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Norwich North shortlist revealed

July 23, 2012 2:32 pm

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The shorlist for the Norwich North selection has been confirmed – and it’s about as short as a shortlist can be, with only two candidates making it through to face the final selection meeting. Norwich North was a Labour seat until a controversial by-election in 2009 resulted in the seat switching from Labour to the Tories. The seat is now held by Tory Minister Chloe Smith you you have heard of once or twice. Here are brief profiles of the two candidates:

Jess Asato works as an Advisor to Shadow Cabinet Minister, Tessa Jowell MP, and is a Labour and Co-op Councillor in Islington where she Chairs the Corporate Parenting Board. Jess is also the Vice-Chair of the Fabian Society, a Council Member of the Electoral Reform Society, and a Director of Left Foot Forward. She grew up in Norfolk and went to school just outside Great Yarmouth.

Jo Rust is aTrade Union Activist (she has been a shop steward for six years) and is backed by
Unite, Unison, ASLEF, GMB and CWU. She was born and raised in Norwich North and is an Early Years and Child Development Officer at Norfolk County Council (but currently seconded to be Norfolk Campaigns Organiser for Unison). Rust is thought to have the backing for former MP Ian Gibson.

The selection meeting takes place on September 1st.

Related posts:

  1. Campaigning with Labour Students for Chris Ostrowski in Norwich North
  2. We can win in Norwich North – but I need your help
  3. Norwich North: The results
  4. Let’s get behind Chris Ostrowski and help keep Norwich North Labour
  5. Election day: updates from Norwich North
  • John Jones

    Good luck to Jo Rust, an activist with real knowledge of the area, and real experience in the trade union movement. 

  • Brumanuensis

    I think I prefer Jo Rust. Jess Asato is an interesting writer, but she’s an Islington councillor (?) and I really would prefer that we select the local candidate in this case.

    Plus, Ian Gibson was a decent MP by all accounts and quite popular locally.

    • Brumanuensis

      The perils of skim reading. I will retract the comment about local origins, but I think it still holds true as far as working locally goes.

      • Chilbaldi

        I disagree with you – I personally wouldn’t penalise a candidate who grew up in the local area just because their career took them elsewhere. We can’t always plan where work takes us, and some jobs are (sadly) only available in London.

        • TomFairfax

           Interesting though that only two people from the whole of Norfolk are considered worthy of consideration.

          That’s as short a list as can still be called a list.

          Still even Jess is better connected locally than the Tory for Central Suffolk at the last election whose only connection was his girl friend was from the area.

          Criminal given the number of cabinet ministers over the years from East Anglia who really were local.

          • Chilbaldi

            In truth I’m not too fussed about the candidate’s local credentials. I expect a candidate to have a deep understanding of the area, but I don’t expect him or her to have walked around the streets or the area barefoot age 5 handing out Labour leaflets.

            e.g. Luciana Berger, who didn’t know who Bill Shankly was or who sung Ferry Cross the Mersey when she was standing for Liverpool Wavertree in 2010 – I find that pretty unacceptable. You could contrast that with a whole raft of MPs who have no real connection to the area they represent but still do an excellent job.

            Re the fact that there are only 2 candidates – that’s all women shortlists for you. Perhaps if they had two women and two men on the shortlist it would be a better solution.

          • Brumanuensis

            Oddly, I think Luciana Berger has done quite a good job so far. I know this rather goes against my argument, but I’ll admit there are exceptions.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Exactly, therefore your attack on Jess Asato is  flawed.

          • Brumanuensis

            Attack? How have I attacked Jess Asato? All I said was that I thought that on balance I preferred Jo Rust’s CV, as it were. I don’t think Jess would be a bad candidate, I just prefer the other candidate more.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            You prefer her CV? Utterly weak way of deciding a candidate. I have briefly come across Jo Rust at TUC and I have also had the privilege of hearing Jessica Asato speak and I know good friends of hers too. That is because you think the ideal candidate is someone on the hard left and lives in the area regardless of whether they are actually credible or not. Ridiculous!

          • treborc

             hard left, says it all really

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Jo Rust is an example of some of the trade unions’ attempt to seize hold of the party undemocratically through Len McCluskey (who is not a party member) and GMB (who are anti-Progress) and Aslef (who are against Progress and Compass). It is absolute nonsense and this is just a hard-left campaign focusing on what Len McCluskey thinks he deserves rather than what the people of Norwich North deserve. I wish we had primaries and this nonsense would not happen.

          • http://twitter.com/mistyblulabour dave stone

            “undemocratically” ?

            Then how do you explain Ms Rust’s particpation in the democratic process?

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Her union is trying to get hold of the party. Do you think that your friend, Ed Miliband, actually supports Jo Rust. He doesn’t want her to be the candidate. I can bet money on it.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Harriet Harman was not from Peckham in 1980s. She is now a much loved local MP for Camberwell and Peckham who increases her majority. She also was not a trade unionist, whereas Camberwell and Peckham has got strong union activism. Tessa Jowell was from North London, but she took Dulwich from the Tories in 1992. She was not local, in fact she lived in Hampstead. In 2010, she increased her majority over the Lib Dems.

      • ThePurpleBooker

        I’m sorry but firstly she is from that area. Secondly, if we only concentrated on local candidates there would be no Jim Callaghan, no David Miliband, no Ed Balls, no Yvette Cooper, no Denis Healy, no Harold Wilson.

        • Brumanuensis

          Yes PurpleBooker, I acknowledged my partial error on the ‘local question’, although as I said, I liked the fact that Jo Rust works in Norwich too. I am not against all non-local candidates, but all things being equal, I would prefer MPs had a strong connection to the area they represent..

          • ThePurpleBooker

            …and Jess Asato comes from Norwich. Just because you work in area it does not necessarily mean you are best placed to represent it.

          • Brumanuensis

            It’s a pretty good start though, nay?

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Not necessarily. Jess Asato was from the area anyway. Living in area does not gurantee that you are somehow the best candidate.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Remember that means no Ed Miliband, no David Miliband, no Ed Balls, no Yvette Cooper, no Harriet Harman, no Tessa Jowell, no Hilary Benn, no Rachel Reeves, no Alan Johnson, no Peter Mandelson, no Harold Wilson, no Jim Callaghan, technically no Denis Healy, no Tony Benn (that’s a good thing), no Michael Foot, no Keir Hardie. Basically because of your obsession with people who have never moved out of a certain area in their life who want to be the MP there (which is not actually a good trait) at the risk of Labour greats in the past. Anyway, the person you support for Redcar is not a local candidate and you support her over the local candidate – Anna Turley.

        • Chilbaldi

          Harold Wilson went to school in the Wirral – although some Wirralites would disagree that is perfectly local to Huyton.

    • ThePurpleBooker

      Ian Gibson was a huge expenses fraud. I mean when it comes to the left of the party, if you cheated your expenses a little bit but you are on the right of the party then you are thieveing scum but if you are a HUGE expenses fraud but on the left, it is okay and your a decent figure and you are brilliant. Complete double-standards!  

