The sad death of ‘Father of the House’, Labour MP Gerald Kaufman has triggered yet another by-election. The previous two by-elections, in Stoke Central and Copeland, were the subject of sabotage attempts by Labour relics and even a current MP, as the party’s right attempted to manufacture twin defeats in order to bring down Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Kaufman died after a months-long illness and is likely to have known the prognosis. As the BBC reported in July last year, he was widely expected to step down in any case – and the Labour party suspended his CLP (constituency Labour party):
It’s not clear whether Labour’s national or regional HQ knew at this point about the likely outcome of Mr Kaufman’s illness, but even the BBC recognised at the time that the issue of his successor was at the heart of the issue.
Now it’s looking like the right wing of the party was playing the same unprincipled trick that they did with Wallasey and Brighton and Hove – confecting spurious allegations to ensure that local members were deprived of a say on the MP who represents them.
The suspension of the CLP was eventually lifted in November last year – at which point Labour must have known Gerald Kaufman’s prognosis – but only with Labour’s regional retaining tight control of meetings and processes:
The final highlighted point is crucial, as it means that Labour’s north-west HQ will have full control of the selection of Kaufman’s successor.
And it looks like arch-blairite David Miliband will be the beneficiary. Rumours are circulating in abundance that Miliband – the darling of the anti-Corbyn faction in the Labour Party – is set to be the candidate in the forthcoming by-election:
https://twitter.com/WillBlackWriter/status/837238595517837312
It’s not clear whether the right-wingers’ plan back in November was already aiming to lever Miliband in as the candidate for Gorton, most of whose members would certainly not wish for him, but it would be unsurprising – and disgustingly cynical. At the very least, it’s an opportunist exploitation of an already-undemocratic but entirely typical blairite tactic.
And one that needs to be prevented before it becomes a fait accompli.
Labour’s ‘right-whingers’ think the Blair-tainted, deeply uninspiring David Miliband would be a viable replacement for Jeremy Corbyn as party leader, but for that ‘dream’ (nightmare) to become a reality requires Miliband to be an MP. We have far too many right-wing Establishment drones in the Labour Party already.
The red-Tory factions think ‘Mr Bean’, who left the party in a sulk after losing the leadership election to his brother to take a hugely-paid job in New York, would appeal to voters disillusioned with ‘more of the same’.
That tells you all you need to know about the delusions of Progress, Labour First and the other faux-Labour groups that are relentlessly trying to bring down Corbyn.
And any right-thinking Labour member or supporter needs to make such a stink about Miliband’s candidacy that it is stifled before it begins.
The SKWAWKBOX is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal. Thanks for your support so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
Thanks for the heads-up. I will get on the case with my own objections.
How interesting and depressing. Sulky Dave being levered into this seat? I hope not. A Leadership challenger “Mr Bean”? No way.
The TUSC might need to stand there also if a right winger blairit is pick
DM is in the running for top UN job- is it likely that he wants to come back to UK?? I rather doubt it.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/10/david-miliband-in-running-for-top-un-development-job
Reblogged this on Declaration Of Opinion .
He’s always running after something isn’t he?
o running for £leader
o running to $America
o running for £Gorton
Can we make him run and keep running …away, far away from the UK? His heart – if he has one – is certainly not connected here. The only thing this carpetbagger has got going for him is an admirable father – who most likely spins in his grave every time this treacherous son makes his next move or opens his mouth in determined attempts to fill a void in his fat wallet.
I see Luke and Labour first are visiting Manchester CLP today I wonder if they have remembered to pack their thumb screws ?
Please God nooooooooo !
The constituency was suspended because of allegations vote rigging and complaints by local members at Levenshulme ward. Nothing to do with Miliband. And Gerald was planning to come back. He had no intention of resigning.
That’s the reason given, Martin, sure. Just like alleged homophobia in Wallasey and spitting in Brighton, both of which were obviously – and subsequently demonstrated to be – nonsense. The article doesn’t claim it was done initially with Miliband in mind, rather that it was done to control selection of a replacement, should Kaufman have been unable to return. But it looks like he’s firmly in the frame now.
“The final highlighted point is crucial, as it means that Labour’s north-west HQ will have full control of the selection of Kaufman’s successor.”
When you actually demonstrate that with evidence, this might be worth reading. Right now all your writing asks for more trust than it deserves.
Lmao. Labour’s own announcement that regional HQ will control candidate selections isn’t good enough? Right…
how do we stop him thats the question .
Looking into that!
great many thanks look fwd to the article on how to
Were there by-elections in Wallasey and in Brighton and Hove? If not, then your argument doesn’t make much sense. I’m surprised you didn’t suggest they bumped poor old Gerald off!
You couldn’t be more wrong. Left-wing candidates had just swept the board for the exec positions in both CLPs – and votes of no confidence were about to be tabled in both MPs. Different circumstances, same aim and motives.
Cannot David Miliband allow his father to rest in peace? Ralph Miliband would have rejoiced to see Jeremy Corbyn leading the party. And he would have hoped to see his sons supporting him, not doing their best to wreck the last hopes of getting a Socialist government.
Isn’t there some hint of scandal of mis-use of funds by International Rescue?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/11/david-milibands-refugee-aid-group-in-corruption-probe/
http://www.humanosphere.org/basics/2016/05/usaid-suspends-major-aid-groups-after-inquiry-finds-corruption-in-syrian-aid-pipeline/
There is!
bye elections supervised by nec sub committee recomendations not legally bound nominations sub committee select the short list
so get your act together NOW