Jared O'Mara

[Ldr]

Expected though that this wouldn’t attract much in the way of comments.

Correct Hound. Although someone will eventually come along and try to change the subject by commenting on opposition bad boys! 

Bugger! Someone beat me to it!

That appears to be the default process on these threads. Go check on some of the ones about the Tory crooks for instance.

Or is it one rule for the posh boys again?

And that in a nutshell is a major issue with politics in this country, very few are willing or able to admit failings on ‘their’ side. *BST noted as an exception above

[drfchound]

Sometimes.

[Bentley Bullet]

Expected though that this wouldn’t attract much in the way of comments.

Correct Hound. Although someone will eventually come along and try to change the subject by commenting on opposition bad boys! 

Bugger! Someone beat me to it!

That appears to be the default process on these threads. Go check on some of the ones about the Tory crooks for instance.

Or is it one rule for the posh boys again?

In your case, absolutely.

[danumdon]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/09/former-sheffield-hallam-mp-jared-omara-jailed-for-four-years

We know the fella has issues and cannot function as a normal individual in the glare of public life but come on, 4 years?

We have individuals currently roaming free and making vast sums on the speaking circuit who have bigger rap sheets and a justification to be doing some time. And yes we are talking both Tory and Labour stalwarts (for certain individuals on here who have difficulty with balance)

4 years seems very harsh in my opinion.

[danumdon]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/11/jared-omara-should-never-labour-candidate-rachel-reeves

So Labour are now using the O'Mara case to force through their preferred candidates onto local Labour constituencies thus turning the party into a clone of the majestic leader.

Is this a good thing that Labour is leaving itself open to accusations of party fixing and in the process destroying the broad church appeal which the party has always used in the past to demonstrate its inclusiveness.

So Bolton North East becomes another constituency that Starmer has fermented with an undercurrent of resentment towards the party that will come back to haunt it and could be the difference that leads to them not succeeding in this seat.

If Starmer is doing his blood letting in the local party now what other tricks will he try to force roughshod over the rest of the country to get his way, if he becomes elected?

Looks like one to watch, carefully.

[danumdon]

Very telling that non of the usual suspects have jumped on this, could it be that its not very defensible and Starmer is giving us a glimpse of his burgeoning inner megalomania that he's desperately trying to suppress until after the election?

[wilts rover]

Labour choose a candidate who was never fit to be an MP.

But Labour shouldn't have a process of weeding out people who are not fit to be MP's.

OK.

[BillyStubbsTears]

DD.

If *I* am one of your "usual suspects", the reason I'm not engaging is precisely what Wilts says.

You criticise Labour for one thing. Then in the very same thread, you criticise them for the opposite.

I came to the conclusion a while ago that, despite your professed neutrality, you just like criticising Labour.

[danumdon]

Labour should have a process to weed out unsuitable candidates but it should be done with the backing and support of the local constituency party, If they are to persist with this HQ riding roughshod over the local party then they don’t have an argument when they get accused of enforcing a London Metropolitan mindset  over the party in general, something that has been aimed at the current government in wanting to enforce central control to the detriment of the regions.

BST, despite what you may think  I’m pointing out these failings because Labour is very keen to be seen to be better than the current shambles, when it drops its guard and acts in ways we would all jump on the Tories for portraying it needs to be pointed out.

Criticism when it’s warranted  shouldn’t be seen to be taking sides but highlights Labour failings when standards are shown to be suspect, you can’t accrues your opposition for its underhand dealings and then do similar yourself.

Starmer is trying to install some sort of root and branch change in Labour’s  back room operations, by taking the course he looks to be on will only leave him open to much criticism and rancour in time, a great many party members will not want to go down this “modernisation “ route , in effect selling his soul in his attempt to be elected, in time this will come back to bite him, hard.

[drfchound]

That seems to be a reasonable response dd.
Nothing contentious.

[wilts rover]

Nothing contentious in having a process that weeds out unsuitable candidates - providing it is done by local parties who can choose unsuitable candidates.

OK.

[albie]

Former Newsnight and Ch4 news journo Michael Crick on Keith and the selection process:
https://youtu.be/njyIauSPQc0

Crick is centre right btw, but his comments are worth considering.

[wing commander]

  Wasn't he a labour councillor for 4 years prior to his selection?? However whilst I get the argument Labour acted quickly when it was found out he wasn't fit for office that's no real solace for the constituents who were left without representation for so long.And that goes for the Tory mp's removed mid term from office for there offences as well..So all parties need to have a serious look at their selection criteria.

  However I believe the electorate have to take their own share of the blame. They voted for him because he was Labour not because they listened to him on the hustings and thought he's who I want to represent me..It was pretty obvious from the get go that he wasn't fit for purpose..

