Jeremy Corbyn Points Out Shaky Math Behind Claims of ‘Trotskyite Infiltration’ Into Labour Party
After Britain's deputy Labour leader, Tom Watson, told media that the extreme left is attempting a takeover of the party, his boss called him out on his "nonsense." Meanwhile, several U.K. academics are demanding a meeting with the BBC to discuss its alleged bias against Corbyn.
In the video above, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn discusses his policy ideas. (YouTube)
After deputy Labour Party leader Tom Watson told media that the extreme left is attempting a takeover of the party, his boss, Jeremy Corbyn, called him out on his “nonsense.” Watson’s comments come as fears grow within the party that Corbyn will win the leadership challenge in September, due in part to the 300,000 new members who have joined Labour over the past year.
In a recent interview with The Observer, Corbyn said, “I just ask Tom to do the maths – 300,000 people have joined the Labour party. At no stage in anyone’s most vivid imagination are there 300,000 sectarian extremists at large in the country who have suddenly descended on the Labour party. Sorry Tom, it is nonsense – and I think he knows it’s nonsense.”
From The Guardian:
Corbyn said that while he wanted people to join the party “with good motives”, MPs and staff should be pleased that those who supported other parties were now joining Labour.
Watson hit back on Saturday night, claiming the evidence was “incontrovertible”. He said: “The overwhelming majority of new members joined the Labour party because they want to build a fairer and more equal society. But there is clear and incontrovertible evidence that a small group of Trotskyite activists have taken leading roles in the Labour party or are seeking to do so.
Corbyn said: “I want people to join for good motives. But if they have changed their political views or developed their political views, then surely that is a good thing. We can only win a general election by winning people over from either non-voting or voting for another party. If someone has developed their politics to be members of the Labour party, even though they were once members of the Lib Dems, or Greens or something, fine. Welcome aboard.”
Read more.
Meanwhile, several U.K. academics are demanding a meeting with the head of the BBC to discuss its alleged bias against Corbyn.
Academics from nine British universities have written to the BBC requesting a meeting about the “significant groundswell of concerns” over its coverage of Jeremy Corbyn.
The 14 senior academics, from institutions including Glasgow University, Bath University and Kings College London wrote to James Harding, the director of BBC News, to ask for a meeting with senior management.
The group, which claims to represent “a breadth of personal political views”, are alarmed about the findings of a recent study which claimed BBC was among TV and online media that were “persistently biased” against Corbyn during the Shadow Cabinet resignations in June.
Read more.
— Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata
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