      • Brumanuensis

        What Gibson did was wrong and it was right that he be asked to stand down, but he was still a good MP otherwise. As was Eric Illsley, even if he too deserved to be punished for his fraudulent actions.

        • ThePurpleBooker

          A good MP does not commit frand and cheat his constituents illegally to the stage he has to be expelled from the party. That is not a good MP.

          • Brumanuensis

            By all accounts he had a good record in his constituency and was popular locally. That is why I called him a good MP.

          • Leeden

            A lot of em did including some you seem to admire

          • ThePurpleBooker

            People I admire, did not have the whip removed for being criminals.

          • Leeden

            But  some of the names you have told us about in the past were caught out in the expenses story, some of them were in cabinet.

            You shouldnt go round calling people criminals if they havent been charged with anything. You have an attitude problem the way you diss so many ppl on here

          • ThePurpleBooker

            People I admire? Some of the people I admire did not get expelled from the party and the whip removed. His behaviour was illegal otherwise he would not have resigned and the whip would not have kicked him out end of!
            You have got to stop making assumptions of who or what I admire. I think you are at fault not just because you don’t know what you are talking about but you are making assumptions about situations you know little about. I do not care if I “diss” people. I want Labour to win 2015, and I do not care who it upsets because of their idoelogical Trotskyist devotion or whatever. So you can carp from the sidelines with nonsentical stuff or you can shut up and support the credible candidates to take back the seats we need to win. Your choice. And by the way, do your research.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Some of the names? Who? Name a name. Go on. Name one.
            Gibson was expelled from the party, the whip and blocked from standing because his expenses were worse than anyone elses. Also, parties only remove the whip if it is on suspicion of illegal activity. I don’t care if I diss hard-left trolls who don’t want to see the party I love returned to power. Perhaps, you should just be quiet if you cannot speak some sense.

          • Marlowe7uk

            As “Leeden” didn’t respond to your hectoring, hysterical outburst, allow me:

            Jacqui Smith
            James Purnell
            Liam Byrne

            The first two, like Tony McNulty are now Ex MPs and ministers thanks to their dishonesty

          • Alan Giles

            For some reason the above reply appeared under a part of an email address. Alan Giles is the name that should have appeared and may I respectfully suggest to Mark Ferguson that if “The Purple Booker” is to be allowed to call people “mad”, accuse them of being under the influence of drugs etc, as he/she/it always does, he/she it, ought to be made to post under a real name.

            It is very easy to abuse people hiding like that gutless coward does, behind a screen-name, let’s see if the pig has the courage to do so using their real identity. The personal abuse this neurotic ladles out has got beyond acceptable limits now. He/she/it is destroying this board with the belicose name-calling

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Purnell, Byrne and Smith did not break any rules requiring them to have the whip withdrawn and struck off by the “Star Chamber”. Purnell resigned as an MP because of Gordon Brown. Funny thing is never mentioned that I admired Jacqui Smith, so you’ve just made assumptions.

          • Brumanuensis

            I imagine that’s because, unlike Gibson, they were senior members of the Party and were therefore protected by the leadership.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Wrong. The whip was withdrawn. Senior party members, such as Pat Hewitt and Denis MacShane have had the whip withdrawn. Your comment (like all your comments) are completely void.

          • Alan Giles

            You make assumptions all the time, and couch them in abuse about other posters (and you are still too lily-livered to put your name to them). You have said many times you think Byrne is a “great” minister.

            Purnell resigned because though he may not have admired Brown, he made false claims for “cleaning”, and made some embarrassing gaffes, like leaving documents on trains and his Westminster pass in a Soho Street. I suspect if he hadn’t resigned, like another of your favourites, dawn Butler, he would have been thrown out by his constituents – as was Tony McNulty.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

          There were many who did far, far worse than Gibson and were not asked to stand down – he was treated very unfairly in comparison. He would have kept the seat for us at the last General Election. I do hope that his labour successor will have at least a little of his insight and independence. There appears to be a 50% chance of that.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            That is not true. Firstly, what Gibson did was illegal. If you did something illegal, you were expelled from the whip and asked to resign party membership if you were found guilty. Gibson committed a crime. If he was still the candidate in 2010, he would have been unlikely to hold the seat partly due to the national swing but also due to the fact that Tories would campaign on him being a ‘criminal expenses fraudster’.Secondly, his Labour successor lost the by-election and that successor lost the General Election. Labour can only win with a credible candidate that can appeal with and work with people we have lost to the Liberal Democrats and the Tories in marginal seats. It does not need someone who is not a credible candidate against Chloe Smith but just wants to promote their own interests. One is the former, the other is the latter. All I can say is that Jess Asato is the former.

          • citizenandreas

            Are you sure what Ian did was illegal, I don’t believe it was

          • ThePurpleBooker

            It was and that is why he got the whip removed from him.

          • citizenandreas

            You are absolutely sure on this, because I can find nothing about any charges being brought in the news (I can find them for Elliott Morley).  I think you’ve called this one wrong.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I have not. You only get the whip removed if what you have done is illegal. It may not have been that severe but it meant he could no longer be an MP. He was struck off because what he did was illegal. The fact Jo Rust has to rely on his backing for any notice astounds me.

          • citizenandreas

            I have replied at length at the top of this thread.

          • Jim

            I agree, one is experienced and is free to speak their mind, the other is shackled to parrot the views of the unions that are backing them.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Couldn’t agree more! The unions, some of whose leaders are not party members but are trying to buy influence within the party and conduct or policy as well as selections. Shocking.

      • citizenandreas

        Ian Gibson’s “crimes” were claiming mortgage relief on a flat while letting his daughter live there rent free and then selling that house at a knock down price to his daughter. We can say that he and his daughter did well out of this financially, but given that the flat was one that Ian Gibson owned, why was he not entitled to use in a way that any other property owner might do?

  • http://twitter.com/JP_KC JPKC

    Jo Rust would have my vote. No more SpAds, please. Especially since they all seem to be uniformly centre-right throwbacks to New Labour.

    • ThePurpleBooker

      How Jess centre-right? No more Spads? Do you know how unrealistic that is. Many Spads have worked in other areas and are from all different classes. You are just speaking utter nonsense.

  • Mike Homfray

    Jo Rust looks like the sort of rooted candidate we need. Hopefully she will have the independence and perception of Dr Ian Gibson

  • Brumanuensis

    Regardless of who is selected, I just want to say I wish them luck. If Jess Asato wins, even though she’s not my preferred candidate, I’m sure she’ll do us proud.

    I just say that in the hope that we won’t have a repeat of the horrible anonymous slagging-off that was witnessed on the Bristol West selection thread.

  • Daniel Speight

     If we can only offer a choice from two it suggests that the AWS, which I guess this is, isn’t really do such a good job to find candidates of the right sex.

    • citizenandreas

      Yes, it is AWS

  • Josiah

    If Jo Rust doesn’t win it, all this talk about boosting working-class representation will be nothing more than meaningless unfulfilled platitudess. But the last few by-election nominations (and GE nominations…) have shown a tendency for advisers, lawyers and middle-class candidates to be picked over strong candidates from ordinary backgrounds.

    • ThePurpleBooker

      That is nonsense.