[BillyStubbsTears]

  Wasn't he a labour councillor for 4 years prior to his selection?? However whilst I get the argument Labour acted quickly when it was found out he wasn't fit for office that's no real solace for the constituents who were left without representation for so long.And that goes for the Tory mp's removed mid term from office for there offences as well..So all parties need to have a serious look at their selection criteria.

  However I believe the electorate have to take their own share of the blame. They voted for him because he was Labour not because they listened to him on the hustings and thought he's who I want to represent me..It was pretty obvious from the get go that he wasn't fit for purpose..

Nope, he was a council candidate but as far as I'm aware, never elected.

Again, this is something where parties can't win. Local constituency parties don't have the resources to do detailed background checks. They are run by volunteers who already put in huge amounts of unpaid time. So if you leave the selection processes entirely up to them, it's inevitable that the odd sociopath will slip through. But if, as Labour are currently doing, you through the weight of the central party into vetting candidates and scraping back through a decade of social media content to see if there is evidence of them being wrong 'uns, you get parties accused of being control freaks.

[Filo]

Not sure what some people on this thread want, apart from an argument, he’s been dealt with by the Labour Party, and dealt with by the justice system, what more can be done, bar public flogging which the Hime secretary would probably support, along 30p Lee

[danumdon]

  Wasn't he a labour councillor for 4 years prior to his selection?? However whilst I get the argument Labour acted quickly when it was found out he wasn't fit for office that's no real solace for the constituents who were left without representation for so long.And that goes for the Tory mp's removed mid term from office for there offences as well..So all parties need to have a serious look at their selection criteria.

  However I believe the electorate have to take their own share of the blame. They voted for him because he was Labour not because they listened to him on the hustings and thought he's who I want to represent me..It was pretty obvious from the get go that he wasn't fit for purpose..

Nope, he was a council candidate but as far as I'm aware, never elected.

Again, this is something where parties can't win. Local constituency parties don't have the resources to do detailed background checks. They are run by volunteers who already put in huge amounts of unpaid time. So if you leave the selection processes entirely up to them, it's inevitable that the odd sociopath will slip through. But if, as Labour are currently doing, you through the weight of the central party into vetting candidates and scraping back through a decade of social media content to see if there is evidence of them being wrong 'uns, you get parties accused of being control freaks.

Nothing wrong if the central party helps out with vetting and screening of individuals for local constituencies but the issue is when it doesn't just end there.

When the central party decides who YOUR local candidate is, then that's when the problems start, so BST if you can tell me that the Labour candidates for recent local elections were the choice of the local party(after the central party has had its mucky mitts all over them)without interference from the HQ then im quite ok with that. Must be an easy question for you as you said yourself you did some volunteering in a local constituency, (Wakefield if a remember correctly) so you will be well up to scratch on the candidate you canvassed for?

Or are we to believe that every recent by election has required the services of HQ because the local parties candidates where "just not quite the right stuff" vetted or not, or do i smell a budding fascist in Mr Starmer's little metro elite creation?

[BillyStubbsTears]

DD.

You give the example of Wakefield and then talk about "Mr Starmer's little metro elite".

Who was the candidate in Wakefield?

[albie]

A candidate imposed by Labour HQ, which caused the committee to resign;
https://labourlist.org/2022/05/exclusive-labour-accused-of-breaching-rules-in-wakefield-candidate-selection/

They knew him as a former worker for previous Labour MP Mary Creagh.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Albie.

I was responding to DD's point. Do you want to explain where the candidate lived?

[danumdon]

DD.

You give the example of Wakefield and then talk about "Mr Starmer's little metro elite".

Who was the candidate in Wakefield?

So you are basically saying you are ok with what Labour HQ did in Wakefield?

I wonder if you will be singing off the same hymn sheet when this starts to happen nationwide.

Seems to some, win at any price is a price well worth paying. Seems others (like the local party exc in Wakefield) think differently, more resentment to bite Starmer in the arse in future

[danumdon]

DD.

You give the example of Wakefield and then talk about "Mr Starmer's little metro elite".

Who was the candidate in Wakefield?

Regardless of where the candidate lived, the local party didn't want them, had at least two respectable and experienced candidates they wanted on the shortlist denied to them by the stitch up from HQ.

If you consider that to be the Central party helping out then god help Labour in future when Starmer manages to force feed his place men into position and the electorate take the hint.

[BillyStubbsTears]

DD

The local committee's preference was someone who had been active in the stupid, self-indulgence that Corbyn presided over on the anti-Semitism issue.

