For those desperately wanting a left wing govt, I totally get why you would vote Labour today. I do ask, though, before you do, for you to face up to how the leadership has handled and been implicated in a genuine outbreak of antisemitism. See this thread 👇🏼
Experiences over the past few weeks have shown me again that there are a lot of good people on the left who have been taken in by the bogus denial narrative - a pernicious propaganda effort by ‘Jewish Voice for Labour’ and others. I’m sad to see that. Some should know better.
People need to face up becuase it represents something you don’t want to know about those you hope will deliver a strong left wing government. Perhaps, but they have behaved this way towards Jews, it doesn’t bode well. Sad to be canaries in the coal mine but it was ever thus 🐦
I too want a strong left wing government. We desperately need one, and that desperation is why I don’t, can’t, judge those who hold their noses and vote Labour. But inconvenient truths are truths nonetheless. See also
I have tried my best over the past 2 years to add light not heat with this issue. I haven’t always succeeded. Like others who have put their heads above the parapet I have m faced personal and professional abuse which has been amongst the most difficult experiences of my life
I know social media can be brutal and I take that on the chin. But my experience has been something more. My conclusion is that something about the ‘hard left’ or whatever you call it is rotten. It’s not for the many - it’s for the allies. And god help you if you stand against.
I know there is positive energy and ideas in Labour. I don’t think this is binary or that either party is essentially evil or good. But I have experienced a strain of extreme factional behaviour which has reared its head over antisemitism and which worries me a lot.
Around this time last year I realised there would be no conclusion to this awful war without an external intervenor, which is why I worked for 6 months with Campaign Against Antisemtisim making legal submissions to persuade the Equality and Human Rights Commission to intervene..
... that they decided to do so is a testament to the seriousness, and gives lie to propaganda efforts eg from JVL, sadly believed my many good people, that this is a ‘smear’ by capitalist enemies. Sadly, the investigation has not concluded before today but it’s a huge undertaking
I don’t want another Conservative government. And I accept the risk that my vote (for @lucianaberger) could make that marginally more likely. But as recent elections have shown there is power in opposition, minority govts can happen, coalitions. It’s all to play for
Thinking about ‘I’m scared for my Jewish children’ tweets. People feel what they feel but, for me, I’m not scared. I think my kids will grow up in a mostly tolerant society, though sadly not in EU. I‘ve seen amazing, open-hearted, brave people out there. I believe in this country
I believe there are malign currents in the ocean our society floats in. We could be dragged down as Europe in 30s was. But we each have a oar. We can steer, and motivate others to row with us. Nothing is set and destiny is ours to make, not some crusty old political leader’s
The biggest mistake we can make is to assume our politicians rule us. They don’t. We are their bosses. We appoint we sack. They work for us. That was the lesson of the 30s-40s - the individual is at the heart of the state, the state can never be allowed to destroy the individual
As long as we keep the focus on individual rights, we will be ok. Ensure that the government truly works for everyone. Not the few or even the many. Don’t let majorities overwhelm minorities. That’s a lesson we should have but may never learn.
