Labour Party 'uninvite' Kiri Tunks to speak about sexism in ed

[MerchedCymru]

The misogyny in the Labour Party appears to be reaching epidemic proportions. One of the Labour Women's Declaration founder signatories, former NEU President, co-founder of WPUK, and lifelong activist for women's rights, has been 'un-invited' by the Party to give a talk on sexism in education. This is shocking and chilling in equal measure.

twitter.com/LabWomenDec/status/1362811048496148485

I think one thread per party would be most useful, @Olderstyle1 - specific evidence to cite in discussion. Agree Lib Dems, Greens, SNP, Democrats etc etc etc all have their moments...

One thread per party would at least ensure that a single thread didn't fill up too quickly... But it would be as depressing as hell. Not sure I can cope!

What a bunch of 🤬🤬🤬won't be rejoining them anytime soon . Won't be voting for them either . No one to vote for .I stand with Kiri

Spoil your ballot rather than not vote. I felt good about this the last couple of elections. Wrote a comment across the ballot. Apparently they do read them at the count.

I also felt better at actually going to the Polling station. It meant that I was acknowledging the importance of my democratic right

I've recently given up my Labour membership. I might have carried on and hoped they'd turn around, but money is tight and it was really starting to irk that I was helping pay for their misogynistic shitshow.
I have voted in every single election since I was 18, both local and national, and always for left leaning parties. I have no idea what I'd do in another election, possibly spoil my vote for the first time

While I doubt I would ever choose to vote Labour for a number of reasons - I do think we need a strong opposition as it is essential to maintaining good government.

While Labour are so determinedly ignoring women and labelling women’s groups as hate groups and expelling anyone who doesn’t toe the party line in working against their own interests I would be very worried if they came anywhere near power.

Lisa Nandy and Angela Rayner are particularly aggressive examples of the anti woman feeling.

I'm still waiting (in vain) for the outpouring of support for Kiri from Labour politicians and trade-unionists.

The silence says it all.

It's tragic really, we're effectively a one-party state.

And even in the one party, caring about women and believing in their rights has become the love that dare not speak its name.

On Any Questions on Radio 4, after the Universities Minister Michelle Donelan mentioned no-platforming, the presenter Anita Anand was quick to rush in citing some data reporting only six no-platform cases out of so many thousands and giving chapter and verse as to what sort of cases the six were. I didn't catch the source or all the detail.

Why she was so eager to come prepared so that she could leap in to disprove that there is any such problem in universities? Was it designed to be a gotcha of the Conservative minister or is it something the BBC feels sensitive about for some reason? Perhaps it feels too close to home.

I spoiled my paper last time, I will be doing so again. There is no-one to vote for

I agree that this country needs a strong opposition. So long as the Labour Party keeps chasing the ‘woke’ vote the northern working class communities will continue to avoid voting for them.

What worries me more is if the union breaks apart as England is overwhelming Tory and I cannot see how Labour would ever come close to gaining enough seats to win a GE.

A new left of centre party needs to be brought into life. One that is not influenced by metropolitan elites, or academics who argue about the eleventy billion ways to take offence, whilst ordinary working men and women could just do with someone in parliament fighting their corner.

Wonder how the Corbyn-is-the-messiah Momentumites are going to react to Corbyn publically liking a tweet in support of Kiri Tunks?

@Olderstyle1

I'm still waiting (in vain) for the outpouring of support for Kiri from Labour politicians and trade-unionists.

The silence says it all.

Me too.

It's appalling.

I've know (of) Kiri for years and she's a dedicated trade unionist, and a woman of deep integrity.

If they can do this to Kiri and not be called to account, then can do it to any woman who steps out of line. And the line is drawn by misogynists.

I don't have any words to express how I feel @ShulamithFirestone, and I'm just an onlooker. Kiri must be beside herself at the injustice: women who are still in the party (and who remember what a woman is) must be in despair.

