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EXCLUSIVE Manchester Withington Selection: 'Trotfest' on the Ropes
There have been some shock and awe developments in the matter of the independently organised hustings meeting. Action Without Theory claimed that Lucy has told the organisers that she thinks: "the selection is an 'internal matter' for party members". Which is something along the lines Lorenzo23 had also expressed in comments here.
There has also been news there of the withdrawal through diary clash of Dr Yogesh Vimani who told your blogger at the Withington works outing and teach in that "everyone knows where I stand on this". When I told her that I had encountered very strong support for the War from Hindu, Jain, and Sikh (also Jewish, Atheist and Christian) people on the doorstep and elsewhere she was really and genuinely shocked.
I found Muslims too who had wanted Saddam assassinated rather than Iraq invaded but were gung-ho for Bush to turn missiles on Saudi Arabia.
This was and is a complex matter. As Cllr Eddie Newman suggested at one nomination meeting no one is "pro-war" as such. Good point. Best not to assume anything.
The latest addition to those missing the event to concentrate on meeting and greeting Labour members is Nargis Khan - with the news also broken exclusively in comments on LOL.
Jenny's point remains valid: "I think the Labour Party needs to engage with the anti-war movement in the constituency." But it is also true that if the nominees and the party are almost universally against this war their time is better spent elsewhere.
But the organisers made a very serious error in having a former Respect parliamentary candidate front the meeting. Perhaps the time can be used by those who attend to debate the means by which the independent left can support the interests of the working classes in our city and beyond by actively supporting Manchester Labour?
Posting something very soon about Bethnal Green and Bow and elliptically the elliptical Respect party there.
7 comments:
Chris
You've linked to the wrong comments.
And it's not an LOL exclusive cos the same comment was on my blog about 20 minutes earlier!
Blogger won't allow links to a particular comment it just links to the page with all the comments.
Doesn't it? If your blog really had it first and it wsn't just another time zone fiasco then I must say I couldn't find it, 'cos being a proper journalist again, I checked carefully.
If it is not on the face of the blog it doesn't count, it isn't found by the blog search feature on blogger, and it also unlikely to be found by arachnids and 'bots.
There are limits to how deep we can delve in order to keep our readers posted.
On the face of the blog directly or as comment reported on the face of the blog = exclusive.
I suggest this is pased to NUJ lead on New Media to be enshrined in the rule book.
Ooops. Sorry Bro. Second comments link was to the wrong story and the comments thereon. However the weakness in Blogger's search engine points etc stand. Please forgive your humble blogger who has ignored the advice of "Dr" Alan Wise "DD" who told him to "never apologise" in January 1984. Bet there is a series of excellent trivia matters to report from that one ... as they say ... anon.
What's Eddie Newman's take on Iraq then? I knew him as a grumpy young Trot and now I hear he's a grumpy old right-wing authoritarian. No change there, then.
Are you trying to get me into trouble? Or yourself? Susan Press? Of Calder Valley CLP.
To be honest I have no idea of what exactly Cllr Eddie Newman's take on Iraq is. He doesn't generally share his conscience positions with me. It would be wrong to guess.
But he did say what I have positively endorsed in the story.
He did also sign the Manchester Labour etter to Blair against war without a fresh UN mandate AFAIK. They all did that I think.
Suggestions that Eddie is now or ever has been a grumpy individual are completely beyond the pale.
You may well think that Susan, but I couldn't possibly comment. Eddie is the life and soul of the party and that's official.
And I hope this doesn't set off a run of hilarious anecdotes about Eddie.
This is an internal Labour Party selection process for paid up Labour Party members in Withington.
The constituents of Withington will have lots of opportunity to meet, talk to and question the person who is selected to fight the seat once Withington Labour Party has chosen their candidate.
Yes Suzanne. I think everyone (apart from some sad trots) accepts this now. But at least four of the women concerned would have relished the opportunity for a head-to-head hustings I think. And it is a shame there is not one IMO.
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