Too late, it seems, for the earlier editions of the papers, but featuring strongly on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme and elsewhere, is another mildly creative claim about allegations of anti-Semitism against a number of Labour Party members. The story has been set running because the Metropolitan Police is now examining some of these as potential hate speech. But one name keeps being missed off the reports.
The BBC has reported “Met Police chief Cressida Dick told the BBC her officers were assessing online material because it appears ‘there may have been a crime committed’.
It comes after LBC Radio obtained what it said was an internal Labour document detailing 45 cases, involving messages posted by members on social media. Ms Dick says the Met had a duty to assess the material and not dismiss it”.
There was, though, one important detail that many launching the usual howling denunciation of Labour today have managed to ignore: “she insisted the Met was ‘not investigating’ the Labour Party itself”. Moreover, “It is understood Labour has not been contacted by the police and has not been told of the exact nature of the allegations being investigated”. That has not stopped the usual suspects kicking off in no style at all.
Heading the charge have been the perpetually thirsty Paul Staines and his rabble at the Guido Fawkes blog, whining “Labour’s anti-Semitism problem is in the spotlight again as it emerged this morning that the Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into allegations of anti-Semitism within the party”. The Great Guido only yesterday missed Arron Banks indulging in cheap anti-Semitic tropes. I’m sure it was just an oversight.
Over at the Mail, they are also on the case: “The document, obtained by radio station LBC last month, had been reviewed by a former Met Police commander who said four could be hate crime … In a statement this morning, the force said it had reviewed the dossier of evidence”. The Murdoch Sun has screamed “Labour members face criminal investigation over torrent of anti-Semitic abuse”. Fewer than 0.01% of the membership is a “torrent”.
But no-one has told who handed over the dossier. Why so sensitive? LBC’s account of the handover is still extant: that happened on September 4, and the host handing over the dossier was Nick Ferrari. The report includes a video titled “Moment Nick Ferrari Handed Cressida Dick Labour Anti-Semitism Dossier”. Why is no-one crediting him with this act? One might have expected the Labour bashers to line up and applaud him.
Maybe this line from his Wikipedia entry has something to do with it: “In 2015, Ferrari was investigated by Ofcom after he said on his radio programme that the November 2015 Paris attacks were ‘a Muslim problem’ and told a Muslim caller to ‘go some place else’ if the caller didn't agree with UK foreign policy”. There’s an even handed host for you.
He’s also got Labour bashing form: for example, “Mr Ferrari insisted the shadow chancellor and other Labour party politicians were a ‘bunch of deadbeat phonies’ that were being propped up by the drive of grassroots campaign group Momentum”. Labour MP Angela Rayner concluded after one exchange “It would be interesting to see if he gives the Conservatives such a hard time”. And there was more.
He said this of the shadow cabinet during one exchange: “You honesty think my listeners look at that bunch who form the shadow cabinet and seem them as a government in waiting? They look like the barroom scene out of Star Wars … They are the weirdest collection you have ever seen. They have actually got no experience”. And that’s before his bullying of Diane Abbott. So maybe he’s not just a disinterested actor here.
Which may explain why all those media outlets lining up to kick Labour today have missed his name off the credits. I’ll just leave that one there.
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6 comments:
Oh that's NOTHING where Beeb TV "News" is concerned.
Today, every "bulletin" I have seen of theirs contains a visual meme of a placard reading For The Many Not The Jew, presumably repeated at ten/fifteen minutes intervals to ensure you get the point. Which is of course an attempt to minimise the impact of FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW. A typical Beeb "News" tabloid cheap trick. All accompanied by the usual hysterical dog whistle of the ineffable Mann.
I said months ago the organised attacks on Labour would get worse. This is just the beginning.
Yup, the BBC were at their disgraceful 'best' today. The 1 o'clock news had the picture of the Labour rose in the top right as the newsreader announced the story of criminal investigations of a/s within the party...you actually had to watch the whole report and keep your ears open until about half way through before they actually admitted that the met are not actually investigating the party. Oh and who's that coming over to deliver a speech, why it's Tom Watson *sighs*
In the interests of even handedness of which you seem to require of commentators could I point out that Ofcom found that Nick Ferrari had not breached the broadcasting code with his remarks and that there were a total of 5 complaints. But obviously he is still guilty in your eyes.
The 'muslim problem' is fair comment even if you disagree and the second remark, let's be honest some people can if they wish leave this country for the islamic paradise of their forebears and some of us are stuck here watching them trying to turn it into one against our wishes. The caller has a choice we don't!
Anonymous 11:14.
Ofcom? The same Ofcom who stood aside as British media became a far right laughing stock around the world? That Ofcom?
As for people "leaving the country" - I'd prefer those nastzis, racists, spivs and xenophobes to do one. Preferably to somewhere like South Carolina in 1861. They could take Canary Wharf, Rothermere, Farage, "Tommy Robinson", the Bullingdon mentality and all the media Uriah Creeps with them. You could join them if so inclined.
Cleaning up after that lot have gone would take decades.
Love to oblige, but you forget WE have no other place to go, some have a choice and no amount of vindictive commentary can alter that fact.
@5
Why do you have no other place to go?
Think of all those from Britain who emigrated to North America, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere over the recent past.
And until we leave the EU, you can emigrate to any other EU member state.
Lots of choice there. What's the problem?
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