Exactly. If this is how they treat women when we're all watching, you have to wonder what they do when we're not.

I'm cancelling my membership today.

I would, if I hadn't already. I actually rejoined to vote for Starmer. Fuck sake.

@Abitofalark

On Any Questions on Radio 4, after the Universities Minister Michelle Donelan mentioned no-platforming, the presenter Anita Anand was quick to rush in citing some data reporting only six no-platform cases out of so many thousands and giving chapter and verse as to what sort of cases the six were. I didn't catch the source or all the detail.

Why she was so eager to come prepared so that she could leap in to disprove that there is any such problem in universities? Was it designed to be a gotcha of the Conservative minister or is it something the BBC feels sensitive about for some reason? Perhaps it feels too close to home.

A university no platforming thread listing evidence might help the next person on a radio 4 with Anita Anand. mind you I suspect the people who visit FWR don't get invited onto Radio 4. Still a list of evidence would be good. I like the idea of political party no platforming threads. Agree @Olderstyle1 it's depressing. Though maybe some good can come of it as FWRs are great at joining dots and suggesting action

We shouldn't wait for the next local elections. We should all be finding key people in the local Labour branches and emailing them NOW, making it clear that they will not get women's vote unless they address this.
I think a lot of local members are in denial about the fact that this will be a problem.

Anyone have an email template which can be tweaked?

I'm so sick of this! I have NOBODY I can vote for in may as the only parties fielding candidates have all drank too much of the woke koolaid!

I've never not voted and have gone to some lengths to place my vote as it's not always easy (why in this day and age it can't be done online I don't know! I feel that if it were possible to vote online: 1 young people would be more inclined to vote 2 huge swathes of disabled people would be ABLE to vote)

It's not just one party it's bloody all of them - including conservatives which I keep seeing posts saying they're the only non woke party and it's just not true. They're the ones that started all this and have implemented actual changes in law!

They're just savvy enough to keep it mostly quiet!

Spoil your ballot rather than not vote.

This is meaningless though, the number of spoiled ballots are recorded but reasons for spoiling aren't and so the parties/candidates aren't told "x people spoiled ballots because of y issue", they're simply told stats

BUT one thing we CAN do is contact our MPs, msps, members of the senedd, MLA... hell even town councillors!

This I have just done

They cannot claim this is what electorate want if we TELL them it isn't!

TELL them we will not be voting for them until they change/stop this

I won't provide exact wording from my email but I said it was misogynistic behaviour and contributed to rape culture particularly to the culture of harassment and assault in educational establishments. Suffice to say I pulled no punches!

I have a daughter within education. She has had a similar but not quite as extreme life experience as I have. I am a survivor of csa and I am absolutely sick of seeing almost daily our countries organisations becoming MORE dangerous for women and girls and not less!

Dd and I have both experienced harassment and assault from a young age. Also discrimination at work, in medical treatment, relating to housing...

This I am sure is not news to the wonderful women who frequent the feminism boards (I'm afraid I don't respond as often as in terms of political debate I feel somewhat out of my depth being not as knowledgeable about the various types of feminism and current activists etc, I admit I worry about making a fool of myself)

I'm
Just
Bloody
Sick
Of
It!

Not ONE major political party that steps up for women and girls!

If I didn't have my own shit going on I'd be sorely tempted to stand as a candidate myself if only on this single issue!

Don't even get me started on the the supposed womens equality party - a huge opportunity missed there!

My MO just doesn’t respond to any email that isn’t on a subject that suits him so that’s always been a futile gesture. I feel like all I can do is vent on here and donate to the relevant crowdfunders as they arise.
But it really isn’t enough

*MP

I have emailed the local regional branch of the Labour Party and told them I will telling all the women I know why I won’t be voting Labour.

I understand the feeling that we are helpless, that we can’t do anything but we have to write as many emails and letters as we can. It’s a small thing but surely if enough of us do it, it will become a visible reminder of our widespread anger and outrage?

#IstandwithKiri