Brexit: My thoughts. A message to Jeremy Corbyn.

Open Letter to Labour Party NEC and Democracy Review Panel.

Open Letter to Labour Party NEC and Democracy Review Panel. 

Thursday, 5 July 2018.

Dear NEC and Review Panel members,

Re : Leeds Conference on constitutional reform of BAME Labour. 

The recent Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME Labour) conference in Leeds, held on Saturday, 30 June 2018, provided an opportunity for members of the Labour Party to feedback on the suggested constitutional reforms as recommended by a Review Panel established by the leader's Jeremy Corbyn's office, to facilitate feedback on the important Labour Party Democracy Review.

The event was attended by close to 200 people representing black and ethnic minority Labour Party members from across the country, including a huge delegation from Momentum Black Caucus.

Following the conference, we wish to raise a number of important matters; firstly we believe that the late distribution of  consultation documents restricted the debate and was entirely unsatisfactory. In addition whilst there was an opportunity for feedback and discussion, there was no opportunity the pass motions or amend the Panel recommendations.

We also believe that the failure to provide Halal food was a serious error of the organisers, given we were meeting in Leeds and had a hugely diverse attendance from Muslim communities across the region. 

Notwithstanding these concerns, we believe the event was an important first step, in starting a conversation about tackling racism in wider society, and within the Labour and trade union movement contextualised through the framework of race and class analysis. .

This was a recurring theme throughout the event, whereby members cited numerous examples where Constituency Labour Parties and Trade Unions have failed to advance the cause of black and ethnic minority representation and worse still, we heard examples where comrades/members were reported as being complicit in subjecting Black and Asian and ethnic minority members to racial and religious discrimination.

An important concern was the extent to which the review panel were suggesting that the definition of which ethnic groups is included in definition of BAME Labour was raised by Unison delegate Gloria Mills and reiterated by Chair of the MBC, Professor Cecile Wright.

We were reassured, by the response form the conference Chair, and NEC member Claudia Webbe, who clarified that the current definition, which relates to non-white Labour Party members, was not up for review. MBC believes this represents an important "red line" in any reconstituted black and ethnic minority, Labour Party movement. 

The event also made it clear that it found it anomalous that only black and ethnic minority Labour Party members were being charged an additional £5 pounds to become members of BAME Labour whilst no other liberation group in the party is subject to such a charge. The question was why are BAME Labour Party members subjected to this disparity?

We were also deeply concerned to find out that BAME Labour had no access to its membership database, could not send out communications to its membership, and have no access to the membership fund that had accrued over time. We were informed that tens of thousands of pounds lie dormant in a Labour Party bank account, constituting the sum total of Black, Asian and ethnic minority membership fees that have been paid throughout the last 20 or so years. MBC is of the strong view that this money should now be handed over to a newly constituted BAME Labour leadership to help fund rebuild and relaunch BAME Labour. 

The BAMEmembership database of both the Labour Party and Momentum should be made available and shared with a newly constituted BAME Labour Group. 

In addition the consultation, agreed with the Review Panel recommendations in their entirety and was adamant about ensuring the full representation at all local, regional, national and international levels of the Labour Party, the Trade Unions and Momentum, was non negotiable and should be required and underpinned by any new Labour Party constitution.

The restoration of a national BAME Labour conference was seen as an absolute priority in ensuring the revitalisation and restoration of a dynamic black and ethnic minority focused policy agenda, to meet the challenge of increasing racism and religious hatred within post Brexit Britain. It was made absolutely clear from MBC delegates and the wider participants that we need to develop, a Labour Party policy manifesto that addresses racial/class inequality that can demonstrably deliver substantive reductions, in all major areas of racial/class inequality, within our lifetime. 

Suggested constitutional guaranteed representation of the Labour Party and Trade Union movements on the BAME Labour, national executive, conferences and policy forums were also discussed. Conference was clear that there should be no automatic right of representation from Constituency Labour Parties or Trade Unions, some of whom may or may not, have prioritised the issue of race equality and black representation. 

We would argue, representation should be conditional on CLP’s and  TU’s meeting a minimum standards/criteria relating to the extent to which race equality policy and black and ethnic minority representation had been adopted as a priority and where progress towards the goal of full inclusivity was demonstrable. 

We repeat, MBC believes that there should be noautomaticright to representation on BAME structures for those sections of the Labour Party and the wider Labour movement, who failed to deliver on advancing the cause of racial equality and improved black representation.

