CLIVE'S GOING NOWHERE

Labour's Clive Lewis has told the Beeb's Politics Live that he is prepared to give up his Norwich South seat to allow Andy Burnham a route back into the Commons in order to challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership.  It's an open secret that the Mayor of Greater Manchester would like to dislodge Starmer, but an endorsement from Lewis - who is on the hard left of the party - is somewhat odd.  On paper Burnham does not represent anything that would appeal to Labour's Socialist Campaign Group, of which Lewis is a member.  A successful Burnham challenge would simply mean replacing one globalist Blairite clone with another.

Watch the clip below.

While his overtures to Burnham are at odds with his place on the political spectrum, the reality is that Clive is going nowhere.  Are we to believe that an MP of ten years, with up to four more years left of his current term, is going to give up his seat on the Westminster gravy train?  Is Clive Lewis the man who will put honour back into honourable member?

Highly doubtful.  He knows full well there is no likelihood of the so-called 'King in the North' parachuting into Norfolk.  Even in the event Lewis did stand down and Burnham went for it, the mayor would still have to go through the selection process.  He would be humiliated if the local CLP rejected him and it would also render Lewis's own resignation pointless.

In any case, Clive has already backed down from what he now says was a response to a 'hypothetical question'.  He has told The Sun's political editor: “I have no plans to stand down.  A hypothetical question was put to me, and my answer was consistent with what I have been saying – that I am serious about putting country before party.”

Serious, except when he offered a rather straightforward answer to a question of vacating the gravy train.  No, he's not at all serious then.

The challenge to Starmer - when it comes - will not come from Burnham, but from within the House of Commons.  Rumblings on the back benches and the front will grow stronger as Starmer faces multiple hurdles in the next six months.  There's the Budget, the local elections, opposition to digital ID and a certain court case in April concerning the activities of three 'aspiring male models' from eastern Europe...

LEWIS RETAKES THE OATH

Labour's Clive Lewis has been forced to retake his oath of allegiance as an MP, following an objection and omission during his first attempt.  Despite having previously taken the oath three times, the hard left MP for Norwich South decided to make an issue of it in 2024.  A republican, Lewis objects to the wording of the oath, which reads: "I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law."

Lewis prefaced his oath with the statement: "I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic".  He then proceeded to omit the words 'his heirs and successors' (see video clip below).

If MPs do not complete the oath of allegiance, they cannot take their seats or salary.  Sinn Fein MPs traditionally refuse the oath and therefore do not take their seats in the Commons or draw a salary.

Clive obviously didn't want to miss out on either, so when asked to retake his oath, he duly obliged - albeit with reworded protest.  Lewis prefaced his second attempt to swear in with the preface: "I was elected to Parliament to represent my constituents and our country to the best of my ability to defend democracy and uphold human rights and one day I hope all members of parliament will be entitled to swear an oath of allegiance based on those values".

Lewis went on to complete the wording this time and successfully take up his seat in the Commons (see video clip below).

Lewis was not alone in protesting the oath.  SDLP leader Colum Eastwood declared words of protest before and after he completed the oath.  The MP for Foyle (which includes the city of Londonderry) prefaced his oath with the statement: "I read out this empty formula in order to represent my constituents, but it’s under protest".  After he completed the oath, he added: "My true allegiance is to the people of Derry and to the people of Ireland."

Eastwood's colleague, Claire Hanna (Belfast South & Mid Down), voiced a similar protest: "In friendship and in hope of a reconciled new Ireland, my allegiance is to the people of Belfast South and Mid Down.  I say these words in order to serve them".

LABOUR ON THE PICKET LINE

Keir Starmer is between a rock and a hard place at the moment.  He does not want to discuss the rail strikes - as he wants to remain firmly seated on the fence.  He neither wants to upset the trade unions that bankroll his party, or the millions of workers who will be adversely affected by the strikes.  As the strikes commenced on Tuesday his social media accounts fell silent.  24 hours earlier he banned his frontbenchers from joining the RMT picket lines.  He didn't slap a ban on his backbenchers, because he knew that would be pointless...

