future Labour foreign policy might be bleak
The Canary UK

future Labour foreign policy might be bleak

Breaking the rules, cyber-attacking civilians, and ‘aggression’ in international affairs are the way forward for Labour foreign policy, a former Navy officer has reportedly told a meeting hosted by the party’s Friends of the Forces (LFF) group. Largely defunct under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, the pressure group was re-launched in June 2020. At the time, Labour leader Keir Starmer said: I want to open up Labour again to our Armed Forces, their families and veterans across our country. LFF promises the membership access to defence industry figures, think-tanks, and the Labour front bench. Turn off the lights The meeting in question focused on threats to UK security. It was…

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3 December 2020
‘Islamophobic’ Labour donor deleted his Twitter but forgot about screengrabs
The Canary UK

‘Islamophobic’ Labour donor deleted his Twitter but forgot about screengrabs

Labour Party donor David Abrahams has been at the centre of a storm over alleged Islamophobia. One organisation called tweets he sent “abhorrent”. Now, Abrahams has deleted his Twitter account. Sadly for him, screengrabs means the history books will remember what he said. Meet David Abrahams Abrahams is a property developer and business person. The Guardian noted that he: has a long history with the Labour party, holding office as a councillor in the 80s and unsuccessfully running as Labour candidate for Richmond, North Yorkshire, in the 1992 general election. Previously associated with Tony Blair, Abrahams reportedly gave hundreds of thousands to Labour. He ceased his donations in…

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2 December 2020
Exclusive: Labour right linked to campaign to shut down The Canary
The Canary UK

Exclusive: Labour right linked to campaign to shut down The Canary

On 2 August 2019, an anonymous internet campaign named Stop Funding Fake News (SFFN) celebrated its apparent success in downsizing The Canary. For six months, SFFN had been trying to demonetise The Canary by lobbying companies to remove advertisements from its website. The Canary can now reveal that Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, launched the organisation that now runs SFFN. SFFN CEO Imran Ahmed has also worked closely with a number of Labour figures previously involved in the campaign to remove Jeremy Corbyn as party leader. Rachel Riley, a prominent supporter of SFFN, is listed as a patron of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH),…

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1 December 2020
Tier 3 areas will reach breaking point without extra financial help, says Labour
The Canary UK

Tier 3 areas will reach breaking point without extra financial help, says Labour

Labour has warned that parts of England under the most stringent coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions will be stretched to “breaking point” without the support of a key business grant. Critical situation Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds is set to urge her opposite number Rishi Sunak to bring forward additional help and will suggest the government extends its Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) in Tier 3 areas. ARG funding was given to local authorities when they entered Tier 3 under the first regionalised lockdown restrictions, and was available to all other areas when England entered a national lockdown last month. 'It's critical that we see a situation where test, trace and isolate…

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27 November 2020
Labour briefing the Sun drags Keir Starmer’s week to a new low
The Canary UK

Labour briefing the Sun drags Keir Starmer’s week to a new low

Just when you think Keir Starmer’s Labour couldn’t sink any lower – it does. Because aside from the party actively shutting down its left wing, now it’s also anonymously briefing the Sun. Tony Blair: can you hold Starmer’s pint, please? Everybody out It’s been quite a week in the Labour Party. On Monday 23 November, left-wing members of Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) did a digital walk-out during a meeting. This was over several things. Firstly, they were protesting Starmer not giving former leader Jeremy Corbyn the whip back. But the members were also unhappy about Margaret Beckett becoming NEC chair. They claimed Beckett’s appointment over the Fire…

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25 November 2020
Labour members back Corbyn against Starmer
The Canary UK

Labour members back Corbyn against Starmer

If Keir Starmer wants to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn, it seems he’s going to have to fight his own party. Up and down the country, Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) have condemned the Labour leader’s decision to keep the Islington MP suspended. Corbyn was originally suspended from the party on 29 October following his response to the publication of the EHRC antisemitism report. He argued that the levels of antisemitism in the party had been “dramatically overstated”. That suspension has now been lifted. But Starmer has controversially ruled that Corbyn still cannot serve as a Labour MP. CLPs fighting back Starmer told the Guardian: Jeremy Corbyn’s actions in…

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20 November 2020
Labour backs massive Tory war budget
The Canary UK

Labour backs massive Tory war budget

Labour has backed a gigantic war budget hike announced by the Tory government. The reported £16.5bn will go on ships and new technology like cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, and space capabilities. It is said to be the biggest single increase in military funding since the Thatcher era: The defence of the realm is the first duty of government. We are investing an extra £16.5 billion in defence to end the era of retreat, strengthen our Armed Forces, and extend British influence as a force for good in the world 🇬🇧 https://t.co/SWRzM8Pdhu pic.twitter.com/j9EARz2DV9 — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 19, 2020 Labour quickly backed the move while offering mild criticism…

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20 November 2020
Labour demands release of full findings of Patel bullying inquiry
The Canary UK

Labour demands release of full findings of Patel bullying inquiry

Labour is demanding the publication of the full inquiry findings into allegations of bullying by Priti Patel amid reports she was found to have broken the rules for ministers. Reassured Boris Johnson has rejected calls to sack the home secretary after delivering his long-awaited verdict on her conduct on Friday, even though she breached the ministerial code. According to reports, she was found to have failed to meet the requirement to treat civil servants with respect and consideration. Normally ministers are expected to resign if they breach the code, but a government statement said the PM is: reassured that the home secretary is sorry for inadvertently upsetting those with…

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20 November 2020
#TheCanaryLive – Has Labour has lost touch with working class communities?
The Canary UK

#TheCanaryLive – Has Labour has lost touch with working class communities?

We need your help ... The coronavirus pandemic is changing our world, fast. And we will do all we can to keep bringing you news and analysis throughout. But we are worried about maintaining enough income to pay our staff and minimal overheads. Now, more than ever, we need a vibrant, independent media that holds the government to account and calls it out when it puts vested economic interests above human lives. We need a media that shows solidarity with the people most affected by the crisis – and one that can help to build a world based on collaboration and compassion. We have been fighting against an…

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13 November 2020
If they expel Corbyn, Labour centrists will open themselves up to the one thing they can’t handle
The Canary UK

If they expel Corbyn, Labour centrists will open themselves up to the one thing they can’t handle

Over the past five years, Labour’s most prominent centrists have demonstrated an impressive level of resilience. By that I mean no matter how stupid, wrong, or nasty an idea is, they’ve been prepared to vocalise it in order to monster Corbyn and the political project behind him. As the media happily joined in, this has meant the centrists’ own political ideas have gone half a decade without any serious attention.This could spell trouble ahead.Because if Starmer expels Corbyn and the Labour ghouls lose their bogeyman, they’re opening themselves up to the one thing they can’t survive: the mildest of public scrutiny. The central complaintLabour’s centre has a pretty…

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2 November 2020