  • Alan Giles

    Now I understand why Ms Asato wrote her little article for LL last week!

    • http://twitter.com/_DaveTalbot David Talbot

      Can’t all be bastions of the labour movement like you Alan!

      • Alan Giles

        I was referring to her sudden and spurious sympathy for Remploy employees last week, when she failed to mention that it was Peter Hain who started the closure procedure four years ago, and she had never previously spoken up against it. 

        • ThePurpleBooker

          Firstly, that is not true. Secondly, even if it where true would Jo Rust speak up against it. No!

          • Alan Giles

            You’re. terribly confused: You say it is not true (produce the evidence in that case), then you say “even if it were true”.

            I think thats called hedging your bets: either something is true or it is not. 

            I don’t know whether or not Ms Rust would have spoken out (I doubt it, so few do these days) but it was cynical of Asato to make such a production number of it last week, without bothering to mention Hain’s role in it.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            Asato regularly writes on here and never comes back to respond.
            She has links to Progress, or did have, which says it all

          • ThePurpleBooker

            ..and she has links to the Fabian Society, she has friends in Compass and friends across the party. She ran the Labour Yes campaign and she has friends from the Labour No campaign. The fact Jo Rust is telling her friends to try to troll and sabotage Asato’s campaign as well as her backing from Ian Gibson and GMB tells me all I need to know.

          • treborc

             Do  not upset the Hooker now for god sake, he’d be calling you hard left or a trot next for going against his beloved.

    • Lembit Opik’s Lovechild

       Love the cynicism.  Have to agre though

  • PeterBarnard

    re Norwich North shortlist : it would be illuminating if someone from the NEC could inform us ordinary members why it is necessary to short-list candidates now (2y and 10m before the next general election), especially since there appears to be, at present, only two LP members in the whole of (what appears to be an extended) East Anglia who are deemed to have the appropriate qualities for a prospective parliamentary candidate.

    It would also be illuminating if someone from the NEC could give us a “chapter and verse” account of the shortlisting/selection process for this constituency.

    Something doesn’t add up here. I appreciate that Chloe Smith MP is a “nice scalp” for Labour to aim at, and a PPC needs to be in place sooner rather than later, but it all seems a bit strange …

    • Luke Akehurst

      Hi Peter, seats that have selected early are those which we expect to survive the boundary changes in some comparable form and are marginal so need to get a candidate in place to lead campaigning. The General Secretary has committed to completing 100 selections early. In some cases like Brighton the boundary changes are messy but the local CLPs have lobbied to selected early despite this. In all the seats selecting so far the longlisting (based on CVs) and shortlisting (based on interviewing those longlisted) has been conducted by a local shortlisting committee elected by and from the CLP Executive i.e. senior local members decided how many and who to shortlist without any input from the NEC. NEC involvement in shortlisting only occurs in by-elections and very late retirement scenarios. Luke

      • jaime taurosangastre candelas

        Luke, 

        on a slight tangent,  these local CLP committees of senior local members who choose longlists and then interview for shortlists.  Who chooses them, and is there any rigour in the selection process for membership of such an influential committee?  My own experience of local committees on NHS boards is that they are mostly filled with local worthies who have literally no idea at all of what they are meant to be deliberating upon, have no experience beyond their own local horizon, nor indeed much interest, and try to choose someone who is much like themselves because it is easier.

        I was interviewed by such a board for my current position (this was I think the 4th or 5th interview) and took some disagreement with them on the concept of specialised devolution of emergency healthcare – clearly, they were localists who wanted a hospital covering everything, when this is distinctly sub-optimal (it was also largely irrelevant as the interview was for Deputy Director of Emergency Services, not for everything a hospital does).  I thought that I had blown my chances of the job as 3 others were also still being interviewed, but in the end I had an offer.  Now, 7 years later, I occasionally sit on similar boards with the same people, and they are still localised idiots with no relevant knowledge.  Is this how political parties run themselves?

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

          I think it would be difficult to generalise. They would be members of the local party, probably the core active people who do some of the donkey work, and they would be expected to be aware of the local party and where it stands. I don’t think that it would be possible to generalise – it would depend on the local party and its make-up

          It certainly isn’t the case that a shortlist of locals just like them is the usual outcome – indeed, the problem has been the opposite – too many London based full time politicos with little real work experience outside politics. There does tend to be a reaction to this and that is to choose the local council leader , or similar, on a Buggins Turn principle. But this doesn’t always happen because of local rivalries. There are certainly CLP’s who felt strongly that they wanted a local man – Steve Rotheram in Liverpool Walton who won over 90% of the votes at his selection conference, for example. He is locally rooted and has a particular interest in sport policy and employment

        • Luke Akehurst

          The Selection Committee is elected by the CLP Executive which is itself elected at the CLP AGM.

          • jaime taurosangastre candelas

            Thank you Luke.

            Your report does not give me any confidence that those on the CLP Selection Committee are themselves selected for any national knowledge and competence or deep-seated knowledge of the affairs of state.  In addition to being a reasonably competent local MP (in which they are assisted by a local team, probably also including pavement-pounding Councillors), an MP should be expected to be an expert in those national matters.  Actually, most do not seem to be, despite service on various MPs’ committees.  

            So it would appear to be the blind selecting the blind.  No wonder we are in a pickle, with “job-experience” Chancellors like Gordon Brown and George Osborne.  We all realise the damage Gordon Brown did over 10 years, and Osborne is doing now.

            I would not dream of walking into an Accountant or a Lawyer job, nor would I be accepted in such a role.  Equally, I would give no credence to a geographer in my Emergency (medical) Department.  What makes it acceptable for an MP to walk into a Minister’s job to run national policy?

            Compounding this, the geographer is selected to be a candidate for the job by a group of local worthies, who are selecting on the basis of some local ideology.

            (This is applicable to all parties).

      • PeterBarnard

        Thanks, Luke (Norwich North). It is reassuring that the CLP played an active part.

  • ThePurpleBooker

    I am surprised that Victoria MacDonald did not stand. I think some people are geuninely being foolish. We are talking here about a marginal seat that we must win whether Chloe Smith, a Treasury minister, has a majority of over 3,000. It has got to be Jess Asato to be the PPC for Norwich North. Must be her.

    • Brumanuensis

      All I ask, PurpleBooker, is that if Jo Rust is selected, you don’t do what you did when Thangham Debbonaire was selected for Bristol West.

      • ThePurpleBooker

        I will! Oh I really will. I will be furious but let us just hope that that does not happen.

        • Brumanuensis

          Please don’t. Please. The Bristol West thread was one of the worst things I ever read on this website and I do not want to see a repeat of it.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Well you seem to imply that I was the only one involved. I made strong criticisms over the choice of candidate. Others decided to pile in their experiences from Bristol West and their criticisms of Thangham Debonnaire, so DO NOT blame me for all that occured on that thread. I will be very shocked and dissappointed if we have a canidate who is just acting as an ‘ideological poster girl’ for Len McCluskey and the GMB. It is a threat to the party in a Tory-held marginal seat which will allow a Tory minister to accuse of us of being in the hands of the unions. Marginal seats are seats that normally represent the centre ground, they do not represent the ideas of the hard-left. That is why we need a candidate who can appeal to people who voted Conservative and Liberal Democrat not just select anyone because they happen to live in an area - that especially goes for a marginal seat.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I will be very upset if Jessica Asato is not selected and I will vent my distress on LabourList. Difference with Gemma Tumelty, is that although Gemma is great I have realised that she suffered from the curse of Owen Jones, so I am beginning to lack in sympathy as she was backed by the Justin Bieber of the Militant Left.