Labour backbenchers on the RMT picket line on Tuesday - Beth Winter, Kim Johnson,
Rachael Maskell, Richard Burgon, Zarah Sultana, Ian Byrne, Rebecca Long-Bailey,
Dan Carden and Paula Barker

Diane Abbott and several other MPs were on separate picket lines and the former shadow home secretary tweeted a defiant message to her party leader...

Other Labour MPs on the picket line included Tahir Ali, Ian Lavery, Andy McDonald, John McDonnell, Kate Osborne, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Mick Whitley and Nadia Whittome.  Sam Tarry was on the picket line with a loudspeaker on Tuesday, but his lover Angela Rayner was nowhere to be seen, clearly adhering to her leader's ban.  Clive Lewis hilariously tweeted apologies that he couldn't be on the picket line - as there were no trains running!

LEWIS LASHES OUT AT VOTING SYSTEM

Labour's Clive Lewis couldn't provide much direction for his party when he spoke to BBC News earlier, saying that the left and centre-left needed to 'work out' how to stop the Tories.  Lewis, who is on the far left of the party, suggested that the 'political voting system we have in this country overwhelmingly favours the Tories'.  Funny that, considering the same voting system brought Labour three general election victories in 1997, 2001 and 2005...

NAZI AND KLAN SLURS OF THE LEFT

Clive Lewis and Priyamvada Gopal

Leftist uproar following the release of the race report last week was predictable.  The left thrive on division and need grand lurid conspiracies about institutional racism to sow it.

Nine of the ten commissioners who wrote the report were black and Asian, but that didn't stop the hysterical left from sending them some outrageous abuse their way.  Labour MP Clive Lewis responded to the report by tweeting a picture of a Klansman.  He added: "To be crystal clear this image represents structural racism".  OK, Clive, but if you're using the image to suggest that racism is actually rife in Britain why use a picture of a dead Klansman from Missouri?  Not the same country, dickhead.

As if tweeting an image of a Klansman in response to a report co-written by five black people wasn't bad enough, Cambridge professor Priyamvada Gopal likened the chair of the Racial Disparities Commission to Joseph Goebbels.  Initially she questioned Dr Tony Sewell's credentials, but on being informed that his doctorate was genuine, she compared him to a senior Nazi.

Gopal is a nasty piece of work, but remains in her university post despite a string of anti-white racist tweets including expressing a desire to 'knee-cap white men' and saying that 'white lives don't matter'.  She also remains at liberty to express such views on Twitter, a platform that has removed conservative voices for much less - including Bin The Labour Party.

Gopal's target this time was in actual fact a black man, but apparently the Nazi term fits all as long as it's someone who doesn't subscribe to your hard left views.

Below is the full line-up of the Racial Disparities Commission, including Dr Sewell (top left).

On Saturday the commissioners released a joint statement condemning the abuse they'd received following the report's release.  The tweet from Clive Lewis was referenced.

"The deeply personal attacks on many of us by politicians and other public figures are irresponsible and dangerous.  For example, one MP presented commissioners as members of the KKK. Robust debate we welcome.  But to depict us as racism deniers, slavery apologists or worse is unacceptable" 

Commissioners, Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities

Let's be clear.  There is no better country on earth to be born if you are black.  The constant sniping from leftist agitators is aimed at dragging us all back into an age of racial strife and division.  It is no coincidence that BLM has its roots in Marxism.  Division is their game, destruction of society the aim.

REMAINERS PINE FOR BREAK-UP

Labour's Ben Bradshaw and Clive Lewis

Imagine being so sore about losing that four years on you want to burn the whole place down out of sheer spite.  That's exactly what some of the most ardent Remainers are espousing.

