OneGuyFromBarlick

I noticed that T May made sure the TV caught her and Phil coming out of church smiling.
Someone once said that the CofE was the Tory Party at prayer.....
Later.... I remembered this morning that I hadn't commented on Gavin Williamson's master stroke. His gunboat mentality in announcing that he was sending his aircraft carrier into the China Sea to demonstrate naval power resulted in the cancellation of Spreadsheet Phil's trip to China to reassure them about our willingness to trade. We said at the time that we thought he was operating in la la land.

PanBiker wrote: ↑17 Feb 2019, 11:18 The Labour Party operates as a membership driven organisation....'

Thanks for taking the time to explain all that, Ian. How do the trades unions fit in with the Party these days?

Trade Unions are affiliate organisations that have representation at conference, they carry a mandate from their members to support issues that have been voted on. They debate their viewpoint along with any other resolutions to conference which eventually is thrashed out into party policy. It's a process from the grass roots upwards not dictated from above as in other political parties.

So, seven Labour MP's have felt the need to resign from the party. I only recognise two of them. I have just watched one of them who is full of it but not confident enough to call a by-election to test his new credentials as an Independent. Much prefers to hold onto his pay earned as elected on popular Labour Party policy.

Their resignation or as they prefer to call it 'realignment' is something that some of OG pundits have known for some time, There are too many Conservatives in the Labour party. Like the Fifth Columnists in the Spanish revolution they leave when its to their advantage. Many of these MPs will know that they had been rumbled and their days were numbered, probably being deselected at the next election. Also they will know that with the ongoing shambles in the Tory Party that there is every chance that there could be a Labour Government. This is something that they clearly don't want to happen. So after years of claiming that the best way of changing opinion is to be on the inside making your voice heard it now appears that they have no intention to press for gradual changes but are intent on wrecking the party completely. By all means have a difference of opinion and hold your corner on it but to let your party down and all those who voted for you under a declared manifesto is not something we expect from MPs.

Well said P, in my view the party is well shut of them but they could have the decency at least to stand for re-election. Why should they continue to draw the pay of a Labour MP when they have rejected what the party stands for. Should be mandatory for any MP that jumps ship. Shows what an outdated system we have. If you resign in any other position of work you don't to still claim the pay for your previous position, it's ludicrous. They are happy to bang on about all that they perceive is wrong in the party but don't have the guts to test it on their own constituents, shameful and we are better off without them.

I know about the media spinning sensationalism but seven defectors cannot really be classed as a split in the party. If it was 150 that would be a different matter. Will be interesting to see if any of the wobbly Tories join them.

I agree that having resigned they should stand for re-election but I don't agree with Plaques's conspiracy theory about them being Conservatives (but then I think Plaques often has his tongue in his cheek). And anyway there's nothing wrong with some dissent in the party, otherwise it will stagnate. And not all Labour supporters like having Jeremy Corbyn as the leader.
This is where the seven have gone: `The Independent Group' LINK
and New Statesman

The Independent Group -

"Not to be confused with Labour Independent Group, Independent Labour Group, Independent Labour Party, or The Independent. Or the Peoples Front of Judea, or the Peoples Judean Front. "

I watched this earlier - made me think of Brexit for some reason.

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PS - Sorry - first time I've tried a Youtube clip.I don't think that's how it's supposed to look?

This latest version of phpBB no longer supports the YouTube preview in a viewing window as it did in previous versions.

Tripps wrote: ↑18 Feb 2019, 16:54 The Independent Group -

"Not to be confused with Labour Independent Group, Independent Labour Group, Independent Labour Party, or The Independent. Or the Peoples Front of Judea, or the Peoples Judean Front. "

They had best keep their hands off the ILP or they will have myself and the rest of the ILP Land Society committee to deal with.

Tripps wrote: ↑18 Feb 2019, 16:54 Or the Peoples Front of Judea, or the Peoples Judean Front. "

Politics according to the 'Life of Brian'. So when is the mass suicide going to take place? or are these to be the 'Magnificent Seven'?

I've been doing research - they're ether tergiversators of tergivesants. Don't often see them in sevens. Take your pick.

Either way it's just another dead cat thrown on the table.

I agree with everything P and Ian have said. They are rats David, leaving what they regard to be a sinking ship. I think they are wrong on that and every other count. Funny how all their criticisms coincide with the opinions of the right wing press. They must all be Daily Mail readers.....
I would be the last to say that all is well with the Labour Party but at least I have the guts to stick to my own principles and they happen to coincide with the majority of the Party. Compared with what is happening in politics at the moment this is a side show and watch May pounce on it at the next PMQs to score a cheap point. Unless she realises that she has 40 back benchers ready to do the same thing.......
That raises a hilarious thought, imagine a coalition between the ERG and the Secret Seven.....
Meanwhile, Liam Fox and Jeremy hunt do a Williamson and antagonise Japan with one intemperate letter. (Said to be written in standard diplomatic language though how that excuses it I don't know.)
Coincidentally Honda announce they are abandoning UK PLC...... Everyone assures us that this is not Brexit related but seeing as how it was as a conduit into the EU that brought them here in the first place......
Tory policies march us forward into.... What?