          • Brumanuensis

            I did point out here left-wing inclinations to you at the time.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I was fully aware and did not care. I think she was a good candidate. I did not know that she joined the Labour party out of pure power for the NUS, though I think she’s changed since, and I did know she was on the centre-left of the party but I felt she was the best candidate for Bristol West and was deeply dissapointed when she lost because I believed the party made a mistake. I still would have preferred Tumelty despite her being to the left of me but when I found she was backed by Owen Jones, I said “that explains it”.

    • John Dore

      I think Chloe Smith should be brushing up her CV, she wont win next time.

      • ThePurpleBooker

        If there is a candidate who isn’t credible then she would have a chance. All I am saying is that Jess Asato is the credible candidate.

        • Jo’s friemd

           I’ve known Jo Rust for years. Just because her hat has not hung in the hallowed halls of Westminster doesn’t make her not credible. You speak of someone you know not. You are, I would infer from the name you have affected, be  a Progress maven.  Leave Norwich North alone to sort itself out. Jo is the real deal. She was here whilst Jessica was searching her gazateer to disover which train connections to take. Jessica is all posture without substance. I live in Norwich North. All of the “activists” with whom she has posed are London imports who hope to buy the nomination for her.  Best candidate Lord Salisbury’s money can buy.

          • treborc

            I swear to god he use to be a Liberal that should say it all really.

            take no notice of him .

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I was never a Liberal, you are lying.

          • treborc

             You were called the Ex Lib dems why did you use it, people have a dam  habit on here of changing names.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I think Jo Rust should see this mention. Very rude of you. I am sure that Norwich North will select a progressive candidate rather than one backed a rude person like yourself and an expenses fraud who is not even in the party.

          • Alan Giles

            What a hypocritical creep you are. You talk about “rude persons”, do you never read back your own filthy personal abuse to people like Treborc, Mike, Daniel etc.

            You have this week accused me of several things including mental instability and of having spent my life not working (my “miserable” life, no less).

            You are an ignorant pig, with the manners and lack of self control as a petulant toddler.

            You ought not have access to crayons let alone a computer.

            I say it again, if you want to be “big” and abuse people have the guts to stop cowering behind your stupid screen name.

            It is ironic that you keep making mention of Ian Gibson, whose conduct I don’t condone, but you want to see the swindling Dawn Butler back in Parliament, who claimed for two homes both within 30 minutes travelling time of Westminster and in a London constituency.

            Your hypocrisy and double standards are staggering, and you should be put in pre-moderation, so your hysterical rantings could be controlled.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Firstly, Jo’s Friend, I suggest you learn to spell. Secondly, Jessica is from Norwich. :)

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

             Had a feeling that was the case…..

          • Brumanuensis

            I don’t think either of you are helping here. Can we please remember that we’re all in the Labour Party and that attacking each other in this way is not only pointless and illogical, but positively throws ammunition at our enemies.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            You don not understand marginals, Brumanuensis. You really don’t.

          • Brumanuensis

            Silly boy. I campaigned in one at the last General Election.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Yeah, that is why you back Militants to stand in seats which are Tory-held. You are a fool.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            Militants? Now, that is libellous – and inaccurate.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Considering you are one, I don’t think it is. People who are trying to play divide and rule politics, getting their friends to run a smear campaign against other candidates and a politics which is unrecogniseable to the extreme vast majority of the population especially those who would use the power vested in them in order to get what they want. Anyone who believes that people who want to modernise and renew the Labour party so we can win elections and deliver for the people we were created to serve, rather than languish in Opposition (which is presumably where you want us) – is a rightwing Tory. We have got some great trade union backed candidates such as Suzy Stride, Sarah Owen and recently Anna Turley but we do not need hard-lefties who could potentially lose us seats we need to win.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            You are the one who said localism is rightwing. You are either stupid (but you are studying for a PhD so I doubt it) or ridiculously hard-left (basically Militant).

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            I have a PhD. And localism is currently being practiced by the right wing ConDem government. The Council Tax benefit reforms being an example. Localism can only be left wing AFTER redistribution

          • ThePurpleBooker

            You have a PhD? In what food technology. The idea that localism is rightwing is just rubbish, nonsense and is only a statement that could come from those with soups for brains. Directly-elected mayors, City Deals, assemblies, devolving powers to local government for eg. our policy to have more devolution and give control of the bus service to local councils. That’s localism. You are just completely foolish, words cannot describe it. I think you should lay off the weed, if I were you.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            That is just a nonsentical comment. You are just a hard-left statist.

          • Brumanuensis
          • Brumanuensis

            In fact, I’m going to do the same as with PurpleBooker and flag this too and for similar reasons.

    • citizenandreas

      Victoria has recently started a new business, think she might be concentrating on that and doesn’t have the time to commit to being a PPC. Shame though.

  • Just_Another_Voter

    Why has Jessica Asato shortened her name to Jess? Everywhere else she is known as Jessica. Is it a cynical attempt to make her sound more working class?
    As a professional politico she’ll get the nod and join all her chums in the corridors of power.

    • John Dore

      I’d put the tinfoil hat on if I were you.

      • Just_Another_Voter

         A tin foil hat is useless against politicians. It has to be made of lead, be about 6 inches thick and worn in a concrete lined underground bunker to have any effect. Even then some of their waffle and lies will get through.

        • John Dore

          Now that statement I agree with. Lies lies lies and manipulation seem to the order of the day. But its not just the politicians who lie, and scheme. 

          Our society is strong when their is free speech, open discussion and no censorship, we are stronger when we face up to realities. The opposite is a repugnant state of affairs, eh Mr Censor.

          • treborc

             Well Obviously your getting information from an alien planet.

          • John Dore

            Stupid, stupid troll.

          • treborc

            No I would not go that far, but your are getting there.

    • Brumanuensis

      I suppose anytime anyone called Geoffrey shortens their name to ‘Geoff’ they are clearly trying to be prolier-than-thou and therefore unfit to be in politics.

      See also ‘Andy’, ‘Mike’, ‘Dave’ (OK, maybe not that one), ‘Sue’, ‘Pete’, ‘Jenny’ and ‘Dai’.

      • Just_Another_Voter

        If it is how they’re generally known then no, not a problem.
        If they have been known as Jessica all over the web, on TV, radio etc. (even this site) then suddenly changed it to Jess when hoping to be an MP seems a little dubious to me. It could be just me because I think anybody going into politics does it for personal gain. (either money, fame or both)

        • Alan Giles

          I take your point rather about the missing “ica”. Of course, to be known by a pet contraction of the forename is to give an illusion of popularity, almost of cuddliness.