Two of Labour's most bitter Remainers have both expressed support for the end of the Union, linking their desire directly with our break from the EU.  Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw told a German newspaper on Sunday that 'the political class in England must recognise Scots' right to self-determination'.  Of course this issue was settled in 2014, but as we know only too well - Remainers have no respect for referendum results when they don't get the result they want.

Bradshaw is perhaps most famous for his persistent unfounded claims that 'Russian interference' was to blame not only for Brexit, but for the election of Donald Trump also.  In his latest interview, Bradshaw uses SNP logic to justify IndyRef2: "The Scots expressed in the 2016 EU referendum and in the two subsequent general elections that they did not want to leave the EU.  Understand that the UK is based on the consent of all parts of the country".

That last point is absurd.  In the 1975 referendum there was no such requirement - the UK voted as one entity, not four, and would have left or remained regardless of how individual members voted.  The 2016 referendum was no different.  Basically what he is saying is that England and Wales should have been forced to remain in the EU on the basis that Scotland and Northern Ireland didn't vote to leave.  That is not how majority referendums work.

On the same day as Bradshaw was promoting the end of Great Britain, his fellow remoaner Clive Lewis was triggered by comments made by his party leader.  In an interview with Andrew Marr, Starmer had rowed back on a pledge he had made regarding free movement with the EU.  Lewis, a member of the hard left Socialist Campaign Group, tweeted that Starmer was guilty of 'policy by diktat'.

Ironically, Clive has no problem with diktats when they are being issued by the UK government with regards to coronavirus.  Funny that.

He then added a series of tweets on the question of Scottish independence and appears to conclude that Scots would be better off outside the UK.  However, he repeats the laughable mantra of the SNP that an independent Scotland should immediately seek to rejoin the EU - thereby surrendering its independence in the process.  What a wally.

There is so much else wrong with Clive's assessment.  Asides from his absurd description of the current crop of Tories as 'hard right', he fails to grasp the concept of nationalism.  If the Tories were 'English nationalists' they wouldn't be concerned about Scotland would they?  Has Clive forgotten that at the heart of government lies the hated Michael Gove, a born and bred Scot?

As for Clive's description of the EU as having 'democratic institutions', this is possibly the most ludicrous statement in a collection of ludicrous statements.  Four years on he and his ilk still fail to grasp that one of the key reasons Britons voted Leave is that the EU is far from democratic.

PLANE CRIMINALITY OF THE LEFT

Priti Patel and Clive Lewis

Priti Patel has clashed with the Labour left again, this time over the deportation of foreign criminals.  Labour's Clive Lewis wrote to the Home Secretary on Monday calling on her to cancel a deportation flight to Jamaica carrying around 50 individuals.  The charter flight was due to carry at least three murderers, numerous rapists and drug dealers, as well as convicts guilty of manslaughter, attempted murder and firearms offences.  There was no mention of their crimes in the letter penned by Lewis and co-signed by more than 60 of his colleagues, plus five Liberal Democrats, three Plaid Cymru and - predictably - Caroline Lucas of the Greens.

Instead Lewis makes a series of lame arguments for keeping them on our streets, including the threat of coronavirus during their flight and, ironically, the possibility they may become victims of crime in Jamaica!  The letter is signed by many of Clive's comrades in the Socialist Campaign Group, including Corbyn, Long-Bailey and McDonnell, as well as numerous peers and moderates of Starmer's new so-called 'patriotic' party.  The letter can be seen below (click to enlarge).

The Home Secretary responded swiftly to the letter and was clearly spitting feathers at the treacherous mentality of people trying to keep serious criminals on Britain's streets.  She pointed out that the deportations were in line with the 2007 UK Borders Act, a piece of legislation passed under the last Labour government.  Her letter can be seen below.

Lewis wrote another letter on Wednesday, gloating after the majority of the deportations were halted by a last minute legal challenge.  It's reported that just 13 seats were eventually filled on a flight that must have come at great expense to the British taxpayer.  At least one murderer and two rapists were among those reprieved and now back on our streets thanks to the efforts of politically-motivated lawyers.

