As many media sources note this morning:
One Labour Party source told The Times the MPs had been suspended for “persistent knobheadery".
Don't get me wrong: I am aware that politicians use inappropriate language, probably a lot more often than some on the BBC do, but this is a term I would most definitely not use.
Why? I really do not think a reference to genitalia, even in slang, is appropriate when discussing the reasons why someone has been suspended from Labour.
Nor do I think that this accusation is true. The slang phrase refers to someone who is a 'stupid or contemptible man' according to the Oxford dictionary. These people are niether.
I also think the term sexist, especially when applied to a woman, as it has been here.
And frankly, it's just vulgar, lazy and suggestive of a lack of critical thinking, whilst also being indicative of vindictive behaviour when used in this way.
Labour is really doing its very best to come out of this as badly as possible, it seems.
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Yesterday the news was utterly dominated by the Afghanistan data leak scandal. Labour could have just got on with governing without having attention drawn to how badly they’re doing it but self-proclaimed “Hard bastard” Starmer thought to himself “You know what would be good right now? To publicly punish those who forced us to do the right thing. That’s a great idea”.
So much for sensible adults in the room.
Yeah PolJoe was on this story almost as soon as it happened and I genuinely thought the use of the word knobheadery was a mistake. Clearly it isn’t and Labour is showing us all how devoid of critical thinking and manners they truly are.
I don’t particularly object to the fact that knobhead is an insult derived with reference to male genitalia, I object to the fact that it is such a puerile insult used to attack people who have rebelled against the labour leadership on a serious point of principle.
What does it say about the person using it?
Our Dear Leader Keir Starmer has decided it is time to stamp his “boot on the neck” of any MP’s guilty of “knobheadery”.
What a tribute to his strength and single minded determination to Make Britain Great Again.
The recent coarsening of political rhetoric from a governing party trying to control its opponents reminds me of something – so does this –
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/17/armed-police-threatened-to-arrest-kent-protester-for-holding-palestinian-flag
“Wir gleiten schnell in den Faschismus ab.”
Perhaps its time for a new political musical:
“Springtime for Starmer”?
His donors could buy him some round metal framed specs to go with his shiny new jackboots, and Rachel’s donors can buy her some jodphurs.
Perhaps we should send MacSweeney a copy of Leni Riefenstahl’s film “Triumph des Willens” (1935) to help him design the PM’s next patriotic broadcast to an adoring nation?
Labour probably think that kind of language goes down well with Reform voters.
Well one of the suspended MP’s Rachael Maskell was a signator to a letter sent to Ofwat by a total of forty MP’s five months ago calling for Thames Water to be put into Special Measures. George Monbiot’s article in today’s Guardian states very clearly that the Starmer government’s refusal to renationalise water is putting private capital’s interests before that of the nation. This is coming as close to an accusation of corruption as anyone is in a position to currently state!
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/31/mps-demand-ofwat-puts-thames-water-special-measures
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/17/water-bills-filthy-rivers-drought-water-crisis#comments
George is right
I agree entirely, Richard.
Yesterday evening, during a discussion of these matters on the ITN Evening News, Robert Peston made the observation that the operation of this government can give the appearance of an episode of The Thick Of It.
I think that view sums them up perfectly.
Nearly half a century in the Labour Party taught me that misogynist and homophobic language, as well as expletive-laden personal attacks, were the norm for many with power in the hierarchy.
Don’t forget anti-Catholic prejudice in many old style Scottish Labour politicians in Glasgow. (full disclosure, I’m an exiled Weejie from Rangers-supporting Protestant roots)
I agree about the language and lack of critical thinking. Last Saturday I attended Diane Abbott’s talk (re A Woman Like Me) in Buxton; she mentioned the occasion when she stood up 46 times and was ignored (she wondered who had given the instruction) and at the end of that Parliamentary session Starmer went to her and asked her what he could do for her – she replied ‘give me back the whip’ – he walked away without replying. Personally, I admire Diane as she is an MP with principles, and she works for her constituents. She was asked by many if she would stand down in 2024, something that many in the Labour party seemed to want her to do – her words which I repeat – she thought ‘F you’ and did not stand down. She mentioned some of the contentious issues introduced by this Labour government, including WFA and foreign aid, saying that Starmer lacked political experience, only becoming an MP in 2015. Previous to him being the Director of Public Prosecutions (2008 to 2013) he was a barrister – she noted that as such, he was OK as a barrister in chambers (ie a judge, 2 barristers etc = small group), but in court in front of a jury he was not as competent. My own thoughts are that he has poor judgment, and probably thinks as a lawyer rather than as a politician. Is suspending MPs really the answer? I approve of these MPs considering their constituent’s needs – after all, they are representing their constituents and possibly sticking by the labour general election manifesto, much of which has already been abandoned.
And lo and behold – she has now been re-suspended.
The slang of the gang – that’s what that is – the ‘in crowd’, the ‘inner circle’ of the leader, isolated, inward looking and accountable only to others with deep pockets.
To be fair Starmer made it perfectly clear before the election that he would bring authority and discipline to the Party and the Country and this is what that looks like. After all Corbyn was consistently labelled as ‘not a leader’ because he adopted a more democratic approach to politics. Until we can agree what democratic leadership looks like in this country this problem is going to persist.