My worry is that this anti-Semitism stuff has a limited shelf-life and will blow over

[Monty92]

when media interest returns to more interminable issues like Brexit and all this Facebook data wánkery.

However, it would be utterly criminal of the Tory party not to do everything in their power to ensure the story keeps rolling and that further damage is inflicted.The fact that the shadow cabinet – and in more moderate language the leadership itself – has now acknowledged institutional racism within its own party, there are still huge opportunities to be had.

I have absolutely no faith that these opportunities will be grasped, but if I was a Tory strategist I’d be mobilising every Tory MP, local councillor and supporter around the country to help do the following at the very least.

1) Continue to taint Corbyn by association by dredging up all of the times he’s turned a blind eye, or failed to adequately respond , to anti-Semitism in his party (of which there must be at least 50 examples since he was made leader). But crucially, discourage people from EVER explicitly referring to Corbyn himself as an anti-Semite, as this will too easily be shrugged off by his supporters and non-partisan observers as conspiratorial and part of a smear campaign (we learned from the general election that this isn’t effective)

2) Use this whole episode to implicate Momentum as being central to the (now officially recognised) institutional anti-Semitism within the Labour party. Achieve this by airing the fact that not a single Momentum member has stepped into the breach and condemned (or even acknowledged) this institutional racism. If no-one at Momentum – individually or collectively - is willing to do this, they must therefore be considered part of the problem.

3) Take a leaf out of the Allans’ book and play the race card at every opportunity. Monitor social media for any pronouncements made by Labour members and supporters who refuse to toe the new party line and continue to claim this is all a conspiracy designed to undermine Corbyn - and of course anyone who criticises Israel. The atmosphere right now means that any such claim will be considered, at the very least, part of the problem. Literally any time someone issues this sentiment, share it widely, retweet it and tag Corbyn’s Twitter account, asking him that he’s going to do about it. Pile on the pressure and don’t stop. The right wing media will help fan these flames and even the centre left media can’t help themselves when it comes to airing twitter storms.

Literally none of this will happen because the Tories are fúcking useless

[Pokster]

when media interest returns to more interminable issues like Brexit and all this Facebook data wánkery.

However, it would be utterly criminal of the Tory party not to do everything in their power to ensure the story keeps rolling and that further damage is inflicted.The fact that the shadow cabinet – and in more moderate language the leadership itself – has now acknowledged institutional racism within its own party, there are still huge opportunities to be had.

I have absolutely no faith that these opportunities will be grasped, but if I was a Tory strategist I’d be mobilising every Tory MP, local councillor and supporter around the country to help do the following at the very least.

1) Continue to taint Corbyn by association by dredging up all of the times he’s turned a blind eye, or failed to adequately respond , to anti-Semitism in his party (of which there must be at least 50 examples since he was made leader). But crucially, discourage people from EVER explicitly referring to Corbyn himself as an anti-Semite, as this will too easily be shrugged off by his supporters and non-partisan observers as conspiratorial and part of a smear campaign (we learned from the general election that this isn’t effective)

2) Use this whole episode to implicate Momentum as being central to the (now officially recognised) institutional anti-Semitism within the Labour party. Achieve this by airing the fact that not a single Momentum member has stepped into the breach and condemned (or even acknowledged) this institutional racism. If no-one at Momentum – individually or collectively - is willing to do this, they must therefore be considered part of the problem.

3) Take a leaf out of the Allans’ book and play the race card at every opportunity. Monitor social media for any pronouncements made by Labour members and supporters who refuse to toe the new party line and continue to claim this is all a conspiracy designed to undermine Corbyn - and of course anyone who criticises Israel. The atmosphere right now means that any such claim will be considered, at the very least, part of the problem. Literally any time someone issues this sentiment, share it widely, retweet it and tag Corbyn’s Twitter account, asking him that he’s going to do about it. Pile on the pressure and don’t stop. The right wing media will help fan these flames and even the centre left media can’t help themselves when it comes to airing twitter storms.

Literally none of this will happen because the Tories are fúcking useless

And the main problem is that a small % might not vote Labour because of this, but the huge majority of the population vote for what effects them, NHS, Education, Tax, Brexit etc..... people might have moral outrage but at the end of the day they want what is best for them

[Monty92]

And the main problem is that a small % might not vote Labour because of this, but the huge majority of the population vote for what effects them, NHS, Education, Tax, Brexit etc..... people might have moral outrage but at the end of the day they want what is best for them

Agree, but it is not inconceivable that if the stars alligned favourably this issue could force Corbyn out, not just reduce Labour votes at the next GE.

[Pokster]

Agree, but it is not inconceivable that if the stars alligned favourably this issue could force Corbyn out.

Possibly.... but he seems to have more lives than your cancer riddled cat

[Peter]

when media interest returns to more interminable issues like Brexit and all this Facebook data wánkery.

However, it would be utterly criminal of the Tory party not to do everything in their power to ensure the story keeps rolling and that further damage is inflicted.The fact that the shadow cabinet – and in more moderate language the leadership itself – has now acknowledged institutional racism within its own party, there are still huge opportunities to be had.

I have absolutely no faith that these opportunities will be grasped, but if I was a Tory strategist I’d be mobilising every Tory MP, local councillor and supporter around the country to help do the following at the very least.