This limp-wristed nonsense has to stop.  The Tories have to start living up to the immigration rhetoric they have spouted for years.  Tens of thousands have sailed across the Channel this year and very few of them will ever be removed, encouraging even more to make the journey.  If laws have to be changed in order to protect our borders and deport fake refugees and criminals then the Tories have the numbers to pass the legislation.  In four weeks time this country should no longer be subject to EU law, there is simply no excuse.

However, much to the frustration of Priti Patel, it's more than likely that the liberal incumbent of Number Ten would prefer to kick this issue into the long grass along with the discussion of grooming gangs that has now been awaiting a debate for 268 days.  Ignore at your peril, Boris.

Minister attacks Labour stance on deportations

UNIVERSITY CONFIRMS "WHITE LIVES DON'T MATTER"

In recent weeks the mainstream media has declared itself to be politically biased, corrupt and no longer merely news broadcasters, but propagandists for a Marxist cult.  They have decided to collectively shame white people for atrocities that took place so many generations ago that none of us alive today ever met any of those responsible.  They want to shame us all into 'taking a knee' and declare that our ancestors did nothing but bad and our history is something to be detested.  They seek to indoctrinate viewers into believing that black people are somehow oppressed by state-sponsored systemic racism, despite the fact there are few - if any - better places in the world for black people to exist on an equal footing.

If you didn't already see it, watch this propaganda clip from Sky Sports, broadcast in the wake of the supposedly offensive 'white lives matter' banner that was flown over the Burnley football match...

This is former rugby player Mike Wedderburn who, it should be noted, hasn't done too badly for himself considering he is informing viewers how institutionally racist their country is.  Note his BLM badge, once again showing that broadcasters are no longer politically neutral.  "We don't hold positions of influence in organisations" says the black guy who is literally the face of Sky as those words come out of his mouth.  "Black people have been murdered by organisations whose job it is to protect us" he says.  Now murder is a strong word and an even stronger accusation.  Can Mr Wedderburn name these victims, it might help if he could, because there are no court rulings or criminal convictions for such a crime by British police - and make no mistake, he is referring to the police.  That is the media narrative right now.  White people are bad, but the police are evil.

Finally, let's examine his assertion that "nobody is saying that white lives don't matter".  Nobody in their right mind would, likewise nobody is saying that black lives don't matter either.  You'd have to be a hateful bigot to make either statement.  Wouldn't you?  Well, it just so happens that earlier the same day as Sky Sports were indoctrinating us with Mr Wedderburn's statement a Cambridge lecturer tweeted the following...

Note that she couldn't quite get it across forcefully enough the first time, she follows it up with a secondary statement: "Abolish whiteness".  It doesn't take a genius to arrive at the outrage such a statement would make if she were talking about any other group of people.  Yet white people appear to be an acceptable target for race-hate.  Remember that the banner flown over the Burnley football match said 'white lives matter'.  It didn't say 'black lives didn't matter'.  And yet the man responsible has been visited by the police, hounded by the media and not only has he been sacked from his job, his girlfriend has also now been fired too.  Contrast this to what has happened in the last two days to Priyamvada Gopal - zero coverage by Sky, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 and zero condemnation from any racial equality organisation.

In fact, whereas Burnley banner guy was sacked by his employers, Dr Gopal's have actually sprung to her defence and not only that, but have reportedly now promoted her to a full professorship.

While the mainstream media may have ignored this shocking story, many social media users have not.  Dr Gopal and her university have been bombarded with complaints and an online petition to have her kicked out has garnered more than 15,000 names and counting.  Not surprisingly Dr Gopal has received a lot of abuse over her racist tweet and has spent the last two days outing some of the more abusive messengers and goading others.

