Corbyn’s Leadership of Labour was a Disaster – We Cannot Afford a Repeat Performance With Karie Murphy & James Schneider As Advisors
The Membership Must Control Your Party & Tell Corbyn to Work With NOT Isolate Zarah
To Join Your Party Click Here
https://www.yourparty-membership.uk
Zarah Sultana – Why I am an Anti-Zionist
It is no secret that there were tensions between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. Zarah bounced Corbyn into forming the Your Party when she resigned from the Labour Party. Corbyn did nothing to hide his dismay that she had had the gall to call for an end to his dithering and delay about whether or not to form a new party.
It is therefore doubly disturbing that Corbyn, along with the four Independent MPs – none of whom claims to be a socialist – launched an attack on Zarah for sending out details of a new membership portal for Your Party.
The threat to invoke legal action including a complaint to the Information Commissioner are disgraceful. Has Corbyn not had enough of State interference, such as the EHRC report on ‘anti-Semitism’, in the British political system? The dispute is a political not legal one.
The panicked reaction of the all-male Independent MPs
Instead of supporting his co-leader, Corbyn attacked Sultana. Zarah is totally correct in calling out this misogyny and terming it a ‘sexist boys club’. Corbyn should be ashamed of aligning with the group of male, Muslim MPs who were elected on opposition to the genocide in Gaza but who are not otherwise progressive or on the left.
Corbyn has aligned himself with sexists against a young, politically principled woman MP. Socialists should have no difficulty in deciding where their loyalties lie. Corbyn seems determined to repeat the mistakes which led to his defeat as Labour leader.
Corbyn really needs to get a grip and put the overwhelming desire of people to see an alternative to Starmer and Farage at the top of his priorities. Instead of excluding Zarah he must talk to her. The Independent MPs are welcome to join the party but they must not have special privileges.
Politically they are a mixed bunch. Adnan Hussein was elected in Blackburn with a communalist vote defeating Craig Murray. Shokat Adams opposes the idea of a left or socialist party because we might put off people on the right.
One year ago Jackie Walker, Chris Williamson, Asa Winstanley, Anne Mitchell and myself wrote a letter to Corbyn asking him to reassess the role that false accusations of anti-Semitism played in his downfall as Leader of the Labour Party and his reaction to them.
During Corbyn’s leadership hundreds of good socialists were expelled from the Labour Party for ‘anti-Semitism’, in reality criticising the State of Israel. This was at the behest of the genocide supporting Jewish Labour Movement who claimed that it was all about ‘anti-Semitism’ when anyone with a few brain cells could see that their sole concern was support of the apartheid state of genocide.
We did not receive a reply to our letter. It was obvious to me as soon as I was suspended, in March 2016, that neither myself nor Jackie Walker or later on, Ken Livingstone, Marc Wadsworth and Chris Williamson were the real targets.
We were just collateral damage. The real target was Corbyn. Despite Corbyn and Jennie Formby presiding over an increasing number of expulsions the Zionists were not satisfied. Corbyn and Formby were proud of the number of ‘anti-Semites’, i.e. socialists that they had expelled. Not once did it occur to the dim-witted two that the more people who were expelled, the more it confirmed the false allegations of the Zionists that anti-Semitism was indeed a real problem inside the Labour Party.
Corbyn’s efforts to appease the JLM and the Labour Right had no effect whatsoever except to give them confidence. No sooner had Corbyn satisfied one demand than they went on to make another demand. As Len McCluskey wrote in Huffington Post Zionist leaders refused to accept ‘yes’ as an answer.
The JLM passed a motion of no confidence in Corbyn, days after had begged them not to disaffiliate from the Labour Party. A bogus threat designed to win sympathy for these poor ‘victims’ of anti-Semitism.
Corbyn’s strategy, if one can call it that, was to retreat, apologise and promise to do better. However the JLM had no intention of letting up because they had been refounded in 2015 with the explicit aim of removing Corbyn.
