I'm getting huge amounts of abuse from the Jeremy Corbyn faithful for my criticisms of his (at best) poor judgment in promoting an obscure magazine called "The Word", which recently published a revolting anti-semitic front page. /1
Lots of that abuse suggests bad faith on my part - that I am dishonest or part of some conspiracy or paid by the Conservatives. However, the truth is rather simpler. I simply think Corbyn (again) exercised (at best) poor judgment. /2
It's absolutely true to say I have never liked Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party. Indeed, it was his leadership that caused me, having once advised it on tax policy, to leave Labour. But if you want to say I am motivated by bad faith you need to engage with the evidence. /3
And the evidence is that I have spoken plainly and clearly when I have perceived Corbyn or his supporters to be unfairly treated. These are hardly the acts of someone acting in bad faith.
What follows are some examples. /4
What follows are some examples. /4
Here is where - to sharp criticism from others - I argued Corbyn had a legal right to be on the leadership ballot and it would be a mistake to keep him off it I made this point repeatedly, including on the Today programme.
When I correctly predicted the Courts would find the NEC had the right to limit the right of so-called entryists to vote in the leadership election, I offered to act for free to help them to recover their membership fees. /6
Here is where I argued it was wrong of the BBC to show Corbyn looking like part of the infrastructure of the Russian State. /7
Here’s where I revealed - to widespread criticism - that I had (and have) a private message from a senior BBC journalist admitting the BBC does encode negative messages about Corbyn into broadcasts. /8
Here is where I "ate humble pie" and gave credit to Corbyn for pushing a very important Brexit amendment that failed because, contrary to my prediction, Tory rebels folded. /9
And here is one of several occasions on which I offered to talk publicly with @billybragg (the other figure was @OwenJones84 who contacted me privately but also declined) to discuss how the left might unify to fight the rise of the far right. /10
So, yes, I am a vigorous critic of Corbyn's stance on (in particular) anti-semitism, Brexit and his suitability to lead the Labour Party.
But if you want to smear me personally you really need to engage with the actual evidence. /ENDS
But if you want to smear me personally you really need to engage with the actual evidence. /ENDS
