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Original poster

Guess how I got suspended from the Labour Party?

811 replies

IAmDavidLewis · 22/05/2018 23:17

Well, one of the weirdest days in my life concluded with me receiving a letter informing me of my immediate suspension from the Labour Party. They believe I may have breached the rules by subverting the intention of All Women Shortlists, Women’s Officers or minimum quotas for women. Unfortunately, this does mean that my political ambitions are on hold for a while. I shall of course be continuing to self-identify as a woman every Wednesday, as that is my gender identity...

I have to say a huge thanks to @namechangeah for all her help, guidance and, more importantly, proof-reading! I wouldn’t have gotten to this point without it. I’d also like to thank everyone for their support today. I hope this has helped a bit.

And the Telegraph called me an “activist”! Achievement unlocked Grin

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AornisHades · 23/05/2018 00:40

David can you rejoin the party as Davina at 6.51am and resist any attempt to point out your suspension as dead naming and literal violence until you go to bed?

BoreOfWhabylon · 23/05/2018 00:39

Well done, David lass Grin

BlackeyedSusan · 23/05/2018 00:37

interesting. why are you not a woman on wednesday? how can they prove it?

I wonder if there is a blood test or something?

EBearhug · 23/05/2018 00:37

Thank you, David. I wish you were my MP instead of Maria Miller.

EspressoButler · 23/05/2018 00:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ereshkigal · 23/05/2018 00:34

Fact is they didn't demur when you pitched up saying 'I am a woman' with all your non-womanliness on show. They wouldn't know any better if JK hadn't written about it.

Exactly. Labour are fools and everyone can see. They just wanted to shut it down quick.

BeefyCakes · 23/05/2018 00:32

Round of applause

The Labour party is eating itself at the moment. They're trying to be so open minded their brains have fallen out.

Well done, and all the best.

I've been a Labour supporter for 20 years and I'm currently at the point of never voting for them again.

untoldstories · 23/05/2018 00:29

Hi David Lewis , I have just cancelled my subscription to Labour.
Enough is enough, have tried to stick with them for so long but fuck that shit.

I hope you can sue for hurt feelz and misgendering and win.

Apileofballyhoo · 23/05/2018 00:26

Well done. I hope you are right about the party.

ErrmWTAF · 23/05/2018 00:25

Merlot, room-temperature
yes, this is a Star Trek: TNG reference

Love it! That is, I loathe Earl Grey tea, and would be reluctant to kiss Patrick Stewart when he's had a few.

But Merlot at room temperature? That's fine. Shiraz in winter, natch.

Original poster
IAmDavidLewis · 23/05/2018 00:20

To be honest, I’m wondering if a suspension was the best move. The meeting on Wednesday night was going to be really awkward for me and I’d have been a bag of nerves - I really like and respect the people I’ve been out campaigning with and I do feel really bad that certain members might be embarrassed or angered by this - so shutting me down in the meeting would have been far more effective.

Now with a suspension, the Party will presumably need to define what a “self-identified woman” is, in order to show that I am not one. That, I believe, is progress.

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NKFell · 23/05/2018 00:19

You should definitely appeal David, and welcome!

BewitchedBotheredandBewildered · 23/05/2018 00:19

Hi David, I read the link about you this morning and had 30 seconds of soaring blood pressure before I realised what was happening.

It's a sobering thought that I thought you meant it!

Interesting that you're doing the same as some other people but because you are rightly suggesting that it's absurd you get suspended, whereas they have their fingers crossed behind their backs (I think) and they get the job.

I am a bit confused though, are you suspended only on Wednesdays or only for the rest of the week?

Come on, there must be some phobias we can come up with to cover both those?

CrustyCob · 23/05/2018 00:17

A big cheer from me David, for when you wake up this Wednesday morning.Flowers

Appeal...please.

Writersblock2 · 23/05/2018 00:14

Hi David! Brilliant work, and thank you. Shame about the suspension, I was rather hoping you’d get in as Women’s Officer. You could job share and just do the Wednesdays, right? :D

spontaneousgiventime · 23/05/2018 00:13

Next stop , the press maybe ?

Definitely one for Andrew Marr.

Pratchet · 23/05/2018 00:12

Fact is they didn't demur when you pitched up saying 'I am a woman' with all your non-womanliness on show. They wouldn't know any better if JK hadn't written about it.

MisDescamisados · 23/05/2018 00:11

Next stop , the press maybe ?

Ineedacupofteadesperately · 23/05/2018 00:10

David - thank you so much for doing this. I also would have voted for you and think you would have made a great women's officer because you've shown you actually listen to women's concerns.

VaggieMight · 23/05/2018 00:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at poster's request.

ErrolTheDragon · 23/05/2018 00:08

cite Pips Bunce and Eddie Izzard as precedents.

I'm not sure either of them actually 'identifies as a woman' though - Bunce is, afaik 'gender fluid' , Izzard 'transgender' and 'calls himself "a straight transvestite, or male lesbian".'

YomTov · 23/05/2018 00:08

I am really curious to know what they are now claiming the intention of AWS, women's officers, etc, really is, because I'm frankly bemused. I used to think it was to redress the material oppression of women but since trans-identified men are women for these purposes, that can't be the intention. But as they claim you're subverting the intention, David, would you be able to ask them what that intention actually is? It's a mystery wrapped in an enigma just now....

spontaneousgiventime · 23/05/2018 00:07

@IAmDavidLewis Are you going to appeal? I hope you do.

ToeToToe · 23/05/2018 00:06

And Heather. And Sophie.

Original poster
IAmDavidLewis · 23/05/2018 00:06

@Terfulike I hope they have a clear definition of “vexatious claim” (unlike “woman”)...

@Sparkyduchess Yes, definitely something suitably girly - comfortable shoes, trousers and top. It’s forecast to be warm.

@mooncuplanding As you wish...

@LighthouseSouth Yes, it’s really me. Thanks! So far it’s kind of self-perpetuating. The Telegraph ran the Spectator story, the Mail ran the Telegraph story - but I would point out that inaccuracies are starting to creep in in the re-telling. All I told my CLP was that “I self-identify as a woman” as that was all that the Party policy required. I was very careful not to lie or deceive in my communications. I also wrote a supporting document to be handed out which I consider to be truthful.

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