Accusations of ‘anti-Semitism’ were seen as the ideal way to undermine Corbyn. It was designed to confuse an identity politics left that confuses racism with prejudice and fails to understand that ‘hate speech’ can often be a code for support for the oppressor. In 2015 people were not wise to the weaponisation of anti-Semitism as a means of undermining the Palestinian struggle. They are now.
Corbyn has learnt nothing from his years of leadership. Of course it is understandable that the whole period was traumatic for him but that is no excuse for refusing to learn the lessons of that period. Instead he takes pride in his anti-intellectual approach.
Of course there were a tiny handful of anti-Semites in the Labour Party. No doubt there were tiny numbers of paedophiles too. Every party has them but no one said that Labour was ‘overrun’ with paedophiles. In fact the Tory Party was led by an anti-Semite, Boris Johnson, who in his novel 72 Virgins portrayed a Jewish character, Sammy Katz, with a “proud nose and curly hair”, and ‘painted him as a malevolent, stingy, snake-like Jewish businessman who exploits immigrant workers for profit.’ Johnson also described Jewish oligarchs who run the media and fiddle the figures to fix elections.
Not only did Corbyn throw allies like Livingstone, Wadsworth and Williamson under the bus but according to the Labour Leaked Report, his office, in the form of the obnoxious Laura Murray, tried to get the right-wing staff, who detested Corbyn, to speed things up!
Corbyn’s Private Office Was Asking the Labour Right to Expel More Socialists
Whenever the Right, usually in the shape of Tom Watson barked, Corbyn jumped. His only query was as to how high. He supported Jon Lansman, the millionaire property developer who has now joined the JLM, in destroying Momentum’s democracy.
When Chris Williamson was reinstated by an NEC disciplinary panel Tom Watson organised a round robin petition of the Labour Right to protest. Instead of standing up to Watson and defending Williamson Corbyn got Jennie Formby to resuspend him.
The last and final opportunity was over the Open Selection of MPs. Here was the chance to get rid of the right-wing detritus in the Parliamentary Labour Party. Corbyn had always supported mandatory reselection as a young MP. But when Labour MPs pressurised him to oppose it he persuaded Len McCluskey of Unite to break the union’s mandate and also oppose it. By opposing Open Selection Corbyn signed his own death warrant.
Six years later amidst the Genocide in Gaza one would have thought Corbyn would at last have learnt something. That ‘anti-Semitism’ was a smear to be employed against opponents of Israel’s genocide and ethnic cleansing. That Zionism, far from being a form of Jewish identity is a vicious, racist ideology that treats Palestinians as subhumans.
Instead Corbyn merely witters on that anti-Semitism is a terrible thing without any understanding of the fact that the ‘anti-Semitism’ that the Zionists talk about is anti-Zionism. It should be obvious to Corbyn that ‘anti-Semitism’ is the only defence that Israel’s genocidaires have left. Anyone who criticises them is an ‘anti-Semite’. Yet Corbyn gives no indication that he has learnt anything at all from his period as Leader of the Labour Party.
No-one doubts that Corbyn is a veteran supporter of the Palestinians. That is why the Zionists and their imperialist allies on the Labour Right targeted him. However, even now, he has no understanding of the reasons for the Palestinians plight. He does not see that ethnic cleansing is an integral part of the Zionist dream of a purely Jewish ethno-nationalist state.
Corbyn was a vigorous opponent of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. He was even arrested because of it. Corbyn would have been the first to say that opposing the South African regime’s human rights abuses was not enough if one did not oppose Apartheid itself. Yet when it comes to Israel Corbyn opposes the attacks on Palestinians without understanding that this derives from Zionism, the ideology behind Israeli apartheid.
Corbyn still supports the 2 State Solution even though it has been the main smokescreen which has enabled the expansion of the settlements on the West Bank and the growth of the messianic neo-Nazi Jewish Right in Israel. Two states means a ‘Jewish’ settler colonial state continuing.
