminary to the end of universal benefits. The anger within Labour may in part be an instinctive but as yet unarticulated sense that the end of universal benefits is the plan.
All tax is imprecise at the margin. Universal benefits work because they are the cheapest real world way to provide help where it is needed. It is also the only kind of help that securely treats everyone with equal respect, and not as supplicants. Everyone who needs it will receive it, some ‘at the margin’ of need will receive it; and for everyone else who receives it but don’t need it; this is offset automatically if there is a proper progressive tax system, set up to balance the equity of the system. Government knows very well that many proud old people will resist being treated as supplicants late in life. Government knows not all will apply. Not all who would apply if they could will apply, because they will be defeated by the bureaucracy, or have nobody to help them. Means testing is a scheme that can only fail. It is expensive to operate (it needs close bureaucratic oversight at high cost). It does not guarantee to reach those who need it. The only advantage to government is that the money it saves by failing to give it to those who need it, is more than the high cost of means testing. That Labour should do this is grotesque. They can only do it because they intend to make means testing the common currency of paying benefits in the longer term. And that is a recipe for spendthrift, wasteful and total failure. And so the merry-go-round goes on. The only beneficiary of this ididocy is Neoliberalism and its vested interests; the paymasters of both Conservative and Labour.
My argument is that a progressive tax system should cover all the marginal anomalies, like people in receipt of a universal benefit like WFA they “do not need” in the current jargon. Income tax rate should be set to incorporate such anomalies; that is what “progressive” taxation of those with more income is for. The Personal Allowance (PA) is another option. So let us look at how that works. It hasn’t change since 2021. This has a ‘fiscal drag’ effect, but for those taxpayers who are not “in need” of WFA what this means is that for four years the silent effect of a static PA means that they are in effect paying more tax because they have not had the PA adjusted for inflation. Inflation has on one simple measure I applied, over four years 2021-2024 is around 20%. If inflation on this measure had applied to PA, then the tax payable would have been, for illustration around £450 lower. This alone is more than the WFA benefit received. electricity prices, however do follow real changes in inflation. Therefore I think we can say the Government position on “means testing” is unsustainable; and is ruthlessly cyncical.
I accept that my estimates a ‘back of an envelope’ and stand to be corrected; but I think the principle of the argument, if not the detail, is sound.
I think the argument is sound
Policy is rarely based on sound argument though
“Policy is rarely based on sound argument though”.
That may be true, but in that case, in the immortal words of corporal Fraser; “We are doomed”.
“No doubt, this heckler will have charges bought against him for a breach of the peace, just as the person who interrupted Rachel Reeves on Monday has been charged”
The situation wrt law n order is far far worse than can be imagined.
https://netpol.org/2024/09/11/twenty-five-conspiracy-arrests-as-police-disrupt-drax-protest/
Note that the plods raided the people’s homes whilst they were arrested. The days of demos in Starmers/LINO’s UK are over, those taking part in demos are now regarded as enemies of the state & will be treated accordingly in the bright new fascist UK that Starmer is building (the plods have been given a green light to do what they want).
As for Drax, it is supplied with wood chips produced from clear felled forests on the US east coast. Assorted US republicans have complained to me – regularly (I know them via power engineering – & they have a valid point – but look on the bright side – all those subsidies for Drax come from UK serfs & are then paid to US landowners.).
Thanks
Breach of the peace: “when a person reasonably believes harm will be caused, or is likely to be caused, to a person or in his presence to his property, or a person is in fear of being harmed through an assault, affray, riot, unlawful assembly, or some other form of disturbance”.
Peacefully bringing up a subject at conference does not meet this criteria.
On the other hand, actually physical harm was done to the conference delegate.
“I can also say from my own personal experience of meeting him, which I have, that I never noted a hint of antisemitism in his behaviour, although I do think that so firm was his conviction that this was unacceptable that he was blind to that prejudice in others.”
Richard, can you please say what ‘others’ you are referring to. I really hope you did not buy into the fake ‘left antisemitism’ smear. As you are probably aware, the main targets are the Jewish left because they (we) are anti-Zionist.
I also find it odd that you say “I never noted a hint of antisemitism in his behaviour” – do you honestly think there could be something to detect in Corbyn after his anti-racist record over more than 40 years?
I think there were anti-Semites in Labour
There still are
I do not think they were where most were looking, but they were there
That is what I am saying
I do think you should explain who you think Corbyn was blind to as this is a critical issue for the left – the antisemitism smear, which has seen the expulsion of many including some of my Jewish family and friends, is the biggest political smear of my lifetime and is still ongoing and much of it is related to Israel. If Corbyn had become PM there’s a possibility that Gaza 2023 would not have happened.
“I do not think they were where most were looking” – explain please.
I suggest you work out where the anti-Semites in the party are now
If Keir Starmer is so worried about the so-called “financial blackhole” that’s appeared he would have announced in his speech that he has instructed all his MP’s (including himself) to imediately return the full value of the freebies they’ve received to the treasury! That he failed to do so tells you all you need to know about the morality and sincerity of Scammer & Co!
When you think about it Keir Starmer has managed to turn the Labour Party into the Reform Party accountable to no one but the leader! If you like banana republics with little to no morality he’s your man!
Missing In Action for a few months due to holiday in Germany (planned) & then an extended trip to Australia (unplanned) for a joyous reunion with family, I have nonetheless been keeping up with this blog & videos.
Having returned I am attending a bash being run by Jamie Driscoll at Newcastle’s Holiday Inn on Saturday 28/11/24. Headline details from a local newspaper appended here & tickets available from Evenbrite should anyone be interested.
