Some of us will never believe that Jeremy Corbyn voted Remain. Seumas Milne, Andrew Murray, Andrew Fisher, Tariq Ali, Dennis Skinner and Ronnie Campbell are among those who might enlighteningly be asked the Yes-No question, "Do you believe that Jeremy Corbyn voted Remain?"
But three members of his Shadow Cabinet undoubtedly voted Leave: Richard Burgon, who once told me that, "My politics are simply the Morning Star"; Ian Lavery, Arthur Scargill's handpicked successor as President of the NUM; and Jon Trickett, the last of Tony Benn's Vicars on Earth. Well, apart from Corbyn, that is.
All three of Burgon, Lavery and Trickett have strongly supported Rebecca Long-Bailey. Trickett is Jewish, as is Jon Lansman, who was also very close to Benn, and who has also come out fighting for Long-Bailey. Lansman has been very fiercely criticised indeed for his zeal in pursuing allegations of anti-Semitism on the Left. Frankly, much of that criticism has been well-founded. If he says that something is not anti-Semitic, then that really ought to be good enough for anyone.
Lavery and Trickett have also done sterling work on why Labour lost the Red Wall. It moved from the pro-Brexit and anti-austerity party that only its own staff could stop from winning in 2017, to being the anti-Brexit party that went down to a catastrophic defeat in 2019, and which is now reverting to its pre-Corbyn support for austerity as well.
Lo and behold, it has never under Keir Starmer got back up to the poll rating that delivered its worst defeat in 80 years. But no one in Labour is listening. Whereas the other side seems to know exactly who brought it to the dance, merrily implementing the economic programme that Corbyn and John McDonnell could never quite get through Labour's labyrinthine committee system.
But three members of his Shadow Cabinet undoubtedly voted Leave: Richard Burgon, who once told me that, "My politics are simply the Morning Star"; Ian Lavery, Arthur Scargill's handpicked successor as President of the NUM; and Jon Trickett, the last of Tony Benn's Vicars on Earth. Well, apart from Corbyn, that is.
All three of Burgon, Lavery and Trickett have strongly supported Rebecca Long-Bailey. Trickett is Jewish, as is Jon Lansman, who was also very close to Benn, and who has also come out fighting for Long-Bailey. Lansman has been very fiercely criticised indeed for his zeal in pursuing allegations of anti-Semitism on the Left. Frankly, much of that criticism has been well-founded. If he says that something is not anti-Semitic, then that really ought to be good enough for anyone.
Lavery and Trickett have also done sterling work on why Labour lost the Red Wall. It moved from the pro-Brexit and anti-austerity party that only its own staff could stop from winning in 2017, to being the anti-Brexit party that went down to a catastrophic defeat in 2019, and which is now reverting to its pre-Corbyn support for austerity as well.
Lo and behold, it has never under Keir Starmer got back up to the poll rating that delivered its worst defeat in 80 years. But no one in Labour is listening. Whereas the other side seems to know exactly who brought it to the dance, merrily implementing the economic programme that Corbyn and John McDonnell could never quite get through Labour's labyrinthine committee system.
Since no one in the Government has expressed the ludicrous view that The Independent might have published Maxine Peake's original words without checking them, then perhaps Long-Bailey should seek some sort of consultancy role with the Government?
The Government's economic programme is much more in line with Long-Bailey's views than Labour's is, and the Government is on course to condemn the impending Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley, rather than to expel from party membership anyone who did. The Budget of March 2020 has ended the era that began with the Budget of 1976. The Centre is the think tank for this new era. It already has plenty going on.
The Government's economic programme is much more in line with Long-Bailey's views than Labour's is, and the Government is on course to condemn the impending Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley, rather than to expel from party membership anyone who did. The Budget of March 2020 has ended the era that began with the Budget of 1976. The Centre is the think tank for this new era. It already has plenty going on.
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