As with the equally odious Shaun King we reported on earlier this week, Gopal is followed by several Labour MPs on Twitter including Stella Creasy, Clive Lewis, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Zarah Sultana, Claudia Webbe and Nadia Whittome.  The open borders Labour Campaign for Free Movement also follows her, as do commie Novara Media pundits Aaron Bastani and Ash Sarkar.  Despite the abhorrently racist nature of her Gopal's tweets, many of her colleagues have rallied around her and she even received a message of support from BBC 'comedian' Nish Kumar.

Could you imagine a celebrity expressing solidarity with Burnley banner guy?  He or she would face the sack and, once again, let's remember that his message was neither derogatory or racist.  Dr Gopal's tweet was so racist that even ultra woke Twitter removed it, although her follow-up remark about abolishing whiteness remains at the time of writing.

There is also a shocking double standard on display here from the University of Cambridge.  While it appears to be giving Dr Gopal the benefit of a right to free speech (even if it does incite racial hatred), it has not afforded that same right to others.  Last year the university rescinded an invitation to Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson over his views on trans rights.  You'll remember him from his epic take down of Channel 4's Cathy Newman in 2018...

Also last year Cambridge University failed to uphold the freedom of speech of one of its own fellows.  Noah Carl was dismissed from his fellowship at St Edmund's College after ironically finding his work "promoted extreme right-wing views and incited racial and religious hatred".  Among Carl's 'heinous' views included his linking of Islam with Islamist terrorism.  Surely the clue's in the name?  In announcing his dismissal the university announced that Carl's views "fell outside any protection that might otherwise be claimed for academic freedom of speech".  It added: "Diversity and inclusivity are fundamental values of the College and we abhor racism and religious hatred".

So then, why are the rules different for Dr Gopal?  If the same doesn't apply to her overtly racist language then the logical conclusion at which to arrive is that white lives really don't matter.

CLIVE'S CUMMINGS CONSPIRACY

Hard left Labour MP Clive Lewis has promoted a Cummings conspiracy theory on his Twitter account.  In a bizarre change of direction from the crescendo of outrage, Lewis quotes a blogger who suggests that the PM's advisor may have been in Barnard Castle to strike a deal with GlaxoSmithKline.  Craig Murray points out that two days after Cummings was spotted in the town the company announced a deal with French firm Sanofi to develop a Covid vaccine.  Murray doesn't provide any evidence to back up his claim.

There are several problems with Murray's theory.  Firstly, while GSK do have a factory in Barnard Castle, it is one of 18 sites across the UK and its headquarters is actually based in Brentford - just 12 miles from the Cummings family home in north London.  Why would he drive all the way to their factory in County Durham?  Secondly, the two eyewitnesses who saw Cummings in Barnard Castle describe him walking along the River Tees with his wife and child.  The River Tees flows south of Barnard Castle, while the GSK factory is north of Barnard Castle.  Why would he take his family to discuss important government business anyway?  Finally, even if Cummings was involved in negotiating a deal to develop a vaccine, why on earth would that be such a closely guarded secret and why would he then parade himself around in public afterwards?

Following much mockery of his initial tweet, Lewis goes on to quite Isaac Asimov in a further allusion to his Matrix-style train of thought.

Clive's taken the red pill.  Well, he's taken something.

THE WEEK IN CARTOONS 12-18 JAN 2020

12.01.20 - Bob Moran, Sunday Telegraph

13.01.20 - Morten Morland, The Times 

13.01.20 - Patrick Blower, Daily Telegraph

13.01.20 - Steve Bright, The Sun 

14.01.20 - Brian Adcock, The Independent

14.01.20 - Christian Adams, Evening Standard

14.01.20 - Patrick Blower, Daily Telegraph

14.01.20 - Paul Thomas, Daily Mail

15.01.20 - Matt Pritchett, Daily Telegraph

15.01.20 - Patrick Blower, Daily Telegraph

15.01.20 - Peter Brookes, The Times

17.01.20 - Bob Moran, Daily Telegraph

18.01.20 - Morten Morland, The Times

18.01.20 - Bob Moran, Daily Telegraph

CLIVE THROWS IN TOWEL

In the last few minutes Clive Lewis has finally accepted defeat and has withdrawn from the contest.  With just 35 minutes to go what a rather pointless and embarrassing exit.