Zarah Sultana, by way of contrast has understood that Corbyn’s adoption of the IHRA misdefintion of anti-Semitism was a fatal mistake. Zarah’s declaration that she is a proud anti-Zionist should therefore have been welcomed. Instead of huffing and puffing Corbyn should have joined her.
Instead Corbyn has instead reverted back to his failed advisors in Collective, James Schneider and Karie Murphy, the architects of Corbyn’s disastrous failings first time around. It is as if Corbyn is congenitally incapable of learning from his past mistakes.
Corbyn has learnt nothing from what happened between 2015 and 2019. He doesn’t get how ‘anti-Semitism’ was weaponised by the Zionists and the British Establishment. The same Establishment that is now actively supporting and participating in the Genocide in Gaza.
James Schneider’s Pamphlet That Bolstered the Fake Anti-Semitism Campaign
I hope that despite the breaking out of open warfare that all those involved, in particular Corbyn, will realise that Your Party (despite the opposition of Shockat Adams to terming it a left party) will make its politics clear to all and adopt a name, such as The Left Party.
We face a neo-fascist racist party leading the polls. Starmer’s Labour is not only incapable of fighting racism it doesn’t want to. Racism and imperialism are deeply embedded in it. I hope Corbyn recognises that his petty squabbles with Zarah must not get in the way of the main task which is to defeat Nigel Farage’s racist Reform Party.
For my part I have no hesitation in supporting Zarah Sultana and all anti-racists and anti-imperialists and opponents of misogyny and sexism will do the same. I have therefore joined as a member paying £5 per month despite the dire warnings of Corbyn and the other independent MPs.
If Corbyn is serious about forming a new left party that can challenge Farage then he has to put his ego to one side and stop being precious. He also has to accept that after the Holocaust in Gaza politics around Palestine have changed and that there is no merit in clinging to outdated concepts and ideas. Becoming an open anti-Zionist himself is long overdue if opposition to apartheid and racism is a principle.
Tony Greenstein
These are the Blogs I Wrote Between the Years 2016-2019 – They Tell the Story of How, When the Ruling Class Media was Attacking Him, Corbyn sought to Appease Rather than Fight – This time it Must Be Different.
2. The Hypocrisy of Ephraim Mirvis’s Attacks on Corbyn’s ‘Anti-Semitism’ November 2019
3. Why Anyone Who is Jewish and on the Left Should Have no Problem Voting for Jeremy Corbyn November 2019
4. The Hypocritical War by the Jewish Chronicle and the Jewish Establishment on Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party 09-Nov-19
5. Rabbi Jonathan Romain, A Senior Reform Rabbi, Urges Jews To Vote ABC – Anyone But Corbyn November 2019
7. Drifting Without Direction – Are these the Dying Days of Corbyn’s Leadership? 02-Oct-19
8. The BBC’s War on Corbyn – Panorama would have made Pravda Proud 15-Jul-19
9. Corbyn’s Latest Anti-Semitism Proposals Prove that He is a Victim of the Stockholm Syndrome 23-Jul-19
10. If You Can’t Defend Chris Williamson, You Can’t Defend Jeremy Corbyn 07-Jul-19
11. Jeremy Corbyn Must Defend Chris Williamson Instead of Appeasing Tom Watson July 2019
13. Once again Corbyn Has Betrayed his Friends & Appeased his Enemies – Today Corbyn’s very leadership is at stake June 2019
14. We Are Witnessing the Slow Death of the Corbyn Project – June 2019
15. Jewish Chronicle Columnist Geoffrey Alderman Nails the Lie that Corbyn is an anti-Semite May 2019
18. The Lie of Labour Anti-Semitism has but one purpose – the removal of Corbyn (I) April 2019
19. Ha’aretz’s War Against Jeremy Corbyn – Gideon Levy & Amira Hass are the exceptions not the rule March 2019
20. John McDonnell Has Become Tom Watson’s Useful Idiot as Watson Openly Defies Corbyn and Prepares a Coup March 2019