          Ms Osata suddenly discovered last week on LL she didn’t approve of Remploy closing down. Neither did many of us – the only thing is we were saying it 4 years ago when Hain started the process, not when we had a shortlist in our sights.

          If I suddenly start calling myself “Al” you will know I have found myself a constituency! :-)

          • http://twitter.com/mistyblulabour dave stone

            ‘Dave’ hasn’t worked for me, yet. Goodness knows how ThePurpleBooker would respond if it did…

          • http://twitter.com/mistyblulabour dave stone

            ‘Dave’ hasn’t worked for me, yet. Goodness knows how ThePurpleBooker would respond if it did…

          • Alan Giles

            :-)

            Some people are genuinely friendly and a shortened name is appropriate – for example I know two “Andrews”. One you wouldnt dream of calling Andy, but the other is such an outgoing friendly type, it would seem too formal to call him anything other than “Andy”.

            In the case of Ms. A, I suppose she feels “Jessica” sounds too Roedean, or a character from one of the Rank Organisation’s 1940s costume dramas.

            What’s the betting if she wins the nomination (if!, can there be any doubt?) she will soon become “Jessie”

    • ThePurpleBooker

      Loads of people shorten their names. Get over yourself.

      • treborc

         I will call you hooker from now on or of course lib dem.. is that ok…..

  • ThePurpleBooker

    We need more BME representation in Parliament. Labour needs to catch up on this front. Let us be honest, we do have alot of working class and lower middle-class MPs and we will have more – stop fooling around. It is BAME representation where the party is failing to perform. Selecting Jess Asato over Jo Rust will also be a way to start boosting our record which has lapsed. I think we need to go further. We already have Thangham Debonnaire, Clive Lewis and Sarah Owen as our BAME candidates already in key seats and hopefully soon Jess Asato. But let us have a BAME A-List (not a shortlist) so we can start getting in black and ethnic minority candidates in winnable seats before the next election. I want to see Labour have the most candidates from ethnic minorities and it is ashame the party has not taken the hint. Here are some proposals for people who could be on it:
    Dawn Butler – former MP for Brent CentralParmjit Dhanda – former MP for GloucesterPatrick Vernon – councillor in Hackney Florence Nosegbe – councillor in LambethMandy Richards – candidate for Havering and Redbridge for London electionsZaffar Van Katwala – councillor in BrentOnkar Sahota – GP and AM for Ealing and HillingdonMarvin Rees – Mayoral candidate for BristolSunder Katwala – director of British FutureDamien Egan – councillor in LewishamMajid Mahmood – councillor in BirminghamMaryam Khan -  former PPC for Bury NorthAfzal Khan – former Mayor of ManchesterImran Hussain – former PPC for Bradford WestIsaac Igwe – councillor in ChathamRupa Huq – former Deputy Mayor of EalingTrevor Phillips – former head of the Equalities Commission(and of course Jess Asato).

    • Alan Giles

      At the risk of incurring more of your anonymous abuse, can I remind you she lost her seat in 2110 due to the fact that she claimed for a second home and both her  homes were within a 30 minute journey from Westminster. In other words, a textbook example of an expenses swindler

      You are very quick to see naughty left-wingers but seem blind when it comes to expenses fraudsters.

      • Alan Giles

        Sorry I meant to say DAWN BUTLER

      • Brumanuensis

        Amusingly, Alan, one of the first pieces by Jess Asato that I read was partly in response to something you wrote! http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2010/10/15/oxbridge-wonks-are-people-too-says-jessica-asato/

        I agreed with both you, to varying extents.

        • http://twitter.com/mistyblulabour dave stone

          It was the Dan Hodges love-in that brought tears to my eyes:

          http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2011/05/05/caption-contest-lefty-love-in-special/#comments 

          • Brumanuensis

            But seriously, where does he get those shirts?

          • Alan Giles

            The picture reminded me of those adverts for denture fixative that used to appear on TV – it is a wonder he wasn’t biting into a crisp bread roll or hard apple.

            For anyone who remembers “Keeping Up Appearances”, the fact that Hatwal and Hodges spend so much time on their little PR company as well as “Labour Unhinged”, it reminds me of “Sheridan and Tarquin”

      • ThePurpleBooker

        2110? We are in 2012? What are you on about. Dawn Butler’s expenses were legal but she repaid them anyway and got promoted to becoming a minister. Ian Gibson, your hero, had illegal expenses and had to resign from Parliament. Quite different. If you back Jo Rust, you are backing the expenses swindler. I just want to see more BAME people elected to Parliament, Jess Asato being one of them.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

           Had to resign? No. Opted to do so because of the way he was treated by some in the PLP

          • ThePurpleBooker

            He was expelled from the whip because he is a criminal.

      • Brumanuensis

        I’ve flagged PurpleBooker’s comment, because it contained a line that, frankly, could be considered defamatory.

        • ThePurpleBooker

          It is a true comment.

    • Brumanuensis

      Jess Asato is BAME? I genuinely did not know that. You learn something new every day. Not that it changes my preference for Norwich North at all.

      • ThePurpleBooker

        You don’t like Jess Asato because she is from Progress and lives in London.

        • Brumanuensis

          What are you, psychic? You have no idea what my thoughts are. I have nothing against Jess Asato.

          Unlike you PurpleBooker, I am perfectly capable of preferring one candidate to another, without seeing the rival candidates as Satan incarnate. Once again you are doing your preferred candidate no favours with your behaviour.

  • Armstronghilary

    I have just read the comments on the Norwich North short-list. Why do people have to be so nasty about other Labour Party members? Does it help the person they are supporting? Does it enhance the reputation of the Labour Party? Is it a necessity of comment on websites? Selections are becoming so viscous, only people with very thick skins can go anywhere near some of them. How does that encourage diversity? How does that encourage people who have not grown up in with political in-fighting? If Labour List wants mare democracy in the Labour Party, and more diversity in selected candidates, then there needs to be a drive for more tolerance and less sectarian viciousness in the process.

    • Brumanuensis

      It’s a recent thing Hilary and the individuals doing it are a minority of posters here. I agree, I find it incredibly frustrating and petty. It’s the Labour Party that matters folks, not our preferred individuals. That’s the antithesis of our spirit of being a ‘broad church’.

    • ThePurpleBooker

      Is that Hilary Armstrong? Brilliant to here from such a great former Cabinet minister, if you are. If you make comments on LabourList and happen to be on the right of the party, you turn into Satan incarnate. I completely support democracy and diversity in our party but it is ashame that friends of candidates’ on the left have decided to raid and leading an online attack on Jessica Asato and others. It is sickening reminding me of Militant.

      • Leeden

        You should just make your point  and cut out all the personal crap. You are prob one of those Hilary was thinking of

        • ThePurpleBooker

          What personal crap? Why are you reduced to trolling and swearing? Do you even know who Hilary Armstrong is?

      • Brumanuensis

        As opposed to you, fount of politeness, who has accused Jo Rust of being ‘hard-left’, a Trojan Horse for Len McCluskey, stated – in what was a libellous comment – that a vote for Jo Rust was a vote for expenses cheats and have claimed – without any hard evidence – that Jo Rust is orchestrating an online campaign against Jess Asato.