The consultation event also suggested the creation of a BAME Labour Compliance Unit that would produce an annual audit, to be presented at the annual BAME Conference, which assessed levels of black and ethnic minority representation, policy support and adoption of BAME Labour policy priorities of all those wishing to take up their place within BAME Labour constitutional framework. 

We recognise that within the Labour Party and wider Labour movement individual organisations were each on their own individual journey towards race/class equality with some making better progress than others..

Any constitutionally guaranteed positions in BAME Labour structures, should have to be earned and accessed, by ensuring that all applicants were committed to and were making actual and demonstrable progress towards building an inclusive Labour Party.

The consultation event noted the declining number of African and Caribbean men within the party. Whilst this was true generally, this was particularly noticeable for younger black men. MBC supports all efforts in ensuring gender parity and representation within our movement, and in particular with a focus on black women. Given the reality of the declining representation of black men, MBC believes it's now time for the adoption of policy requiring all BME shortlistswithin both the Labour and trade union movements. Conducting an internal race equality audit, of all Labour Party and Trade Union elected and employed staff would provide a baseline from which annual progress could be measured.

We are concerned that the review panel in presenting the findings of this consultation event, fully reflects the broad range of concerns expressed.We will certainly be looking closely at what is presented to the Labour Party National Executive, and will be assessing how this compares with the feedback given at the consultation event.

We believe that the consultation event marks an important first step towards democratising the Labour Party,and, in particular,BAME Labour. We confirm our intention to ensure that the highest possible progress is made in adopting a constitution that is likely to support our efforts in building the most dynamic, largest and effective black and ethnic minority campaigning group in Europe. We intend to continue to build our movement and to maintain a watching brief on the developments within the party and report back to the wider movement on progress made.

Regards and solidarity, 

Momentum Black Caucus, Executive.  

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Britain has changed and you changed it.

Jez We Can 

This morning we wake up in a new country. A country, that feels somehow different as a result of a new and profound shift in the political tectonic plates of the UK terra firma.

I think the country expects Prime Minister Theresa May to resigned. She has failed to secure her mandate for a"hard Brexit" Im sure I smell a vengeful Tory leadership silently sharpening their knives, ready for a very long night.


Failing that, she will try and form a weak coalition with the racist and extreme right wing Democratic Unionist Party, forming her own coalition of chaos. Lets just remember there association with loyalist terrorists during the  Northern Ireland troubles. I suspect that as a result she will suffer a massive public backlash as a consequence of her desperate attempt to retain power. She should go and go now. 

I'd like to pay special tribute to the young people of this country, whose spirit never wavered, whose hope burned bright, despite the siren calls of doom and disaster. It is the Millennial generation that has rewritten and restructured the British political landscape forever.

A 72% turnout for 19 - 25 year olds is simply remarkable. Utterly staggering in fact. 

In particular, I want to acknowledge that most despised section of our community, young Black and Muslim people. The very people who despised you, who tried to rob you of your futures by promoting racism, xenophobia and hate, have been taught a salutary and brutal lesson. You did that.

Simon Woolley OBV 

I also want to pay huge tribute to the work of Operation Black Vote today, and Simon Wooley. The increased turnout in our communities represents the fulfilment of a life times ambition. The slumbering giant finally woke up, and we should all be very proud.

Much like Jeremy, often toiling in difficult circumstances, challenging the deep cynicism born of frustration and usually robbing Peter to pay Paul, Simon has persevered and stayed the course.

In addition, those Black and ethnic minority organisations who came together to produce a Black Manifesto at such short notice, too many in number to mention here, rightly deserve a mention.

This is the kind of collegiate unity our young people demand of us, This is the ethical leadership they crave, and going forward I appeal to you all, to commit to working harder together for the common good. If this election and Jeremy Corbyn has taught us anything, it's that unity delivers its own reward. 

Personally, as somebody who has worked all his life to see the slumbering giant, the black and ethnic minority vote realise its true potential, today is a day that vindicates and exemplifies our collective power to bring real change to the United Kingdom.

The politics of division and hate have been rejected, in favour of Labour’s vision of a more equal, just and fairer society. What we saw last night, reflected in these dramatic results, is the rebirth of hope and opportunity,

Britain rejected the politics of hate 

To all young people, I say the Millennium generation has saved the nation, and in doing so has restored hope and integrity to a country mired in the divisive, and bitter politics of Brexit Britain.