Later.... The right wing press are having a field day predicting mass defections from the Labour Party.
However, see THIS for a BBC report about Angela Smith's faux pas when she referred to people 'with a funny tinge to their skin'. Not a happy remark for someone complaining about the atmosphere in Labour.
It strikes me that the Secret Seven might have done the party a favour. It will concentrate the minds of wavering members and could quite possibly lead to a closing of ranks. The right wing press are going overboard a bit, they could easily find that, in common with their statements about the advantages of Brexit, they could soon be in a position where the reverse ferret ploy might be needed!

What annoys me is that the leavers keep quoting JC's "handling of Brexit", don't they realise that he is not in control of this and May is calling all the shots, chance would be fine thing. All they are interested in is getting their own way regardless of due process within the party. How many of the other parties are actually as inclusive as the Labour Party? We have active participation from all sections of the community which includes automatic GC agenda items for BAME and LGBTQ members to raise issues that may be relative to their race or gender identification. A lot of the media is "warning" JC that unless he makes instant changes Armageddon will strike, nice diversion for TM's countdown clock. I reckon she will crash the country out of the EU one way or the other then go for a General Election in May.

I might be in a minority here but I admire the seven for standing up for what they believe in rather than kowtowing to tribal party loyalties. As you know, I have no time for political parties...

Anyway, Labour might have lost 7 but look who it's got back in exchange: `Derek Hatton rejoins Labour after 34 years' LINK

Here's some good news, Bernie Sanders says he's going to run again for US President...
`Bernie Sanders announces second US Presidential bid' LINK
Great. He got a lot of support from young people in 2016. He's an independent but throws his lot in with the Democrats to try and avoid splitting the vote. Find out more about his beliefs here: `Bernie Sanders: 17 things the Democratic socialist believes' LINK

Guess what Tiz, I doubt if Jeremy Corby'n would disagree with any of Bernie's credentials, they are both on the same page.

Barlick Branch Labour Party monthly meeting tonight.

Tiz, did they have to do it with so much pre-arranged publicity? 'Courage of their own convictions' is sometimes shorthand for self interest.
See THIS BBC report on what John Major says. He reckons to ERG are a party within a party. He talks sense in his retirement.
Meanwhile, May goes to Brussels for Brexit talks so that's all right then......
Later.... Listening to the latest defector, Jane Ryan, explaining herself. She says that there was no anti-Semitism in the Party before Corbyn. Really? The woman is mistaken and obviously hates Corbyn. She thinks Angela Smith simply got nervous and 'mis-spoke'. Again, really?

Interesting to note that Jane Ryan suffered a vote of no confidence from her Constituency Party last year before Christmas, writing was already on the wall for her. She will of course line with the others and still take her remuneration and claim that she no longer has to take any notice of Labour Party policy. No honour of course to resign and call a by-election because she knows it would be political suicide. This way she gets to hold onto the limelight as a "rebel" for a while. Who is going to pay their wages after the next General Election?

More unintended consequences of Brexit...
`'Brexit gap' over wildlife protection is looming' LINK

We're going to see a lopt of examples like that Tiz when reality bites.
I sometimes think that reading Private Eye is a subtle form of masochism, there are so many examples of worrying stories about failings in business and politics. Yesterday was a good example. Hands up anyone who knows who Ehud Sheleg is.... I thought so, I had never heard of him either. He's a major donor of and treasurer and chief fund-raiser of the Conservative Party. PE did a 3 page exposé of him yesterday and it's well worth reading. I wonder if he'll sue?
So May has lost 3 MPs as well..... That'll impress the EU.....
Can things get any worse?
Later...., are we looking at shifting tectonic plates or simply failing politicians. Or are those two the same things? Confused of Barlick.

David I was reviewing these posts and was reminded your attempt to post a Youtube video. I always post the address as a link. See if this works.....
LINK
Was that the one?

Later.... Some interesting views are being expressed by senior lawyers on the Home Secretary's actions in depriving Shamina Begum of citizenship. Knowing the Home Office lawyers as they do they are expressing surprise if those lawyers backed the announcement as it seems to them that it is unlawful. They argue that if Sajid Javid has, as they suspect, acted without consulting his lawyers, his announcement seems to have more to do with him establishing a reputation of a hard man in preparation for a possible bid for the leadership in any selection process than making sure he is acting lawfully. Worrying stuff......