        • ThePurpleBooker

          She clearly is hard-left and she is a trojan for McCluskey – look at Labour Uncut. Look at the comment from the person in her campaign, the comment that you yourself flagged. Are you telling me that Jo Rust is completely unaware that this is happening. By the way, she is supported by Ian Gibson who is an expenses cheat who let his constituents down. Fact. I urge you to look at the facts before spouting rubbish.

          • Brumanuensis

            You don’t know that the person calling herself ‘Jo’s Friend’ was actually a friend of Jo Rust. No-one, as I said above, is necessarily who they say they are on the internet. You have no firm proof that Jo Rust is doing what you say she is doing, so you should be much more circumspect when making allegations of that sort.

            The point about Ian Gibson is absurd. That’s like saying that any candidate who ever received an endorsement from Jeffrey Archer is automatically a perjurer by association. Guilt by association is not a recognised point of law.

            The LabourUncut article makes no allegations about Jo Rust. This is just guilt by association again, which in legal terms is roughly at the level of ‘hearsay’ in terms of substantiating a claim.

            What has Jo Rust said that would make her ‘hard-left’?

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I think politics is beyond your mental capacity.
            Jeffrey Archer is a peer so it is in a different set of circumstances. If a candidate is backed by a former MP who breaks the law, then questions inevitably should be raised. I never said she was a cheat by association. You are clearly not very bright seen as that comment is completely void.
            If Jo Rust has nothing to do with the person who has been attacking candidates on her behalf then she should come clean and condemn the smear which was quite frankly rude. That person was a friend of hers, clearly involved in her campaign to be PPC by the remarks made. That is something similar to Militant.
            Labour Uncut did not make allegations about Jo Rust, yes you are right but they made allegations about how McCluskey wants to use parliamentary selections. Enough said. Jo Rust is an example of the way the hard-left are trying to parachute in as much of their cronies in as many winnable seats as possible. The document revealed by Labour Uncut described that happening. You have to be hard-left to be involved in this McCluskey Plot.

            So not only have you made void comments, bad arguments and quite frankly misread the post. You have proved to me that you are a bit of an idiot (that’s me being polite).

  • Brendan Howell

    I copied the comment by Jo Rust’s Friend and I have sent it to friends in the party. I think it will be very useful for some of us who want Norwich North to be a Labour seat after 2015, rather than anti-Progress types. Party members should know if Jo Rust is slagging off and making slurs about other candidates.

    • Brumanuensis

      Dude, it’s the internet. No-one is who they say they are. I’d hold your horses if I were you.

      • ThePurpleBooker

        Dude? You are not cool or bright so don’t try and sound like your under 20 because you are clearly not even if though you may have the logic of someone under 10.

      • Brendan Howell

        I am sorry but this person is clearly Jo Rust’s friend. Jess Asato has been made aware of this, I know that now and so have others in Norwich North CLP. You only stand up for those you want to see elected like Jo Rust or Thangham Debonnaire but when it is somebody you say ‘hold your horses’. Jo Rust will have to account for her actions and whether she is aware of her good friend slagging off Jess Asato on LabourList (which is used by many party members) and whether or not she permitted it or allowed it to happen. I think Jo Rust should at least come on the site and publicly apologise to Jess Asato for those really rude insults which is unbecoming of anyone who wants to be elected to their school council, let alone Parliament.

        • Brumanuensis

          Libellous. Stupid. Alerted.

          • Brendan Howell

            What is libellous, stupid and alerted. I have expressed an opinion and you are trying to censor it. That is because you want a takeover of the PLP from certain people within the trade union movement. Not moderates but those who fight tooth-and-nail for their own interests rather than that of the good of the country.

          • Brumanuensis

            Who’s ‘you’ matey.

            I want nothing of the sort. And you have a proven record of smearing and unpleasant behaviour on this website, with your nasty and unsubstantiated attacks on Thangham Debbonaire.

            There is no proof for anything you wrote in your comment, so to protect you from yourself, I flagged it.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            What unsubstantaited attacks on Thangham Debonnaire? The ones done by Bristol West Labour party members. At least they were coherent, unlike the attacks you have done on the likes of Jess Asato, Anna Turley and Lucy Rigby.
            Explain exactly what in my comment you were referring to and whilst you are at it, grow up.

          • Brendan Howell

            That is extremely rich of you, Brumaneuensis.

    • Brumanuensis

      Oh and I see you were one of those nasty little smearers writing on the Bristol West page. Have you no sense of decency sir?

  • 1earthmother2

    There should be no parties within parties whether that be Progress or Compass or any other nor should there be ex-Alpha males trying to work behind each candidate.Norwich North can be proud of its first all woman shortlist.50% of the electorate manage very well without control of those who happen to possess a penis.

  • 1earthmother2

    Also won’t it be nice to have a candidate whose first priority will not be The University of East Anglia and who will not refer to the electorate as “in-bred”.

    Those who reside south of the river Wensum do not have a vote either.

  • 1earthmother2

    Also it could easily have been conducted as an open primary.An opportunity missed.

  • citizenandreas

    There’s a lot of left/right scrapping going on here, not something I really get into, but as someone relatively local (I live in Norwich South) I’m more than a little annoyed at the lack of candidates for the seat. From what I know Jess has vague connections with Norwich, Jo Rust was born and raised in Norwich now lives in Kings Lynn. I’m quite surprised that the seat had so few people standing. From the looks of it it seems like the decision to impose AWS was a bad one.

  • ThePurpleBooker

    Oh, surprise, surprise! Jo Rust is not a local candidate after all she moved from Norwich to a Tory safe seat in Norfolk. Now she is getting her mates from Norwich to make online attacks to Jess Asato. Right okay? Now I see. All this ‘local candidate’ stuff is really nonsense. It seems she is a puppet for the interests of the likes of Len McCluskey. I’m not surprised. This is entryism.

  • citizenandreas

    I’m not really interest in the Rust vs Asato squabbles, I’ve met Jessica and she seems nice enough, I’ve not met Jo Rust so I can’t really comment on her. If I have a complaint about the selection it’s that the choice is so limited and this makes the decision to impose AWS look like a bad one.

    What I’m not so happy about is what Purple Booker is saying about Ian Gibson, becasue I don’t believe he is correct. Ian was well thought of in Norwich among both Labour members and his constituents and Martin Booth, president of the joint Norwich CLPs resigned in protest at the decision to bar him from standing again.

    Purple Booker has stated that what Ian Gibson done was illegal, when I questioned this the best he could offer was “You only get the whip removed if what you have done is illegal.” I am not sure that any of this is true, as I understand it Ian Gibson was barred from standing at the next election by the Star Chamber. This I believe is not the same as having the whip removed.

    I’ve set out in another comment what I believe he was accused of and although he can be said to have profited personally from his actions nothing he did looks illegal. So, Purple Booker, if you are going to continue to drag Ian Gibson’s name through the mud I ask that you explain what it is he did that was illegal or provide proof that he was charged with something.

