There are several different ways we can consider this latest from Owen Jones. One would be this is just the standard Trot entryist tactics. Another is that he can’t count or is clueless in some other manner. Possibly just that he’s a gifted propagandist who is hoping no one looks at the horse’s teeth all that closely. Or even that he’s just blown a major Remainer tactic out of the water.
The subject is Kate Hoey. She voted with the Tories on something or other to do with Brexit. This is an outrage of course and the local Labour Party has voted for her to lose the whip. Young Owen is arguing that they’re quite right to do so:
Understandably, the local parties of these MPs have recoiled in horror. Hoey’s Vauxhall voted unanimously for the whip to be removed;
Well, no, not really, that local party didn’t quite vote that way. This is how they did vote:
Emily Wallace, chairwoman of Vauxhall Labour Party, said: “The meeting was open to all of our 2,300 members to attend and speak, however there were no members that came to speak in defence of Kate.
“Just three delegates abstained on the motion, no one voted against and the other 42 delegates voted in favour.”
Well, yes, that is standard Trot democracy. Only those who attend the interminable committee meetings get to vote on things. And those who do turn up and vote the wrong way aren’t told about the committees that really vote on things anyway. It’s also possible that he really does think that a vote by 1.83% of the membership is unanimous. If he does then he’s just blown that major Remainer tactic out of the water, hasn’t he?
You know, the one that says OK, among those who voted it was 52% to Leave, 48% to Remain. But among the population it was 65% not for Leave because some people didn’t vote! Something we can’t really support if at the same time we’re going to say that 1.83% is unanimous – what about the 98% who didn’t vote at Vauxhall?
But that’s different because reasons. For Owen Jones really is just a propagandist, nothing more.
Standard lefty arithmetic I’m afraid. Usually in the form of only 40% voted Tory, so we should be in power- apparently kippers and lib- Dems get their votes appropriated.
More interesting is that of 2300 members only 45 turned up for a meeting. Might indicate a shortage of campaigners for forthcoming elections. Especially if, as seems likely, many to most of those with a proven record of turning out to campaign disagree with the committee verdict.
If no one rises to speak or vote in opposition to the Collective, then the vote, however small, is indeed unanimous. Though, as you said recently, exaggeration is how headlines work — also politicians aiming to de-legitimize their adversaries. Pat, when rightist parties become mealy-mouthed, leftist parties become explicitly socialistic. Your prediction is wishful thinking, though I share your wish. Vauxhall Labour may become too extreme for the electorate or even its own canvassers — or it may be seen as the only party that believes in stuff and campaigns with conviction. Worstall’s Law again — Vauxhall Labour governed by… Read more »
But what did her constituency as a while vote regarding Brexit, after all she is elected to represent the entire constituency not just members of the local Labour Party.
“I lost the election, so the winner has a duty to moderate her position and represent my views anyway.” Sorry, this con job seems to work only on lawmakers in the conservative parties.
When I was a party branch secretary (different party) it was typical to get 10% of the membership turning up to meetings. Less than 2% is really pathetic. Even now I’m managing 5% cuppa ‘n’ natter in a branch that’s been functionally defunct for a decade.
There is a difference between “unanimous” and “nemo contradictore”, commonly abbreviated to nem con.
If Owen Jones was educated past Primary School level, he should know this.