Agenda 2019

Home at last. I have now (Thursday last),   returned home, following 6 months in Dorchester County Hospital, after an accident last September. The net result is that I shall never walk again. Today marks the first day of the rest of my life, so to mark the occasion I have renamed New Agenda as "Agenda 2019". Watch out for the new postings. I have missed a lot, so there will be much to post. Have a nice week

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/16/jo-cox-obituary Grief and shock over death of 'MP with huge compassion' Helen Joanne"Jo"Cox 22 June 1974 – 16 June 2016 The assassination of MP Jo Cox, a fellow party member, is a shock to all, and is a reminder of the vulnerability of MP’s going about their daily work. Our thoughts are for her and with her family at this time. Jo Cox. R I P

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/28/tony-blair-corbyn-government-dangerous-experiment Tony Blair: Corbyn government would be a dangerous experiment Again, Blair crawls out from beneath his stone to be granted publicity from the Guardian. The very rich warmonger, liar and traitor has the audacity to offer yet more "advice" to a party he (along with Mandelson, Campbell and Brown) destroyed. Blair fails to accept that the party he once led, has passed into history and his philosophy is as discredited as he himself is. With the exception of a few duplicitous "Blairite" agitators with the PLP, who yearn for the return of their messiah (or some one in the same mould), Blair has nothing to say to today's party and its leadership.

http://news.sky.com/story/1688489/labour-frontbenchers-may-quit-over-row Some Labour frontbenchers are threatening to resign A Times article, enthusiastically reproduced and embellished by Sky News and other media (and all full of the usual anonymous "sources"), graphically confirming that the real reason behind the furore over "anti Semitism" is the seditious conspiracy by some members of the Parliamentary Labour Party, encouraged and supported by sections of a duplicitous media, to remove the leadership of the Labour Party in some sort of coup. A coup which has been in preparation since the summer of last year and now uses the smokescreen of anti Semitism to mask the real intentions. Duplicitous hypocrites, liars and mountebanks skulking in the shadows hiding behind press anonymity. Should these people actually quit, it would be a case of good riddance, and take your schemes, plots and conspiracies with you and join another party.

 A set of guidelines applied as a  "catch all" blanket to suppress comment. It seems that I have upset some "moderators" on the Guardian. Now, whenever I choose to put a comment into the "comments" section against any story, I am met by the phrase "Your comments are currently being pre-moderated (why?)", then when going to the explanations, the Guardian says "....in isolated situations, a particular user may be identified as a risk, based on a pattern of behaviour (e.g. spam, trolling, repeated/frequent borderline abuse), so a temporary filter can be applied....". I have no recollection of offending these "rules" imposed by the faceless moderators of this newspaper, and apart from being critical of the government and certain elements within the Parliamentary Labour Party and of course actively supporting Jeremy Corbyn both in his leadership campaign and now as leader, can only assume that the editorial policy of t...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-should-resign-says-labour-mp-who-agrees-with-him-in-opposing-syria-air-strikes-a6751056.html Jeremy Corbyn should resign, say senior Labour MPs The days of turning the other cheek are over. For many months elements the PLP have been trying the patience of thousands of Labour party members and supporters around the country with the almost incessant criticism, plotting, self serving articles, all designed to further their own interests and override and reverse the democratic decision taken by more than 250,000 party members in the leadership ballot and supported by thousands more people around the country. The despicable and unacceptable face of today's PLP. Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet Those party members who value democratic decisions and support the current leadership, must now unite against the reactionaries within the PLP and fight back with whatever means may be available...

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/jeremy-corbyns-labour-party-must-leave-behind-internal-feuding-and-start-talking-to-voters-a6734106.html Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party must leave behind internal feuding and start talking to voters Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party must leave behind internal feuding and start talking to voters. I agree absolutely. Tell Tristram Hunt, Danczuk, Umunna, Flint, Kendall and the other usual suspects, to shut up, accept the decision and get on with targeting to Conservatives and their pernicious policies rather than plotting and undermining the party with self indulgent and divisive sour grapes because they lost the leadership arguments. Political debate has moved on, Blairism is dead and the electorate now have a distinct choice.          To those habitual moaners who seek to satisfy their own ego's and further their own ambitions by constantly filling  the media with ...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/saying-that-jeremy-corbyn-didn-t-bow-during-remembrance-sunday-isn-t-lying-it-s-even-worse-than-that-a6727106.html Saying that Jeremy Corbyn didn’t bow during Remembrance Sunday isn’t lying – it’s even worse than that   The anti Corbyn hysteria in the media over the past two days is even worse than lying, writes Max Benwell, who freely admits that he did not vote for Jeremy Corbyn in the leadership election. "Lying isn't the right word to describe such claims. It's more self-deception, and part of the alternate reality many of Corbyn's critics are operating in now." This "alternative reality" of the media, television and many commentators is a deliberately engineered attempt to undermine and discredit the leader of the Labour party, and to influence the voting intentions of the electorate. The way in which the anti Corbyn campaign has become more and more hysterical over the last 9 months, is both si...