    • Brumanuensis

      Thank God. Common sense at last. Although I do think that regardless of its illegality, Gibson’s behaviour was unbecoming conduct of a Parliamentarian.

    • ThePurpleBooker

      What Ian Gibson did was breaking the law. Now you are wrong on several counts. Firstly, you say he was just barred from the Star Camber. That is not true. One, because there is no such thing as a Star Chamber. The whip was removed from Ian Gibson, a fact, which is why he resigned as an Independent MP not a Labour MP, because they rightly sacked him. Many people were involved in the expenses scandal but a few had the whip removed. When the whip is removed it is do with a criminal offence. I rest my case. The disciplinary panel also barred him from standing on top of him being expelled from the Labour whip and in order to spite the party, which he let down, he resigned conveniently knowing that the Tories would take the seat. What he did was extremely serious and broke the law which resulted in a severe punishment from the party. He did something illegal – no doubt about it.
      Now, on the squabble regarding Jo Rust, it is quite telling that she has got not only her friend to go on LabourList to attack the other candidate (who from what I have been hearing is doing very well) but she is getting the backing from this man who got removed and let  down the party. I am lost for words.

      • citizenandreas

        Your rest what case exactly, the case for you being an ill informed fool? Apologise, as you clearly have no idea of the facts behind what happened. The Star Chamber to which I am referring is the special NEC panel set up in the wake of the expenses scandal to decide on the case of the individual MP’s, a simple Google search would tell you this, but here’s a sample link to save you the time.

        http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/22/ian-gibson-star-chamber 

        I keep asking you to provide proof, new stories to back up your claims and repeatedly you fail to provide them. There were no criminal charges in this case and no illegal action, in the cases of Morley and Chaytor the law was broken and it was widely reported, there is no such record of anything against Gibson. You are just plain wrong.

        As far as the Jo Rust thing goes, I did not see the “Jo Rust’s friend” post but this could easily be either someone attempting a smear with a false post or an over enthusiastic supporter. In any case it would be wrong to suggest that Jo Rust had anything to do with the post.

  • Daniel Speight

    Well we know one of these ladies is supported by a union. Do we know if the other has taken any silver pieces from Sainsbury?

  • ThePurpleBooker

    This is directed to Brumeanesis, who clearly refused to respond to my comment the other page about the duplicitous nature about his support for candidacy and his undesirable and untrue comments:
    Now, on Jess Asato – you criticize her for being newly-elected but you backed Linda Hughes who is a newly elected councillor in Darlington. That is double-standards. Hughes does not live in Redcar, she lives in Darlington and works there. On the other hand, Anna Turley moved from Kent to live and work in Redcar.
    So you criticized Asato for doing something that your preferred candidate did do. Hypocrite. Also, Asato has been a councillor in Islington for two and a half years whereas Linda Hughes has won a council seat very recently. Big difference.
    You then criticize Jessica Asato for not being local. Asato was born in Norfolk and grew up there. Her family is from that area too but as people move around she now lives and works in London. Your precious Jo Rust, was born in Norwich and grew up there but moved to a safe Tory seat represented by Henry Bellingham (and if she wanted to be a PPC so much, she could have stood there several times). She failed to do so. So there is a huge flaw in your logic there.
    On candidates, you attack me for having mates who know Jess Asato. Firstly, these are good friends who have know her very well. These are very intelligent people who I know very well and I have been told brilliant things about Jess Asato and I completely trust their judgement. Don’t you trust your friends or do you not have any friends to trust? Secondly, you conveniently forget other comments that I have mentioned. I have come across Jo Rust in the TUC and I have also come across Jess Asato at several Labour Party events. I have been very impressed personally by Jess Asato? Have you had that experience? Thirdly, who said I found CVs hilarious? You just made that up. Not only are you showing rank hypocrisy but also deciet and dishonesty. *tut,tut*. Jess Asato is a young and intelligent woman who has been deeply involved in the party but crucially has been helping to develop ideas in order to make the party progress in the future. She is BAME which is good seen as we need to boost thier representation in Parliament as a whole. She has worked for Progress, the Fabian Society and she has written for The Guardian. I welcome that and praise that. She is a good campaigner not just on the doorstep but also for party and national campaigns. She ran the Labour Yes campaign, and as someone who was squarely No To AV and proud, I have complete respect for the way she co-ordinated that campaign (so did others in the No camp) especially that she had to put up with the Lib Dems carping on the side lines. She is a political adviser which is not always a bad thing, in fact in some cases it is useful to know how government and Opposition work as an MP which could potentially help with serving your constituents. She has experience as a councillor for two and a half years, which is a great thing seen as she already has constituents and serving communities which is an experience which is brilliant for MPs. Lucy Rigby was also another councillor from Islington who went onto become a great PPC in Lincoln. Didn’t hear you complaining. Now not only does she has the skills, talents, experience to win the seat but also to represent it.
    Now can you honestly say all that about Jo Rust? No you cannot. But what you can say is that she is someone who has no experience in representing communities, who is frankly there because of the likes of Christine Shawcroft sitting on the NEC, she is not going to be free minded because she is there with the backing of Len McCluskey who is not even a party member but wants to run the party, she is got her friend to smear Jess Asato on LabourList and she has not been developing ideas, running campaigns or gaining the crucial experience in order to help the party electorally. Also, she is backed by Ian Gibson.
    I think that tells you all you need to know about this selection but most importantly it tells me all I need to know about your judgement (if you can call it that).

    • Jonny

      I don’t know Jess but I do know Jo. She is a committed worker for her local community as a school Governor, secretary to a Trades Council and union representative. She has supported, advised and helped a huge number of ordinary people, the kinds of people Labour are there to represent. By all means give your opinion of Jess based on first hand knowledge but don’t slag Jo off from a position of ignorance. It does Jess no service as if she is up for the job she will stand on her own merit not by you smearing Jo.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

        Len McCluskey is a member of the Labour party.

        Frankly, the attempts of Purple Booker to smear any candidate who doesn’t reflect his Not Labour views are risible

        • ThePurpleBooker

          My Not Labour views? What views are they. The fact I don’t support mass cuts to defence? They fact I am interested  in Blue Labour? The fact I relish debate in the party whether it be from Cruddas to Purnell? The fact I am a proud member of Progress? The fact I support Ed Miliband’s leadership? My Not Labour views which is why I want Labour to be in government again in 2015! Give me a break and get your facts right.And smearing – what like how Jo Rust’s friend went on this site and smeared Jessica Asato and what did you do, Mike? You liked the comment and backed her in your response. So you are not only completely rude and wrong but you are also a massive hypocrite.
          As for Len McCluskey, he is a not a member of the Labour Party. He resigned from membership in 2009. I know that because my friend who sits on the NEC actually told me in conversation. The only reason why he can go to conference and speak is because he leads Unite, which is a mass donor. Mike Homfray, you should actually know what you are talking before you give me a Militant rant or express your deep hyocrisy.

          • Brumanuensis

            ‘My friend who sits on the NEC’.