“……Ex-mayor Jamie Driscoll to launch new political organisation to create ‘progressive alliance’
The former North of Tyne mayor is launching a new movement called Majority….”
In advance of this I sent e-mail to Jamie & received a very positive response – below.
On 2024-09-24 15:04, Alan Peyton wrote:
I am attending the bash on Saturday 28th September. Given that a new kind of politics is obviously necessary, I am sure that I will find it interesting, although I have no intention of attaining candidate status – too old for it!
It isn’t however just a new kind of politics that is needed: equally important is that people should understand the truth about how national government finance really works. What we all have to continually endure is abject nonsense about “fiscal rules” that do not in reality exist, the narrative of a “budget black hole” that is exasperatingly stupid, & the insane belief in counter-productive Austerity – not only does this policy not work (demonstrably) but more to the point is that it CANNOT work.
I am attaching two files – I hope that you might consider sending these to your e-mail list. I am not asking you to endorse it (unless you want to) but as stated previously any new political drive for change has to incorporate an understanding the flawed rationale of the current financial modus operandii.
I will bring a handful of copies with me if you don’t mind, but your e-mail list would provide a much more extensive platform for driving awareness & discussion. Number 2 file “govspendtaxv4” should be read first.
Regards
Alan Peyton
Hi Alan,
Thanks for sharing this. I’m fully on board with the notion that the
household budget analogy is nonsense. I wrote chapters on money
creation, fiat currency and Modern Monetary Theory in our 2017 book, The
Way of the Activist. It was a regular topic in the economics reading
groups I ran before becoming Mayor.
In time I’d like us to run a “People’s PPE” to increase the
understanding of these issues. The trick is getting the format right,
so we maximise reach. There’ll definitely be an opportunity for you to
be involved.
I look forward to seeing you on Saturday,
Jamie
A major factor in the reasons Labour are taking the direction they are must be those who are funding them. A great deal of funding has moved to them over the past couple of years. I would like the specifics of who has been supplying the funding and what discussions have been taking place behind closed doors made available to the public. I think some such information is supposed to be divulged by law but far too much is not I am sure.
Too much to hope for I know but this is worth pursuing.
Starmer was a member of the Tri-lateral Commission, whose founder believed that there was too much democracy and it was time to return decisions to “those who knew best”. With the continuing disillusion with politics and politicians, we’re well on the way to democracy-lite.
Further to my submission on Jamie Driscoll’s Majority party inaugural conference at the Holiday Inn, Jesmond Road, Newcastle upon Tyne taking place tomorrow, here’s a resume of what it’s about. I’m keeping what may be humourously described as an open mind. Tickets can be obtained from Evenbrite: the conference is also on ZOOM.
A New Politics Based on Truth
Jamie Driscoll | Published on 26/09/2024
In the Mayoral election campaign, one seven word sentence got more cut through than anything else. “In 5 years, I’ve claimed £0 expenses.”
Last October’s annual ONS survey showed only 12% of Britons trust political parties. That was before the Gaza war crimes. Before the Winter Fuel Allowance. Before ministers told us they need free Taylor Swift tickets to relax, after picking up their £91,366 MP’s salary and £67,505 Ministerial salary. Imagine struggling to get by on £158,851 a year.
So much in Britain could be fixed. We have the know-how to build clean infrastructure. We know how to build warm homes. Treat mental ill health. Train teachers and train drivers and medical staff.
We also have the money. It’s just in the wrong place. We’re paying a fortune to hedge funds that own our utilities, NHS, and outsourced council services. That money could pay for Britain’s renewal.
The book Act Now has the economic modelling that shows this works. The polling showing the majority of Britons want this.
The missing ingredient is political will.
We need a political movement that upholds the Nolan Principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.
There is only one reason to set up a new political party. To win power and change politics.
I don’t even think we need a ‘left-wing’ party. If you put truth first, you have to follow evidence. And if you follow evidence, you will find that austerity doesn’t work. You will find that trickle down doesn’t work.
You’ll find amazing truths, like investing in public transport reduces traffic and makes us more productive. That investing in youth services reduces crime. That secure, affordable housing enables people to take risks to become more educated or start small businesses. That utilities run for public good do more good for the public.
I don’t think wanting an A&E department that sees you in under an hour is left wing. I liked it when we had hanging baskets in our town centres, you know, before austerity. I don’t think that’s a Marxist-Leninist position.
But it will face an onslaught in sections of the media. As Brazilian priest Helder Camera said, “When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why the poor had no food, they called me a communist.”
I’ve been talking to independents MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, and what people want to build is a grassroots coalition.
We have to reach people directly. We have to appeal to the 90% who don’t trust political parties. If you are waiting for a new ‘party’, this is it.
Manifestos will be developed by talking to communities. They’ll also be sense checked by economic modelling. Citizens’ Assemblies make good decisions.
Majority is a project of democratic renewal. It’s based on core values of equality, freedom, and universal human rights. It has a commitment to plurality – that if we debate in good faith, and weigh evidence, we will come to better decisions.
The first task of a new movement is to build trust and create a layer of leaders who truly represent their communities.
Majority will create a space where people can learn and debate politics and economics, policies and values. Where people can practice campaigning skills, writing, and public speaking without the glare of the public arena. It has to be enjoyable – or people will simply drift away.
We’ll support people to get elected, as independents, or part of a progressive alliance. That will start in council elections, building to Mayoral and Parliamentary elections.
It will be built from the ground up, by doing the work, and forging alliances. We’re strong in the North East, and people are coming on board from the Welsh Valleys to the South coast.
This is it. It’s happening. Majority is here and will part of whatever happens next. The door is open. It’s time to join.