  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/20/ed-vulliamy-jeremy-corbyn-observer-editorial  Our pessimistic take on Corbyn let our readers down ( Ed Vulliamy .writing for the Guardian) Jeremy Corbyn in his first PMQ's  (Photograph: Reuters)   beerhoi74.says in the comments section to this article: "I hope Corbyn is just a blip and we can return to the centre soon" That is the problem. It would not be a "return to the centre". It would be a return to the same old policies from the same old people who, with a few exceptions like minimum wage and child benefits, have done nothing for working people and their families or the sick or the disabled or pensioners in this country through successive Labour governments for decades. It would be a return to "top down" politics where "policies", many of which neither the membership of the party or just as importantly the public, agree with or support (that is why we lost two success...

  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/05/convict-dead-defenceless-case-edward-heath How easy it is to convict the dead and defenceless -says Simon Jenkins. Simon Jenkins. Guardian. Simon Jenkins either by accident, or more probably design, completely misses the point. By exposing the "dead ones" in the higher echelons of the British "establishment" (ignore Harris, Clifford, Glitter and the others who were only put up as sacrificial lambs in any case), attention can be diverted away from those still living and occupying positions of influence and power in the establishment ranks and no doubt still indulging themselves in the abuse of children. The conspiracy of cover up and deceit continues, with the occasional morsel of a dead "famous figure" thrown out to keep the public off the scent of deeper scandal. Edward Heath. Allegations of abuse Simon Jenkins really ought to know this and should target his articl...

  http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/28/harriet-harman-we-are-weeding-out-bogus-labour-leadership-voters Harriet Harman: we are weeding out bogus Labour leadership voters Harriet Harman: A very naive personality How far will the present leadership go to appease an hysterical media and television campaign to discredit and undermine the election process? Harman has fallen into the trap engineered by elements on the right and has demonstrated a very naive personality. To even acknowledge the "infiltration" distraction and then to give it credence by defending "the integrity of her party’s leadership election system", evidences the extent to which the Blairites and the right, emboldened by the media and Tory supporters, are prepared to sink in order to achieve the election of their preferred candidate. The electorate will never vote for a party which offers the same policies as the Conservatives, but with a different coloured wrapping. The ...

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2015/07/25/labour-leadership-race-should-be-halted-over-infiltrators-mp-john-mann-says/ Labour leadership race should be halted over 'infiltrators', MP John Mann says John Mann. MP for Bassetlaw John Mann urges Harriet Harman to suspend the Labour Leadership contest, due to "infiltrators" affecting the outcome. What the member for Bassetlaw actually means is that because his preference for the leadership of the party is likely to be beaten in the election, the goalposts should be moved to ensure a more acceptable outcome at some leadership election in the future. In this objective, he joins a group of other MP's who are desperately seeking to prevent Jeremy Corbyn from becoming leader. The other conspirators in this odious plot of innuendo and smear, skulk in the shadows making noises, but who hide behind a cloak of anonymity, too cowardly to reveal their identities and true motives. It is indeed ironic, ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-burnhams-labour-leadership-prospects-boosted-after-15-election-candidates-in-crucial-seats-show-support-10414482.html Andy Burnham's Labour leadership prospects boosted after 15 election candidates show support.  (But Grice does not mention  the 27 election candidates who state support for Corbyn) Andrew Grice: Not very subtle in his display of bias. A typical piece of "balanced" reporting from the Independent. Fifteen election candidates support Burnham screams Andrew Grice, but he fails to mention the 27 Labour candidates from the 2015 election who have publicly stated support for Jeremy Corbyn.That is almost two to one in favour of supporting Corbyn.The Independent joins the media campaign of smear and distortion in their hysterical efforts to influence Labour party members to vote for anyone except Corbyn. Biased and partisan reporting at its most reprehensible. 

http://www.jeremyforlabour.com/open_letter_from_2015_labour_candidates Open letter from 2015 Labour candidates Leadership candidates Support for Jeremy Corbyn to be the next leader of the Labour party grows by the hour. The media and television are petrified at this prospect and are indulging in a vitriolic and noxious campaign of smear, innuendo and hysterical scare tactics in an attempt to influence the party members to vote for an alternative candidate. In this nasty negative agitation, they are aided and abetted by some current Labour MP's and former party members such as Blair, David Milliband and Man dellson, who seem determined to vilify the only candidate proposing a real alternative to their tired old policies. The growing number of ordinary people joining or rejoining the Labour party indicates that Jeremy Corbyn has struck a chord with people across the country. This open letter from some of the 2015 candidates adds support and another perspec...