            Do tell…

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I am not at liberty to say or embarass someone publicly. All I can say is that Len McCluskey (your hero) is not a party member even though he is trying to wield and maximise any control he has over the party.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            Sorry, but you can’t make statements like that without substantiating them

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I think you should ask members you know on the NEC. McCluskey is not a party member. I know that for a fact. Perhaps, you should be quiet and listen to those who know what they are talking about.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            Just about everything you post could happily have come from a Coalition supporter.  That’s the problem with some of the ultras in Progress – still trying to infect the Party with alien right wing ideologies, even though those ideas are largely being followed by the Coalition!

            Len McCluskey is a member of the Labour party. I really think you need to check your sources

            Also, given that my politics are very far from Militant, you really do give yourself away by trying to associate me with them

          • John Dore

            Some of your posts are so hard left. I see you as pure play militant too. Not sure what in the current Labour Party reflects the way you think. Its still a very centrist party.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            He is so hard-left that he thinks regulating landlords, introducing rent controls, having a social insurance welfare system (something Diane Abbott and Kelvin Hopkins support), having Free Universal Childcare, regulating bookies, introducing a mansion tax and creating a Jobs Guarantee to end long-term unemployment is ‘rightwing’ and ‘Tory’. He is also so hard-left he thinks that Ed Miliband is a Tory infiltrator and that a co-operative capitalism with radical banking reform as well as tougher financial regulation is placing too much faith in bankers! I think I might start a motion to throw him out of the party, then we will get the last of Militant.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I cannot believe you have a PhD because this comment could only be written by someone who lobotimised or just utterly thick that they can’t think but let Len McCluskey think for you. Firstly, explain what I post that supports the Coalition? Name one. Support for Ed Miliband? Support for a Jobs Gurantee? Support for free universal childcare? Support for Labour politicians? Support for the Darling Plan not austerity? Support for the Five Point Plan for Jobs and Growth? Support for SureStart? Support for co-ops and mutualisation? Support (albeit very tribal and very, very, very reluctant) for Ken Livingstone? Go on. Find a quote. Check a source. Do Coalition supporters support these things when their Government is doing the opposite. No. The fact is you are so very wrong. You call, Progress rightwing and trying to infect the party. Absolute Militant garbage. Give me a rightwing policy from Progress? Is Ed Miliband (the man who the chair of your beloved Labour Left supported in 2010) rightwing? Is he? Don’t think so. Progress is a radical progressive pressure group which is trigerring debate about how the party can win elections as well as capturing the centre ground. I am pride that Progress’ membership has risen within the party. I am also proud we have organisations like LabourFirst and also Compass – though I do not agree with all what they have to say. Why? Because they promote debate which we need. Len McCluskey is not a party member. A good friend of mine who is in the NEC has told me as a fact. I will not want to jeopordise somebody who I respect in order to try and prove a point since unlike you I have integrity. You can ask NEC members and you will find out for yourself.

            You are Militant. Your politics is close to theirs. Your support of Len McCluskey let’s the cat out of the bag. The fact you think I am rightwing shows that you must be some hard-left nutjob. Your politics is one which is big state, judging by your comments on personal health budgets and localism. The fact that you said Progress infects the party with rightwing ideology which is being carried forward by the Coalition proves my point. It is not surprising since the Red Book, which you co-authored, called for Labour to go back to the ‘pre-Kinnock years’. My politics belongs to the centre-left. Labour is a centrist party not a Militant entryist sect which is what you desire. I think you should get over it, get over the fact I am not rightwing and that moderates in the party aren’t rightwing, then you should get over the fact that you aren’t truly Labour and bugger off out of my party so we can win the next election without nutters like yourself holding us back!

          • Brendan Howell

            Very rich of you, Mike Homfray, seen as you attacked Jess and congratuled Jo Rust’s friend for smearing her on LabourList yet has the audacity to accuse others of smearing. I think you should apologise or maybe LabourLeft as well as others should be alerted. :O

      • ThePurpleBooker

        A position of ignorance? I am not smearing anyone but expressing a true opinion. Jessica Asato has helped people too but she is more experienced than Jo Rust whether you like it or not and she has been a very active councillor. That is the fact. It is not slagging off, it is just telling the simple truth of the matter. Now you cannot honesty compare Jo Rust’s record and Jess Asato’s record and say that Jo Rust is more credible. Jonny, you should have read what a user named ‘Jo’s Friemd’ (they couldn’t spell) said about Jess Asato. They described her as a ‘horrible Progress woman’ and “the only candidate that Lord Sainsbury can buy”. They said she was trying to fix the selection by using her friends in London. If that is smearing, I don’t know what is and I hope that Jo Rust comes on LabourList and gives an apology to Jess Asato if she is not unbecoming of a potential MP.

    • Brumanuensis

      Thems fighting words boy.

      Fighting words.

      But I’m just going to ignore you, because you’re behaving like a prat and I’ve already answered all the ‘points’ you make in this post.

      • ThePurpleBooker

        Behaving like a prat? It’s because you have completely lost the argument. You lied about why I support Jess Asato, you then complained that she is a newly-elected councillor when you backed someone who is also a newly-elected councillor (has been for less than Asato). You have been completely embarassed because you’ve been proved wrong.

        • Brumanuensis

          Like I said PurpleBooker, thems fighting words.

          And if you don’t stop libelling me, my patience may expire.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            What patience? Your penchant for being a complete hypocrite as well as having no grasp of the facts. Can you explain your double standards as well as your lies about me and my position?

          • Brumanuensis

            List ‘em, PurpleBooker. I’ve never lied about you once. You on the other hand…

          • ThePurpleBooker

            You what. You are a liar. You lied about my position several times. Do you want me to embarass you more than I have already because trust me you don’t want me to.

          • Alan Giles

            I have given LL a wide berth in recent times, because I am sick to death of the hysterical and theatrical rantings of “The Purple Booker”. Just looked in again and what do we find?

            He/she sounds barely coherent at times, and insults and abuses other posters like a beligerant teenager, swigging an alco-pop on a bus..

            If “The Purple Booker” is what Labour List has come down to, then I am happy to wash my hands of it, but, as I have told this creature before, if he/she wants to abuse people at least have the backbone to sign your tantrums with your real name, don’t hide behind this indeterminate screen name like a slimeball.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Flagging my comments. LOL.

          • Brumanuensis

            No, that wasn’t me. Not on this occasion. I always leave a note when I flag.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Very hard to believe. You have made a series of untrue allegations as well as your false protestations. Admit it, your not a centre-left moderniser but some early 1980s’ throwback. You do not support candidates on locality or whether or not they have been councillors for a year or not, you will only support them if they have the backing of the trade unions and you will only support their agenda, regardless of whether it is in a sade Tory seat or not.

          • Brumanuensis

            Were you a member of the Spanish Inquisition in a past life?

            Which positions have I taken that mark me out as a member of the far-left?

    • Brumanuensis

      Although an additional, you say I didn’t complain about Lucy Rigby.

      I did. Look up the thread.

      • Brumanuensis

        *An additional thought…

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=746331591 Paul Cunningham

      “She is BAME which is good seen as we need to boost thier representation in Parliament as a whole. ” If by BAME you mean Ms Asato is Black or in someway minority ethnic, have you actually met her?

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