To understand the unrepentant fury of Corbynism, turn to a true comrade, the serving Doncaster councillor and former ASLEF president Tosh McDonald.
In a local podcast earlier this month, he certainly didn't hold back. Is what follows really OK by Labour? 1/11
In a local podcast earlier this month, he certainly didn't hold back. Is what follows really OK by Labour? 1/11
He sets the tone by saying he sang, danced and got drunk when Thatcher died. He tells his "joke" about setting his alarm an hour earlier than needed so he could hate her for an hour longer. Then: “I feel pretty much the same way about the leaders of both parties right now." 2/11
On to the Jews, sorry, Zionists, in a long tirade.
He lays into the Labour MP Margaret Hodge, suggesting accusations should have been thrown at her, as surely some of her criticism of individuals was "vexatious". 3/11
He lays into the Labour MP Margaret Hodge, suggesting accusations should have been thrown at her, as surely some of her criticism of individuals was "vexatious". 3/11
What about Jeremy and the wreath? An unqualified defence, including a claim no terrorists connected to the massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in Munich were honoured. (Actually, Corbyn himself noted them in a Morning Star article.) 4/11
And the mural? McDonald says the artist claimed that it was not antisemitic and wanders off into a rambling call for better "education" rather than a "witch hunt". 5/11
Marc Wadsworth, expelled from Labour in 2018, is a "friend", McDonald says, as he criticises Ruth Smeeth for objecting to Wadsworth's remarks.
He speaks up for Chris Williamson too, another friend.
"It's been weaponised, and that to my mind is the worst form of bigotry." 6/11
He speaks up for Chris Williamson too, another friend.
"It's been weaponised, and that to my mind is the worst form of bigotry." 6/11
What about the EHRC report on antisemitism in Labour? McDonald says things got better in the end under Corbyn. The villain here is Ian McNicol, Labour's general secretary until 2018. 7/11
McDonald goes on to stand by his own remarks comparing British fighters in the Spanish civil war to the Palestinian struggle against Israeli “oppression”. He is fighting the "apartheid state", he explains, with Labour Friends of Israel as the friends of apartheid. 8/11
Yes, that and more is in his earlier record, including backing Jackie Walker, another notorious figure in the party's antisemitism crisis, *after* she had been expelled from Labour. 9/11
https://twitter.com/habibi_uk/status/1275157248109678600
The podcast is generously seasoned with "Corbyn is not a racist" lines. McDonald also supports Ken Livingstone, Ken Loach, Len McCluskey, and Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), the tribunes of Labour antisemites.
He was so moved at one JVL meeting that he cried. Aww. 10/11
He was so moved at one JVL meeting that he cried. Aww. 10/11
McDonald is not for turning. He says “I am going to stay in the party unless they throw me out". He adds that he will work for new leadership in Labour and open selections for MPs.
If Labour doesn't throw him out, what will that say about the party? 11/11
If Labour doesn't throw him out, what will that say about the party? 11/11
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