Labour’s disciplinary cruelty
JVL Introduction
Despite accepting the recommendations of the Chakrabarti Inquiry, despite Labour’s undertakings to the EHRC, its disciplinary procedures remain brutal and punitive.
We know of many, many cases of individuals who remain suspended in limbo for months and indeed years after anonymous allegations have been made against them.
So it is good to see one of the long-outstanding cases of justice postponed/ injustice perpetuated, exposed in the pages of the local newspaper in Keir Starmer’s constituency.
We can only hope that a flicker of shame passes over the face of this renowned human rights lawyer as he is momentarily reminded of the inhumane disciplinary regime he presides over and seems either incapable of reforming and/or unwilling to overhaul.
This article was originally published by Camden New Journal on Sat 10 Sep 2022. Read the original here.
When will Labour lift the suspension of Moshé Machover?
When will Labour lift the suspension of Moshé Machover?
Camden New Journal, Thursday, 8th September
• WHEN will the Labour Party’s suspension of 86-year-old Professor Moshé Machover be lifted?
He has been suspended from the party since December 2020. He is a lifelong socialist and anti-racist. Yet he hasn’t had a voice in the Labour Party for over 20 months.
If an employer treated a member of their workforce in this way, they would rightly be condemned as a “bad boss”.
I have learnt a great deal from Prof Machover when he has spoken at Hampstead and Kilburn Constituency Labour Party meetings.
His arguments in support of Palestinian rights have always been well reasoned and passionate.
I recently watched a film about his work in which he was interviewed about his life in Israel and the roots of his political beliefs.
I discovered that this brilliant speaker at my local CLP was born in Tel Aviv in 1936 and was 12 during the 1948 Nakba.
He was instrumental in setting up Matzpen (compass), an early Marxist organisation in Israel, which defended the Palestinians’ right to a homeland.
It is very disturbing that someone like the professor can simply be “disappeared” from the Labour Party for no justifiable reason.
Suspending socialists and anti-racists in this way simply weakens the party.
To find out more about Moshé Machover, watch Helena Aksentijevic’s film: Moshe Machover, Compass
Angie Birtill
Former Camden Labour Councillor, Kilburn
We can only hope that a flicker of shame passes over the face of this renowned human rights lawyer as he is momentarily reminded of the inhumane disciplinary regime he presides over and seems either incapable of reforming and/or unwilling to overhaul.
A forlorn hope I believe. The purge on left wing members was instigated by the man leading the LP and is his fervent wish to continue his disgraceful and cruel campaign to rid left-wing dissent more akin to N Korea. It is an amazing episode in LP history.
I heard Moshe Machover speak in Leeds in 2010 and was very impressed. As an active LP member in Harrogate I feel that an eminent and caring Jewish socialist like him would be a great asset to our party and should be readmitted now!