Labour at it again... anti-Semitism... #II

[Seanm]

Ruminating on it doesn't help, it just cements division within the party. Time to move on. Much better for the comrades to focus on how they are going to win at least one UK GE. With that in mind, do you think the left can get one of its own into No.10 on a manifesto that 'pledges' to implement MMT?

Well, reports like this are generally premised on the idea that investigating a problem, devising solutions and acting on them is actually a good way of improving things in public life. The report is far from a damp squib: it identifies big problems in the party with racism and misogyny, with the weaponisation and hierarchisation of racism and with the factional nature of the bureaucracy. Although it’s beyond the scope of the report, its conclusions regarding the “wholly misleading media representation” of the antisemitism issue - an issue that dominated media coverage of Labour for years - raises big issues about political reporting in the U.K.

The report notes that nothing has been done to address any of the problems it identifies, and offers its own detailed and thoroughgoing recommendations. I’d suggest that the best time to “move on” following this kind of report is after some efforts have been made to learn from it. The traditional time to move on is after a few mea culpas and empty promises, but we haven’t even had those, and the reasons for that are clear: anyone who counts in public life is fine with the racism and everything else, and has no intention of doing anything about it - but they do at least understand that the findings make them look absolutely terrible, and their indifference or approval even worse.

So sure, move on if you like, but there’s a direct relationship between that attitude and the kind of public life we’re enjoying at the moment.

 

[klfrs]

No, you haven't quite got it, have you?
Give it another go. Read that article.

Telling people how to think rarely, if ever, leads to progress.
Try enquiring what people think and why.

 

[ff1d1l]

Telling people how to think rarely, if ever, leads to progress.
Try enquiring what people think and why.

You can lead a horse to water, apparently...

 

[klfrs]

You can lead a horse to water, apparently...

Other clichés are available.

 

[Kirk]

Well, reports like this are generally premised on the idea that investigating a problem, devising solutions and acting on them is actually a good way of improving things in public life. The report is far from a damp squib: it identifies big problems in the party with racism and misogyny, with the weaponisation and hierarchisation of racism and with the factional nature of the bureaucracy. Although it’s beyond the scope of the report, its conclusions regarding the “wholly misleading media representation” of the antisemitism issue - an issue that dominated media coverage of Labour for years - raises big issues about political reporting in the U.K.

The report notes that nothing has been done to address any of the problems it identifies, and offers its own detailed and thoroughgoing recommendations. I’d suggest that the best time to “move on” following this kind of report is after some efforts have been made to learn from it. The traditional time to move on is after a few mea culpas and empty promises, but we haven’t even had those, and the reasons for that are clear: anyone who counts in public life is fine with the racism and everything else, and has no intention of doing anything about it - but they do at least understand that the findings make them look absolutely terrible, and their indifference or approval even worse.

So sure, move on if you like, but there’s a direct relationship between that attitude and the kind of public life we’re enjoying at the moment.

Very optimistic to expect all that to be delivered. Not the first report to be put in the metaphorical bin - or the last. Your final sentence indirectly captures the main point though - there is no unity in stewing and staying stuck in factionalism as it diverts resources/bandwidth from much bigger problems - the kind of public life we're enjoying, as you state. I'm assuming here that you think there are bigger problems in Britain than how the media operate and reports on internal Labour Party psychodramas. The left and right have been at it for ages and it harms both sides but particularly the left: see GE election results, see modern Britain.

 

[Seanm]

Very optimistic to expect all that to be delivered. Not the first report to be put in the metaphorical bin - or the last. Your final sentence indirectly captures the main point though - there is no unity in stewing and staying stuck in factionalism as it diverts resources/bandwidth from much bigger problems - the kind of public life we're enjoying, as you state. I'm assuming here that you think there are bigger problems in Britain than how the media operate and reports on internal Labour Party psychodramas. The left and right have been at it for ages and it harms both sides but particularly the left: see GE election results, see modern Britain.

Ok as long as you’re happy.

 

[Kirk]

Ok as long as you’re happy.

If you want to stick to the party status quo then fair enough but I don't see how it helps the left. Maybe an alliance with the SNP would move things along?