It is your future, it is your time and much like Julius Caesar, you came, you saw, you conquered.

Jeremy Corbyn, John MacDonald, and let us not forget our dear sister Diane Abbott triumphed against the massed ranks of the British neoliberal elite, the Murdoch media, and a vicious and unrelenting assault on their politics and personalities, and yet the British public embraced the politics of equality and justice, and called time on the great Tory austerity project.

One can only imagine the victory that could have been secured, had the Parliamentary Labour Party, who spent the best part of the last 18 months, fundamentally undermining Jeremy's authority and plunging the Labour Party into disarray.

I say to you all frankly today, you should hang your heads in shame. A united Labour Party could have secured victory, had you prioritised unity in the party, above your own political careers. 

You had no faith, you had no commitment, and you failed both party and country.

No doubt, the decent man Jeremy is, there will be no bitter recriminations, however you should reflect on the quality of his leadership and be determined to dedicate yourself, to his renewed and strengthened mandate or leave the party. That’s the choice that faces you today.  

The great Nelson Mandela once said "it is always impossible, until it's done." And today, on this bright new morning, we see full confirmation of our strategic political power and influence.

I dare venture to say, that the days when our votes were simply taken for granted and weighed in advance, are indeed well and truly over.

We have reached a watershed moment in our history, where the depth and strength of the Black and ethnic minority vote has emerged, as one of the most significant electoral blocs in the United Kingdom. And the reality is, we can only get stronger.

We now enter uncharted waters and no doubt difficult times. It will require our constant vigilance, discipline, and unity behind Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party. Together we can forever change British politics. Today as the sun shines on a glorious Britain, we can finally believe, another world is possible.  

Thank you Jeremy and well done to his loyal MP's and supporters.

In a tragic and often brutal British election Jeremy Corbyn’s decency shines through. A personal view.

As the election rumbles on, the excitement builds as a man thought to have Buckley’s chance of entering No 10 defies all expectations.

Jeremy Corbyn representing a Socialist party and written off by all, as a hopeless wreck, has come to inspire people, with his plain language and moderate policies whose main political aspiration is to simply reduce economic and social inequality, by delivering fairness, industry and social injustice in the UK.

I could take you down the policy road of compare; critique and contrast Labour and Tory policy but you’ve heard all that before a million times already.

But let me be clear and declare my political preference, as Victor Meldrew once famously said, “I’d sooner stick my genitals in a pan of boiling chip fat” than vote Tory. 

So no, I’m not going insult your intelligence. by feigning neutrality.  However, having duly declared my personal politics, I wanted to share a personal insight on leadership, rarely discussed.

I  invite you to suspend your political bias, and for a moment, consider the extraordinary political phenomenon, that is the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. 

I contend that his perseverance and endurance, under heavy from the Troy high command and his own side, demonstrates real leadership. Since his election on the 12^th September 2015, Jeremy has suffered an almost constant barrage of criticism, both personal and political.

Both the scale and intensity of that criticisms has been unprecedented, in my experience. Much as been made about the individual qualities of May and Corbyn and their suitability to lead the country and it’s the qualities of these two political opponents and in particular Jeremy that I want to explore.

The reason? Well I think, despite the pundits and the media, there is a remarkable groundswell of support for Jeremy, and it's coming from ordinary working people, ground down and exhausted by the millstone of Tory manufactured poverty, that comes as a devastating consequence of their blind faith allegiance to ideological austerity. 

I invite you to agree with me, whatever your political view, that it takes a formidable amount of courage, personal self-belief, fortitude, character and tenacity to do what Jeremy Corbyn has done.

He has had to survive the last 20 or so months, enduring a daily lambasting by sections of the majority press,  a daily bout of  ritual of personal humiliation, prosecuted through the lies and propaganda of a Tory Party and aided by a largely supine British press.

To endure and succeed in such an overwhelmingly hostile climate is, I suggest,  a truly epic achievement.  Think about it serioiusly for a second, to endure that scale of personal and political attacks, and here's the truly remarkable thing,  he did so without, I repeat for added emphasis, without anger, retaliation or recrimination? How many of us can do that?

To continue in the face of that tirade each and every day, without recrimination, to face a snarling right wing press, the smears, the press intrusions, the arrogant taunts emanating from a Tory Cabinet, man I tell you, that takes a special breed of person. This trait, this aspect of his character is for me alone, a stunning example in self-discipline and adherence to principle. Both Jeremy and his closet allies should be congratulated.