In the spirit of pluralism, diversity and generosity that I’ve promoted throughout this campaign, I’m withdrawing from the leadership contest so that those who’ve supported me can recast their nominations. https://t.co/uMgz2b3N66

— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) January 13, 2020

CLIVE GETS DESPERATE

With less than three days to go until nominations close and only four in the bag, one might expect Clive Lewis to throw in the towel at this point.  Not a bit of it.  Today he announced he was unveiling a 'manifesto' for his prospective leadership this Sunday.  He preambled that announcement with a desperate publicity stunt in which he called for a referendum on abolishing the monarchy.  It's obviously a sore subject at the moment and very sad to see an ex-squaddie resorting to kicking them while they're down and disrespecting the very symbols under which he served.

After receiving the kind of backlash he probably would have expeced, Clive tried to suggest he didn't want them abolished after-all...

In response to my comments about the royal family. I didn’t say they should be abolished, I have lots of respect for the hard work they do. I simply think the question about their size & the money they receive should be one for the public. Asking these questions is democratic.

— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) January 10, 2020

Of course there's somewhat of an irony in Clive Lewis talking about the democratic values of staging referenda.  He's spent the last three and a half years trying to get the last one overturned.

6/10 FROM CLIVE

Following Wrong-Bailey's '10/10' rating for Jeremy Corbyn yesterday, her leadership rival Clive Lewis has been asked the same question.  Clive's excruciating attempts to dodge the question didn't impress Victoria Derbyshire and after much stammering he decided to give the Great Leader six out of ten.  The ultra remoaner immediately turned to Brexit as a key reason for Labour's defeat, saying they should have stuck to a consistently Remain position throughout the process, despite the fact Labour were hammered in the election primarily because they were seen as a Remain party.  When Labour backed Brexit at the 2017 election they got a far better result, but MPs like Clive are still in denial...

CLIVE LEWIS ENTERS RACE

Norwich South MP Clive Lewis has become the second to declare his intention to contest the Labour leadership.  Lewis has harboured leadership ambitions for some time and was lining up a challenge to Corbyn in 2017, prior to the surprise general election result.  Back then he was supported by Guardian columnist and perennial backstabber Owen Jones.  No word yet from the wee lad this time and it remains to be seen whether Momentum will rally around hard left Lewis as the continuity option or, as expected, go with Rebecca Long-Bailey if and when she enters the contest.

His left-wing credentials will certainly go in his favour among the membership at large, but would they go for another male Londoner?  At the next election the party will need to claw back voters in their Brexit-voting heartlands and an ardent Remainer from the south will probably not be seen as the best way to achieve that.  Lewis is currently neck and neck with Lady Nugee at the bookies, but his odds could shorten in the coming days.

HARASSMENT DISPARITY

Labour is renowned for dragging its feet when it comes to investigating alleged misbehaviour of party members.  However, a very quick turnaround has bucked the trend in the case of Hartlepool MP Mike Hill.  Hill was suspended last month after an allegation of sexual harassment, but in less than four weeks he has been reinstated, albeit after the claimant dropped the allegation.  Even so, compare his treatment to that of Kelvin Hopkins, the MP for Luton North.  He has been under a similar investigation for almost two years.  Hopkins was suspended in November 2017 after a female activist claimed he hugged her 'too tightly' in 2014 and made 'inappropriate contact'.  Despite this supposedly distressing incident she later visited him in Parliament, but says that a few weeks later he sent her a 'suggestive' text message.

There is no indication if and when the absurdly long investigation into Hopkins will reach a decision, but we have a feeling it will be long enough to ensure that he does not stand as a Labour candidate in the next general election.  This is undoubtedly a political decision, rather than suspicion of guilt.  He is one of the few Labour MPs who backed the Leave campaign in 2016.  He also continues to support Brexit while suspended from the party, most recently voting against the Letwin amendment.  Is the disparity between his harassment case and others a coincidence?