21. The Suspension of Chris Williamson MP is Shameful – This May Be the End of the Corbyn Project February 2019
22. In Office But Not in Power – Jeremy Corbyn seems to have become Tom Watson’s Understudy February 2019
23. Joan Ryan Resigns from Labour – Xmas Comes Early for Corbyn February 2019
24. Shock Horror – Jeremy Corbyn is accused of ‘nodding’ when a Rabbi said that Zionism and Judaism have nothing in common!! January 2019
25. Corbynism without Corbyn – Lansman’s new strategy begs the question – what is the purpose of Momentum? January 2019
26. 29 Rabbis of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations issue statement supporting Jeremy Corbyn – for some reason it is ignored by the BBC and the MSM! September 2018
27. We are facing a Coup by Attrition as the Zionists and the BBC pore over every last word Corbyn has ever uttered August 2018
28. Jeremy Corbyn Must STOP Apologising to the Zionists – he has NOTHING to apologise for August 2018
29. Are there any limits to Corbyn’s ritual self-humiliation? Being a Leader means standing up to your opponents not appeasing them August 2018
30. Nick Lowles and Hope not Hate Join the Zionist attack on Jeremy Corbyn August 2018
33. Just when Labour pulls ahead of the Tories, Margaret Hodge makes false allegations of antisemitism against Corbyn July 2018
34. SCOTTISH LAW TOUR – The ‘antisemitism’ witchhunt has many victims but only one target – Jeremy Corbyn June 2018
35. If Corbyn Doesn’t Slay the ‘Anti-Semitism’ Dragon It Will Slay Him June 2018
36. Jewish Chronicle Editor Stephen Pollard Compares Jeremy Corbyn to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis May 2018
37. The Incremental Coup – How the Labour Right Successfully used ‘anti-Semitism’ to attack Corbyn May 2018
38. Jeremy Corbyn throws Marc Wadsworth overboard in a desperate attempt to save his leadership April 2018
39. Corbyn Should Refuse to Meet Jonathan Arkush and the Board of Deputies as and until they take anti-Semitism seriously! April 2018
40. Jeremy Corbyn Stabs Himself in the Back as the Fake News Anti-Semitism Campaign Gathers Strength April 2018
41. Avi Gabbay, leader of Israel’s Labour Party cuts links with Jeremy Corbyn alleging ‘anti-Semitism’ April 2018
42. If Momentum expels me today they will be joining the false anti-Semitism campaign whose target is Corbyn March 2018
43. A Very British Coup – How the British Establishment and the Israeli Embassy are Using ‘anti-Semitism’ to Destabilise Jeremy Corbyn March 2018
44. EXCLUSIVE – The letter that Corbyn intended to send to Jonathan Arkush at the Board of Deputies March 2018
46. The Guardian and Jonathan Freedland’s tedious Campaign against Corbyn November 2017
47. Corbyn Rally Attracts Thousands in Brighton – But He Refuses to Speak at Labour Friends of Palestine Meeting For Fear of Offending Zionist Lobby September 2017
48. The false ‘anti-Semitism’ allegations at Labour Conference have one purpose only – to destabilise Corbyn’s leadership September 2017
49. Corbyn Must Defend Chris Williamson MP Against False Accusations of Anti-Semitism September 2017
50. Jeremy Corbyn and the Humiliation of Nick Cohen June 2017
53. DEFEND KEN LIVINGSTONE – DEFEND CORBYN – SIGN THE LETTER BELOW April 2017
58. Corbyn’s Disastrous Brexit Strategy – Labour’s slow moving car crash February 2017
59. Sign the Petition – Call on Corbyn to sever all ties with Labour Friends of Apartheid Israel February 2017
60. Fake claims blown apart – Al Jazeera’s The lobby exposes the establishment’s ‘anti-Semitism’ claims for what they are, writes Tony Greenstein January 2017
61. Letter from 112 Labour Party members to Jeremy Corbyn January 2017
62. Jon Lansman’s Xmas Punch Could Sucker Corbyn January 2017
63. As the Guardian’s ‘anti-Semitism’ campaign against Corbyn continues its time to BOYCOTT the Guardian October 2016
