tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post3934706092979203988..comments2023-10-21T16:25:58.899+01:00Comments on Three Score Years And Ten: Labour and Anti-semitismHarry Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-40348523943004285072021-02-23T10:08:03.423+00:002021-02-23T10:08:03.423+00:00Hello Co. As an MP I shared a wide range of Jeremy...Hello Co. As an MP I shared a wide range of Jeremy's views and actions, but there were numbers of these where I felt that he went over the top. As he had never even held a junior Labour Party front bench position and had no experience of how things worked at that level, I felt that he would be in a very difficult position in suddenly playing the role of leader. Instead I wanted the left to gradually get absorbed into front bench positions and to gain influence. The only time I saw this as being a possibility in my spell from 1987 to 2005 was during the far too short period of the leadership of John Smith and Margaret Beckett. Jeremy's spell as leader has only led to a reaction in the PLP that has led to the left being placed again in poor a parliamentary position. It is, however, a disgrace that Jeremy has had his membership of the PLP removed. Harry Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01600933854461096745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31588679.post-11133957206550434092021-02-21T23:24:41.069+00:002021-02-21T23:24:41.069+00:00Yes Harry I quite agree with much if what you say....Yes Harry I quite agree with much if what you say. I first met Jeremy many years ago, when a ran the 16mm projecter at a meeting he ran as part of his campaign for the minorities in Israel. As yiu say, this may offend but was in no way racist. When I ran the City Farm in Islington, he and the family were frequent visitors, and we had many farm gate chats.<br />He has very deeply held "socialist principles"as I do, an incriminating phrase now in some LP circles I fear, but is not a skilled career politician (I suggest no names).<br />When he stood as party leader I was horified. They will tear this decent man apart. As they did.<br /><br />Cohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00642074003165866525noreply@blogger.com