1) Continue to taint Corbyn by association by dredging up all of the times he’s turned a blind eye, or failed to adequately respond , to anti-Semitism in his party (of which there must be at least 50 examples since he was made leader). But crucially, discourage people from EVER explicitly referring to Corbyn himself as an anti-Semite, as this will too easily be shrugged off by his supporters and non-partisan observers as conspiratorial and part of a smear campaign (we learned from the general election that this isn’t effective)

2) Use this whole episode to implicate Momentum as being central to the (now officially recognised) institutional anti-Semitism within the Labour party. Achieve this by airing the fact that not a single Momentum member has stepped into the breach and condemned (or even acknowledged) this institutional racism. If no-one at Momentum – individually or collectively - is willing to do this, they must therefore be considered part of the problem.

3) Take a leaf out of the Allans’ book and play the race card at every opportunity. Monitor social media for any pronouncements made by Labour members and supporters who refuse to toe the new party line and continue to claim this is all a conspiracy designed to undermine Corbyn - and of course anyone who criticises Israel. The atmosphere right now means that any such claim will be considered, at the very least, part of the problem. Literally any time someone issues this sentiment, share it widely, retweet it and tag Corbyn’s Twitter account, asking him that he’s going to do about it. Pile on the pressure and don’t stop. The right wing media will help fan these flames and even the centre left media can’t help themselves when it comes to airing twitter storms.

Literally none of this will happen because the Tories are fúcking useless

Racism and anti-semitism are not Tory issues. Focusing attention on those issues doesnt help them.

You are right in point 1 though. THe idea is not to suggest that Corbyn is an anti semite, just a useless pawn in the game- a leader not remotely in control of his party. In politics, that is far worse than being seen as anti-semitic.

THen there is the bigger issue of whether they want rid of him. THey may be 50/50 on that....

[Monty92]

Racism and anti-semitism are not Tory issues. Focusing attention on those issues doesnt help them.

You are right in point 1 though. THe idea is not to suggest that Corbyn is an anti semite, just a useless pawn in the game- a leader not remotely in control of his party. In politics, that is far worse than being seen as anti-semitic.

THen there is the bigger issue of whether they want rid of him. THey may be 50/50 on that....

But what is happening is the equivalent to the Tory party being discovered (and admitting), in 2018, to be as institutionally racist as it was in 1970, all the way up to the leadership itself. That is a huge deal.

[Peter]

But what is happening is the equivalent to the Tory party being discovered (and admitting), in 2018, to be as institutionally racist as it was in 1970, all the way up to the leadership itself. That is a huge deal.

Its a storm but it isnt something that kills them at the polls. People who are terribly worried about institutional racism simply dont vote conservative. As Pokster says, there is a difference between what people will get excited about as a news story and what will actually affect their vote.

THe whole point of an election campaign is to focus the debate on your issues. An election about racism is never going to help the conservatives. Also, the classy thing to do here is stand and watch as the labour party rips itself to pieces. THe one thing the left in britain Has always excelled at is infighting and self destruction.

[Monty92]

Its a storm but it isnt something that kills them at the polls. People who are terribly worried about institutional racism simply dont vote conservative. As Pokster says, there is a difference between what people will get excited about as a news story and what will actually affect their vote.

THe whole point of an election campaign is to focus the debate on your issues. An election about racism is never going to help the conservatives. Also, the classy thing to do here is stand and watch as the labour party rips itself to pieces. THe one thing the left in britain Has always excelled at is infighting and self destruction.

I'm not talking about this damaging Labour at the next election. I'm talking about implementing a hugely cynical and opportunistic campaign that is subtle enough to appear as if it's not being directly engineered or encouraged by the Tory party itself but that will ensure the issue doesn't go away and ultimately serves to undermine Corbyn so that his own party turns against him in a way that is catastrophic for his leadership.

[Burney]

I'm not talking about this damaging Labour at the next election. I'm talking about implementing a hugely cynical and opportunistic campaign that is subtle enough to appear as if it's not being directly engineered or encouraged by the Tory party itself but that will ensure the issue doesn't go away and ultimately serves to undermine Corbyn so that his own party turns against him in a way that is catastrophic for his leadership.

Thing is, people are horribly susceptible to conspiracy theories at the best of times. One hint of an 'establishment stitch-up' and it's Jezza the Martyr.

[Peter]

I'm not talking about this damaging Labour at the next election. I'm talking about implementing a hugely cynical and opportunistic campaign that is subtle enough to appear as if it's not being directly engineered or encouraged by the Tory party itself but that will ensure the issue doesn't go away and ultimately serves to undermine Corbyn so that his own party turns against him in a way that is catastrophic for his leadership.

Which means that if they do it properly you won't know about it and will criticise them for not having done it

This is the type of thing that spins itself and anything other than the occasional nudge or subtle leak from people associated with the Torres will seem like cynical politics over a very serious issue (of course, it really isnt that serious at all).

The tactic May will use in public will involve never even mentioning the issue specifically but nodding towards it as another indication of Corbyn's lack of leadership of his own party. If he cant even run his own party etc etc....

I think we are getting a little carried away over this whole thing and there is a danger it could get more complicated for everyone if it splinters into conversations about Israel vs good old anti-semitism. If you are Theresa May you certainly dont want to be answering questions about Israel and Palestine all the time. Even worse, youdontwant Boris getting asked them.

If I was advising May at this point I would be telling her to leave this one alone.