Faced with these critical challenges, Jeremy Corbyn has steadfastly refused to be drawn into the Westminster yah boo sucks, Punch and Judy type political debate, a style of debate, honed, learned and crafted in the debating clubs of Oxford and Cambridge. 

Of course the Tories whose arrogance and hubris weigh in equal measure, initially laughed at the man, and assumed this election would one a walk in the park.

It was a serious miscalculation, we British, dislike being taken fro granted and we love an underdog.

The current set of Eton Tories brings to mind something said by the famous 1930’s British playwright W. Somerset Maughan, that could have been written for Boris Johnson himself, when he told a group of ambitious Tories

“ You have magnificent chance, with all the advantages of wealth and position. Don’t throw it away by an exhibition of talent.”  

The problem with the Tories, as illustrated by their unbelievably arrogant approach to this election, is that they truly believe, and one cannot overstate this, that they. and they alone are born to rule.

It appears that Jeremy, as far as the Tories are concerned, and as Winston Churchill once said in reference Labour Politician Stafford Cripps,

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire”.

I think it’s this type of sneering, dismissive, pomposity and arrogance that has turned the tables for Jeremy. 

As I’ve watched this man stand tall, with integrity and poise under the most sustained and intense political pressure, even from his own side, what struck me most is his Zen like ability to stay calm. 

Throughout this election, Jeremy has emerged as the paragon of patience and virtue, whilst all around him resorted to petty personal comments and silly points scoring. In this regard, he has become the very embodiment of that plucky Brit, the Squaddie described by that arch British colonialist, Rudyard Kipling’s in his most famous of poems If…

I know what its like to try and sustain ones dignity under a welter of lies and constant criticism. I can relate to this as a result of my own personal experiences during hellish  2008 London Mayoral elections.

My family and I, endured four months of hell, and when the dust settled, it left me feeling bitter and angry. It’s taken wise counsel, the love of my beautiful wife and family and the company of good friends, for me to finally exorcise the demons that haunted my own psyche, as a result of the high tech press lynching and daily political mauling I endured.

How on earth Jeremy Corbyn has successfully endured so much more than I, and remained untainted, is simply remarkable in my view, and here is my substantive and important point, it’s an incredibly important quality of principled leadership to be considered so universally 'unpopular' and yet maintain your principled course.

It’s a quality, as we’ve seen, that Prime Minister Theresa May lacks. Under public and political pressure PM May snaps, U-turns, folds, collapses at the merest whiff of grapeshot.  She has been protected and ensconced in a Tory media bubble, refusing to engage or utter anything but the rote like formulas of 'strong and stable' and 'Brexit means Brexit'. 

When she has faced the media, in the aftermath of the tragic terror attacks on my twin home towns of Manchester and London, she was shambolic,  evasive and shifty in her answers to key questions about the 20,000 cut to police officer numbers ordered by her as Home Secretary,  

Her personality and public persona, carefully crafted through public relations guru’s and developed to prosecute the fiction that she is "strong and stable" has been ruthless undermined by that most mercurial and dangerous of political dynamics, hubris and events.

It’s a stunning turnaround for the political underdog Jeremy. To see him now, being rapturously applauded by ordinary people, drawing crowds of tens of thousands to political rallies all over the country, and rising in the polls, inspiring a new generation of young voters, is a simply astonishing.

Of course I’ll be voting for Labour as I always do, but this time I wont one hiding my nose, whilst doing so, and I suspect like millions of others I will heading for the polling booth, for the first time in decades, with a hop, a skip and  smile.

With the country wracked with division in the aftermath of the Brexit vote and an overwhelming sense of  disappointment, anger and despair at the profound consequences. our man Jeremy Corbyn has done the impossible. Despite all the odds, he has restored hope in people’s hearts and minds.

He has done so by simply being honest and holding on to his cherished principles, and refusing to play the age old Westminster media election game.

To do so in such a troublesome,  hostile and toxic political environment is real evidence of authentic leadership and brings to mind that old English saying,

“Remember the kettle, always up to its neck in hot water, yet still it sings.” 

Jeremy the plucky Englishman is still singing.

This Thursday let the Tories weep into their Dom Perignon. Vote Labour

Mr Lee Jasper

Former Senior Political Adviser to the Mayor of London 2000- 2008.

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