64. Victory for Ken Livingstone Despite Corbyn’s Shameful Silence September 2016
65. The Calm Before The Storm – As Corbyn Wins the Right Intensifies Its Destabilisation Strategy September 2016
66. Corbyn Abandons 30 Years of Support for Palestine – But Despite Grovelling He Was Still Booed September 2016
67. Over 1,500 at Brighton Rally for Jeremy Corbyn August 2016
68. Thousands Queue 4 Corbyn In Liverpool August 2016
69. Massive Pro-Corbyn Rally in Brighton & Hove as Left Sweeps to Victory in AGM July 2016
70. Jeremy Corbyn – In Office but Not In Power – Right Gerrymanders to Prevent 130,000 from Voting in Leadership Ballot July 2016
71. The Times & Jewish Chronicle Report our Story on Corbyn Backtracking on Palestine May 2016
72. When Jeremy Corbyn Supported a Democratic, Secular State & Breaking Links with Poale Zion (JLM) May 2016
73. Labour’s Election Results Give Corbyn only a Temporary Reprieve May 2016
74. Open Letter to Jeremy Corbyn on Witch-hunt as McDonnell Tacks to the Right April 2016
75. Brilliant Momentum Rally Says Corbyn Stays March 2016
76. Jeremy Corbyn and the Retreat from Palestine 5 March 2016
78. Jeremy Corbyn & the Retreat from Palestine Jan 20 2016
80. Oxford University Labour Club – An Old Story – Support Palestinians Cry Anti-Semitism – 20 Feb 16
81. Jeremy Corbyn & the Retreat from Palestine – 20 January 2016
82. The Witchhunt of Gerald Kaufman – Crucified for Supporting the Palestinians – 28 November 2015
83. The Board of Deputies Invites Anti-Semitic Attacks on British Jews 10 October 2015
84. The Sad Delusions of New Labour 23 August 2015
Tony, your latest intervention is a welcome reminder of the dangers of repeating the failures of the Corbyn era. You rightly expose the role of Zionist pressure, the cowardice of party leadership and the betrayal of expelled comrades. But your embrace of Zarah Sultana demands scrutiny. Not because she is young or principled or anti-Zionist, but because she has publicly called for the exclusion of gender critical socialists from the new party. That is not a minor disagreement. It is a political fault line.
You have spent years warning against the weaponization of identity politics. You have shown how it was used to destroy Corbynism, silence critics of Israel and fracture the left. Yet now you endorse a figure who deploys the same logic to marginalise comrades who defend sex-based rights. That contradiction cannot be ignored. It undermines the very clarity you demand from Corbyn and the new party.
If Your Party is to be more than a rebrand of past mistakes, it must reject liberal gatekeeping. It must defend anti-Zionism and oppose misogyny, but it must also refuse the false equivalence between materialist critique and bigotry. Zarah’s stance on gender is not just wrong. It is a threat to the unity and discipline the left needs to confront imperialism, fascism and capitalist decay.
We cannot build a party on selective solidarity. We cannot exclude feminists who challenge gender ideology while claiming to fight for the oppressed. That is not socialism. It is liberalism in radical clothing. If you want a party that speaks for the working class, that defends Palestine and fights misogyny, then it must also defend the right to name sex and speak truth without fear.
You have the credibility to say this. You have the history. But you must be consistent. Otherwise the new party will inherit the same contradictions that destroyed the last one. And the left will remain trapped in a cycle of betrayal and retreat.
Nicholas,
I thought I had said that I disagree with Zarah over trans rights and exclusions. I agree with you that we can’t exclude gender critical feminists. That would be madness
I think we have to call out bigotry but I have no disagreement. However on the main questions Zarah is right and Corbyn is wrong, very wrong.