Monday, 10 February 2014

Why Labours great problem will not be fixed by All Women Short lists

For so time now I have been locking horns on social media with supporters of All Women Short Lists (AWS) who naively believe that forced inequality is the solution to the Labour Party's problems.

I mostly block the 'feministas' who want this deluded suggestion, largely because their aim has nothing to do with equality and is far more related to a career path and /or a revenge agenda, at worse formed out of insecurity and at best out of a lack of knowledge about the party "they wish to transform for the better", but follow the main instigator and some of her 'hangers-on' to keep up with the latest excuses which are being made for it and deal with male supporters of the brainwave, who are in politics and again doing it to feather their own nests, by suggesting if they believe in it so much that they should resign and give a lady their job, before blocking them as well.

Blocking really isn't the solution to debate but I find like most things within Labour, especially its hierarchy, that there is no debate, just directives to be followed and alienation if you don't.

It is the alienation principal of Labour that is its biggest problem.

A standard default of 'we' are right and you are wrong is what cost the party the last election - 'we' got told about so many issues but simply chose to ignore them .

Although they won't admit it the alienation principal is the root cause for those who feel the need for AWS, not the bile spewed against "'orrible men doing everything down the pub" nor the opportunistic ramblings made towards an opposition while female Front Bencher's are away because it makes good telly and that's because the principal allows perceived inequality to exist.

The alienation principal permits closed shops. It allows protest not to be heard and in many CLP cases were men are thought to be the problem it enables them to thrive.

Sadly the misguided perception of AWS is that when the men are gone the need for the alienation principal will no longer exist but for to many it already has happened, even if not to the full extent Harriet Harmon would want, some CLPs are gender balanced (whatever that means) yet anyone questioning why things are going wrong is still met with ignorance, contempt and ALIENATION.

It is done and used by men and women alike, there is neither the will nor the desire to end it because to stop its use would require a significant change in how the party operates and a knocking down of the house of cards which the Labour Party is built on.

Thursday, 6 February 2014

A message for anyone who supports all women short lists, especially Labour's hierarchy

Copy of a tweet sent to some vocal supporters of AWS:

@LucyMPowell @HarrietHarman @EmilyThornberry etc. As someone who had problems with the party which only stopped when I left it and who knows other members (male and female) who experience similar and worse I have absolutely no doubt that many members have problems but I have zero confidence that anyone in the hierarchy of Labour has the will nor the desire to deal with them, especially anyone who believes that AWS is a solution to fix anything.

I'd apologise for making the above statement but as someone who was fighting inequality long before it became trendy and even a career path for some, a time when unions fought against equal pay for part time workers despite them doing exactly the same job as full time staff, I am getting sick and tired of hearing tick box, join the club, blah blahs.

I'll wait  for replies from all three mentioned but won't be holding my breath while do it.