Right-wing hardliner parachuted into safe North Durham seat banned from ‘Big Meeting’ – which cheered Corbyn’s election victory – but posts video of him marching with band four miles away from main gathering
Right-wing hardliner and Israel fanatic Luke Akehurst has posted a video of him marching in Sacriston with a single banner as the Durham Miners’ Gala was being held. But Akehurst was not at the ‘Big Meeting’, as the gathering is known, according to locals – because he was told by the organisers not to attend.
Akehurst, who was parachuted into the safe seat of North Durham by the same Labour National Executive his faction controls despite having no personal connection to the area and despite having told a Jewish whistleblower she couldn’t stand as a party candidate because she had blown the whistle on abuse of domestic violence victims by a party staffer, tweeted the video with the claim that the march was the ‘highlight of an amazing first week’:
But locals have said that was the full extent of his activity relating to the Gala – because organisers had told him not to attend – and one tweeted the same in reply:
Attendees at the Gala told Skwawkbox that they had seen no sign of Akehurst – in stark contrast to the high visibility and rapturous welcome given to former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, as the gathering saluted his huge election win last week as an independent. One told Skwawkbox:
Jeremy got such a huge recognition and reception from the speakers & the public in Durham miners gala today. Akehurst was nowhere to be seen at the biggest annual event in his constituency city.
It warms my heart to see him taking a bow in front of thousands of cheering people. Biggest cheer of the day both on the balcony during the procession and on the stage.
Mr Akehurst had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing. On the same day, Israel killed at least one hundred and twenty Palestinians in Gaza by bombing more refugee tents. The occupation regime has killed as many as 186,000 civilians so far, mostly women and children, and maimed far more.
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