Diane Abbott is correct. All she’s saying is that the way black and visible brown people experience racism is different from the discrimination that white Irish and Jewish people experience. Having a very visible different skin colour than white people make you stand out all the time. You walk into a room, people look and go silent. Not always the same for an Irish or white Jewish person. Not the same for white passing black or brown person. There are indeed layers racist experiences. Diane is trying to explain this. It’s her lived experience
I'm glad that Diane Abbott has chosen to defend her past comments, rather than leaving it to her opponents to interpret them.
A lot is going on within Labour that has little to do with the change the election campaign sold, and many electors bought - it is about total control of the party and extends to regional officers (paid staff) deciding which names appear on shortlists for next year's council elections, rather than allowing the 'poor bloody infantry' - those who will knock the doors and deliver the leaflets - to decide. This is not good enough!
Anyone who knows the Labour Party, knows that it is a broad church. Not broad enough to take in the LibDems or the Greens, which should be a natural part of Labour. Corbyn and his ilk have no part of any party apart from themselves, as they proved between 2015-20. Diane Abbot is a natural part of Corbyn’s party and this should have been recognised before the 2024 election where she probably would have won as an independent. It is unfortunate that the Left feel that there is a need to be seen to be righteous and this has enabled the Tories to rule for 75% of the last 10” years. While I wish Starmer was more politician and less righteous, we must deal with what we have. Eventually a leader who can beat the Tories and Reform will emerge and we can resolve most of our economic and social problems.
I joined the LP more than 50 years ago, John when it was a broad church - "we don't care where you are politically, so long as you do the work (door knocking/fundraising etc)" - and officers (other volunteers) didn't spend their time crushing dissent.
I think you may be viewing the past through different specs than me: the membership grew because 'the offer' appealed: social democracy, nothing more extreme than that was a welcome break from shadowing the Tories.
Starmer carried the Ming vase across the highly polished floor during the election campaign without dropping it but unfortunately he doesn't seem to be able to find it now.
And in case you think I'm a dangerous extremist - I voted for him in the 2020 leadership election.
Diane Abbott is correct. All she’s saying is that the way black and visible brown people experience racism is different from the discrimination that white Irish and Jewish people experience. Having a very visible different skin colour than white people make you stand out all the time. You walk into a room, people look and go silent. Not always the same for an Irish or white Jewish person. Not the same for white passing black or brown person. There are indeed layers racist experiences. Diane is trying to explain this. It’s her lived experience
I'm glad that Diane Abbott has chosen to defend her past comments, rather than leaving it to her opponents to interpret them.
A lot is going on within Labour that has little to do with the change the election campaign sold, and many electors bought - it is about total control of the party and extends to regional officers (paid staff) deciding which names appear on shortlists for next year's council elections, rather than allowing the 'poor bloody infantry' - those who will knock the doors and deliver the leaflets - to decide. This is not good enough!
Anyone who knows the Labour Party, knows that it is a broad church. Not broad enough to take in the LibDems or the Greens, which should be a natural part of Labour. Corbyn and his ilk have no part of any party apart from themselves, as they proved between 2015-20. Diane Abbot is a natural part of Corbyn’s party and this should have been recognised before the 2024 election where she probably would have won as an independent. It is unfortunate that the Left feel that there is a need to be seen to be righteous and this has enabled the Tories to rule for 75% of the last 10” years. While I wish Starmer was more politician and less righteous, we must deal with what we have. Eventually a leader who can beat the Tories and Reform will emerge and we can resolve most of our economic and social problems.
I joined the LP more than 50 years ago, John when it was a broad church - "we don't care where you are politically, so long as you do the work (door knocking/fundraising etc)" - and officers (other volunteers) didn't spend their time crushing dissent.
I think you may be viewing the past through different specs than me: the membership grew because 'the offer' appealed: social democracy, nothing more extreme than that was a welcome break from shadowing the Tories.
Starmer carried the Ming vase across the highly polished floor during the election campaign without dropping it but unfortunately he doesn't seem to be able to find it now.
And in case you think I'm a dangerous extremist - I voted for him in the 2020 leadership election.