  http://news.sky.com/story/1524306/david-miliband-backs-leader-with-new-ideas The former Foreign Secretary appeals to Labour not to vote for Jeremy Corbyn. Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband Milliband Major emerges from his self inflicted exile in New York as  President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee to reveal to the waiting throng how he believes that the Labour party needs "new ideas" and drops the broadest hint that members should vote for Liz Kendal, the Blairite candidate. Now there is a surprise. Liz Kendall; Trailing in 4th place in the leadership race. Milliband Major's thinly veiled criticism if not hostility towards Jeremy Corbyn should also not surprise anyone, who will remember how this Blair camp follower and sycophantic admirer of the "Blair legacy" was rejected by Labour in favour of his brother Milliband Minor. The elder of the two, never really came to terms with his loss and stalked off ...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/23/jeremy-corbyn-win-could-cause-sdp-style-labour-split-says-donor John Mills, one of the Labour party’s biggest benefactors, says wealthy supporters could withdraw backing if Corbyn wins leadership election John Mills, one of Labour’s biggest donors Another pseudo Blairite threatens Labour party members to vote for the proper, (ie his preference, Kendall), candidate or else. No doubt John Mills is also one of those siren voices bleating that "the Unions" have too much influence in the Labour party because of the money they donate to party the organisation. (Mills is another of those hypocrites who conveniently forget that the Labour party was created by the TUC not by a privileged bunch of rich businessmen or women). The "Gang of Four" In 1981, Roy Jenkins,David Owen, William Rodgers and Shirley Williams led a few other MP's and some part voters, off into the sunset to form a ...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/22/jeremy-corbyn-could-lose-frontbenchers-if-elected-labour-leader   Kendall, Umunna and Cooper would not serve in Jeremy Corbyn shadow cabinet   The Parliamentary Labour party, (the Labour MP's),is a hotbed of intrigue, self interest and hypocrisy. Only Jeremy Corbyn and it seems 47 other MP's had the consistency and integrity to vote against the recent Conservative Welfare reform and work bill, while the rest cowered behind a mealymouthed amendment and then sat on their hands on the substantive motion, thus ensuring that the bill was passed to the next stage in its progression through Parliament. It is this "rocking the Parliamentary boat", which petrifies the majority of the PLP. For far too long the MP's of the Labour party have pursued policies which they mistakenly consider as being popular with the public, in order to retain their seats. The last general election proved how wrong these misguided ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-set-to-win-labour-leadership-contest-poll-finds-10406172.html  Jeremy Corbyn set to win Labour leadership contest, poll finds The media and television, are becoming hysterical in their "Stop Corbyn" campaign of bitterness and acrimony. Perhaps this is a sign of the growing support amongst Labour supporters and the thousands of people who have joined or rejoined the party since Jeremy Corbyn announced his candidacy. More of the same   It is not difficult to understand this support when the other three candidate offer the same or broadly similar platforms and more alarmingly, propose the same policies as those of the Conservatives, but with a different colour wrapping paper. The people of this country deserve and demand an alternative political perspective to the current all essentially the same programmes, as those on offer from the present "mainstream" parties in the Westminste...

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/21/labour-disarray-welfare-48-mps-defy-whips   48 Labour MPs defied the party whip to vote against the bill rather than abstain      Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman had urged her party MP's to abstain       "Sitting on hands" on such an important issue as this, is an insult to all those who turned out to vote and elected these "MP's" last May. At least Jeremy Corbyn and 47 other Labour members had the backbone to oppose a bill which attacks the vulnerable sectors of our society and will increase child poverty. The current Labour leadership in the House of Commons, albeit on a temporary basis, demonstrates all too clearly why ordinary people believe that there is little if any difference between the policies of both Labour and Conservative Parliamentary parties on the majority of the issues affecting this country. The other candidates, Burnham, Cooper and Kendal reveal how th...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-contest-senior-party-figures-forecast-doom-after-jeremy-corbyn-surge-10395071.html Senior party figures forecast doom after Jeremy Corbyn surge The "Senior party figures" referred to in this article, are the very same people who have driven the Labour party into a rump opposition, where they are likely to remain for the foreseeable future. The reason for their doom and gloom forecast for party fortunes in the event of a Corbyn win are blatantly obvious. The "Senior party figures", predominately from "safe" Labour constituencies, have become too complacent and too comfortable with their positions in the commons, their inflated salaries (soon to increase by another 10%), their bottomless pit of taxpayers money there it seems purely to satisfy their insatiable appetite for the perks of the "expenses claim" scams and the prospect of someone "rocking t...