To think Jared O'Mara should resign as an MP

[derxa]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/23/labour-mp-jared-omara-sheffield-hallam-sorry-girls-aloud-orgy
He made some terrible comments online in the past. Surely people don't change their character that much over time.

And at least one of his more contemporary accusers I have serious doubts about. Really?

birds that's absolutely not true. It's the closest we've been to running the Labour Party. This is the closest we've come to having the issue finally in the public eye and listened to. This is not a left wing Labour issue alone - it is every stand of politics, every strand of most industries in the country.

Are you wanting me to say misogyny is throughout soceity then yes that's true . That misogyny in the Labour party has got worse I am afraid is true also. Where were all these accusations in the run up to Blair's election wins. The right wing were after them why didn't they expose Gordon Brown's previous remarks on on " smashing women" oh because he didn't ever say those things.

This is not a left wing Labour issue alone - it is every stand of politics, every strand of most industries in the country.

Agree.

I think there are a lot of young men who also have no idea about the effects of what they do. The 'South Park Generation' who think its funny to be as offensive as possible. They don't experience the consequences of it. They don't know the scale of harassment. Because they haven't been challenged to think about it properly. Its too easy to dismiss as someone 'over reacting' or because they look untrustworthy / after the fame or money / tarty or not classy enough.

If the revelations of the last few weeks open a few eyes that can only be a good thing.

Premature posting. It's inexperienced leaders managing a group of people who hold some very dodgy views. They need to address this but they won't because it's not really that important to them. And maybe that's fine. But let's not pretend that isnt what's happening.

But if the choices are

1. join the Labour Party/get more involved with the Labour Party and challenge the shitty elements from within whilst fighting the Tories and their dismantling of our welfare state Or
2. turn our backs on Labour and declare them to be a lost cause thereby empowering the Tories to continue

Then I know what choice I'll be making. It's not about denying there's a problem it's about trying to be part of the solution to the problem. There may be other options that I've not thought of but on these threads people seem to say oh I'd rather vote Ukip, as though that were a helpful response to this situation! And as I said earlier we can't just write off the thousands and thousands of Labour activists as all being misoginistic anti Semites when there is a very real and credible threat to our welfare state going on.

You’ve got evidence whatthefuck. Jess Phillips and others are telling you the problem is there. They’re living it.
Oh wait - women lie about this stuff don’t they.
This, this, is Labour and its sympathisers in 2017. This plus the women only carriages. We are actually having to deal with a situation where female mps are telling us this situation exists and we refuse to believe them.
No Tory would dare venture a millimetre down this road. Give me the blue buggers any day over this lot.

Yes karlos, I've read the links. And I have agreed that it's wrong and it's scary. There is still nothing in those links that would make me think that continued Tory rule would be a good thing for our society.
The Labour Party are not the national front. Their aim is social justice and the protection of the welfare state. The more intelligent women who join the party and get involved in activism the quicker change will come about.
Momentum are also not the national front, you can demonise them all you like but the vast majority are compassionate and intelligent (and often young) people who are utterly disillusioned with current status quo, they are not an army of anti Semites. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!

So you continue supporting labour because you think how much taxpayers money gets doled out is more important than fundamental respect for and rights for women.
I think that’s bullshit. You wouldn’t, I’m sure - I hope - excuse flagrant racism within a party on the grounds of its commitment to “social justice”. When it’s only women getting treated like crap you’re ready to hold your nose.
I’m not.

Bollocks. I continue supporting Labour because I'm utterly heartbroken at watching what the Tories are doing to our country, particularly the poor and vulnerable. They are destroying our nhs, there is a MASSIVE crisis looming in our education system with teachers leaving in droves, they are fucking over the police and the fire services. Never mind the giant balls up that is Brexit.
Labour oppose what the Tories are doing and for the first time in a generation have socialist policies in their manifesto. THAT is why I am supporting Labour.
It's not about thinking they are perfect or somehow not caring about women, it's about trying to campaign for what I believe in.

I think that speaking up and speaking out is the way to go.

I think you don't necessarily have to go the whole hog to do that.

I have made a point on MN about how we should make a point of publicising ANY MP who acts in a way that is questionable. Call it out.

I have been surprised that many posters are largely unaware of some of the stuff their MPs do or think. Even MPs like Rees-Mogg who is well known. It can change opinions and make it about more than simply voting on a tribal basis.

Its only when its spelt out and shared that people realise. Hold them to standards by making them more accountability in whatever way you can think of.

And at a local level I see a party who are actively working to get more women involved, who now have 4 times the number of women on the executive than they did a year ago, who actively encourage and support women to take up key leadership roles, and who are being given an ever increasing voice in decisions by the national party.

I have no idea if this is typical of local Labour groups but if it is then it gives me great hope that we are on the right path to get rid of the misogynistic minority.

No Tory would dare venture a millimetre down this road. Give me the blue buggers any day over this lot.

My goodness people have short memories. Have you forgotten Mark Clarke already?

You see there it is. The message is more important . Don't let anything distract from the socialist utopia.
I agree they are often young. Many are not intelligent though. Critical thinking isn't really something that's a key part of the hard left or the hard right.

Wait what am I saying? They have a racism problem too! At least as far as Jews are concerned.
Beautiful bunch of guys. But hey, they’re not Tories. So that’s alright.

Google 'people dying under Tories'
That is why I feel it is important not to give up on Labour at this point. Even though they are not perfect.
It's not just a message. It's people's lives that are currently being disregarded.
Google 'homelessness under Tories'
It's not just an aimless message.

2400 people dead within two weeks of being found fit to work under the Tory regime. Ffs.
I know it is terrible when people use misogynistic language and shout down women. I will stand up and be counted with anyone who wants to fight against that.
But ffs.

Ah yes, the tories are killing people.
If that’s where you have to go to to justify continuing support for labour, maybe it really is time to go elsewhere?

Don’t be so silly - it’s not that Tories are killing people but that the fitness to work test is not fit for purpose - it finds people fit for work that are not.. Can you really not see the difference?

I’d love to know how you justify support for the Tories when so many die after being found fit for work - but I doubt you care anyway

Might be wise to talk about the things we have in common than the things that divide us, to steal a phrase.

In terms of which party you support there are lots of reasons and considerations about why you support someone over another. If you get caught up in that argument, you'll miss the point over this issue which could do with cross party support over every individual rather than it just being something that political points are exchanged over.

The more tribal you make it all, the easier it is for both the far left and the far right to carry on.

But the Tories on here and elsewhere won’t consider they have a problem will they? All their MPs are perfect and DA made up all that abuse so why support her?

That's tribalism for you.

If a member of your tribe is caught out ''that's just this individual, nobody else here is like that''.

If a member of the other tribe is caught out ''they're all like that, this just proves it''.

Humans, what are we like?

Also karlos and others who have accused me of not listening to the women mp's who have spoken out - I think you're putting words in their mouths or else you aren't actually listening yourself. They are not saying that they want to leave Labour and join the Tories because it's so much better there, they are not saying we should stop voting Labour, or should stop being active in the Labour Party if we care about women's rights. Yet that seems to be what you're hearing?
They are saying that it needs to be talked about and challenged and changed, all of which I agree with, but they are not saying that Labour as a party should be abandoned because of it so why are you putting that on them?
surely by your logic Jess Philips and co aren't listening to themselves, because they continue to campaign for Labour and believe in Labour despite the issues?

I am not a Tory. It is possible to be concerned about the Labour party and not support the Tories.