Wakefield was to be a turning point. Do you think it would have been sensible to choose a candidate with the potential for dragging that issue up again?

Am I happy with the degree of centralisation? No I'm not. But I understand where it comes from. And this isn't a game. It is absolutely essential that Labour wins the next Election. And if that means burying Corbynism and the Corbynistas, so be it. 

[albie]

BST,

Jared O'Mara was selected by extreme Blairite former General Secretary Ian Mcnichol, as explained here;
https://twitter.com/Standup4Labour/status/1625198786006945805

Pet Shop Boy Wes Streeting has not been sanctioned by the Labour leader, despite appearing on Ch4 News to spread misinformation.

The Wakefield candidate was rejected by the local party because of his close association with right winger Mary Creagh, who was not supported in the constituency;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61441696

The racist trope of anti-semitism was dealt with in the Forde Report, and has no bearing on the right of Wakefield Labour to hold candidate selections in accordance with the rules.

I hope that helps!

[BillyStubbsTears]

Albie

Do you want to run by me how O'Mara was selected by McNichol?

Only I've searched for this and all I can find is a string of unsubstantiated claims from folk on the very left of the party who clearly have axes to grind.

So I'd be grateful if you could provide some clear evidence.

[SydneyRover]

BST,

Jared O'Mara was selected by extreme Blairite former General Secretary Ian Mcnichol, as explained here;
https://twitter.com/Standup4Labour/status/1625198786006945805

Pet Shop Boy Wes Streeting has not been sanctioned by the Labour leader, despite appearing on Ch4 News to spread misinformation.

The Wakefield candidate was rejected by the local party because of his close association with right winger Mary Creagh, who was not supported in the constituency;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61441696

The racist trope of anti-semitism was dealt with in the Forde Report, and has no bearing on the right of Wakefield Labour to hold candidate selections in accordance with the rules.

I hope that helps!

It's a step in the right direction that you now agree with the Forde report Albie.

Added

By the way Albie the impression I get from reading the summary of the Forde report is that there is no glory for the left or right of the Labour Party through that period, there is no high ground for anyone. All it demonstrates is that both sides carry equal blame for the infighting and that disunity is death.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I think that's about right Syd.

Corbyn's reaction when that report was published was (and this is pretty much verbatim) "I'm delighted that this detailed report has brought to light some of the things that were going on undermining me. I disagree entirely with all the parts of the report that criticise me, but the rest is all bang on."

The Left, as they do every generation, are developing their Great Betrayal Myth, where they were right about everything and would have won if it hadn't been for everyone else.

[albie]

BST,

You have the evidence given by the local party members in Sheffield, plus the explanation of then NEC member Martin Mayer.
As an NEC member, Mayer was involved in the selection process, which he explains fully in the YT vid linked below.
If you dispute their claims, on what evidence do you rely?

If any of the points raised were factually incorrect, then a legal case could be brought.
Mcnichol has not contested this explanation to my knowledge.

You can choose to ignore the explanation given, and make a virtue of ignorance, but that is your tragedy.

It is very sad that people see a vulnerable person like O'Mara as a disposable to be set aside without compassion.

The 5 minutes or so contribution from Corbyn at the end is worth hearing.
https://youtu.be/Iy8EKPLsNK0

Another day, another stitch up......Michael Crick posted the resignation letter of Bolton NE Labour committee over their candidate process;
https://twitter.com/tomorrowsmps/status/1623985757814681601/photo/1

[BillyStubbsTears]

Albie.

I gave up at the "I also know, although I can't prove it..." bit.

You genuinely think this is a balanced assessment?

Have fun with it, if so.

[SydneyRover]

BST,

Jared O'Mara was selected by extreme Blairite former General Secretary Ian Mcnichol, as explained here;
https://twitter.com/Standup4Labour/status/1625198786006945805

Pet Shop Boy Wes Streeting has not been sanctioned by the Labour leader, despite appearing on Ch4 News to spread misinformation.

The Wakefield candidate was rejected by the local party because of his close association with right winger Mary Creagh, who was not supported in the constituency;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61441696

The racist trope of anti-semitism was dealt with in the Forde Report, and has no bearing on the right of Wakefield Labour to hold candidate selections in accordance with the rules.

I hope that helps!

A point here Albie while you launch into other's views of O'Mara, the 'pet shop boy' jibe you use regarding Wes Streeting have you any proof of any wrong doing to support your inference?

He who casts the first stone an' all that aye?

[SydneyRover]

Hot off the press ...........

''Equalities watchdog satisfied with Labour antisemitism reforms''

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64640069

It will be nice to see future discussion taking these finding and that of the Forde report into consideration.