Remainer Mike Hill is not alone in getting a quick turnaround when it comes to harassment claims.  Clive Lewis also received a speedy decision when he faced a harassment claim in 2017.  The complaint against Lewis was made public two days after Hopkins was suspended, but Lewis was not suspended despite the similarity between the two cases.  An activist claimed Lewis had groped her during a hug, but his case was thrown out the following month.  Lewis is an ardent Remainer.

One could also query the motivation of the complainant in Hopkins' case.  Three years is a long time to hold back, during which she went on to campaign for Remain in 2016.  She now argues for a second referendum, something vehemently opposed by none other than Kelvin Hopkins.

Hopkins' accuser Ava Etemadzadeh (circled) is an ardent Remainer

Coincidence?  What about the other Labour MPs who backed Leave in 2016?  Let's take a look...

Frank Field - resigned from Labour after vote of no confidence

Roger Godsiff - facing reselection battle for next election

Kate Hoey - standing down at next election after vote of no confidence

John Mann - standing down at next election to take up government role

Of the Labour Leave campaign backers in 2016, only one (Graham Stringer) is currently likely to make it the next election unscathed.

IF CORBYN GOES, WHO NEXT?

A couple of days ago John McDonnell stated that he and Corbyn would stand down were Labour to lose the next election.  However, on Sophy Ridge's show this morning Corbyn himself was somewhat evasive when she put it to him...

While the opinion polls suggest another Labour defeat is on the cards, a lot can and will happen between now and then.  Britain's failure to Leave the EU at the end of this month could open the door for him and a coalition ally, namely the SNP.  This is precisely why Labour refused to hold an election sooner rather than later, hoping to capitalise on discontent among voters, either with another Brexit delay or the fallout of a no deal exit.

However, the vultures are already beginning to smell blood.  Yesterday the hideous narcissist Jess Phillips threw her hat in the ring for a leadership election.  A wee bit premature Jess, but if an election is to be held next month and Labour are beaten, there could be a new leader in place by the spring - if Corbyn stands down that is.  No-one is taking Phillips seriously, despite McDonnell's assessment that the next leader should be a woman.  There are plenty of other potential female candidates and in any case the next leader will almost certainly come from the hard left.  Corbyn and McDonnell haven't spent the last three years slowly purging the party of moderates only to surrender it back to the 'Blairite scum'.

It's highly likely that in any leadership contest there would be a 'continuity Corbyn' candidate that would romp to victory on the back of what is now an overwhelmingly hard left membership.  One potential name who fits that bill, and is also a woman, is Laura Pidcock.  She only has two year's Parliamentary experience and is only 32, but she is constantly touted as a 'future leader' and would be unencumbered by the historical scandals that have dogged the leadership of Corbyn.  Definitely one to watch, as is Rebecca Long-Bailey.  She is not seen as hard left as Pidcock, but has consistently backed Corbyn throughout his leadership and has three year's front bench experience.

The only other hard left name in the frame is Clive Lewis, but Corbynistas will not have forgotten or forgiven his rumoured plotting against Corbyn's leadership two years ago (supported by no less than two-faced turncoat Owen Jones).  The current bookies favourite to succeed Corbyn is the painfully dull Keir Starmer, but he is neither hard left or Corbynista.  He is, of course, a hardcore Remainer, but then so are most of the other potential runners.  So let's look at how the bookies currently see the field...

4/1 - Keir Starmer (Holborn & St Pancras since 2015)

6/1 - Rebecca Long-Bailey (Salford & Eccles since 2015)

10/1 - Emily Thornberry (Islington South & Finsbury since 2004)

11/1 - Angela Rayner (Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015)

12/1 - Laura Pidcock (North West Durham since 2017)

16/1 - Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract & Castleford since 1997)

18/1 - Clive Lewis (Norwich South since 2015)

25/1 - Tom Watson (West Bromwich East since 2001)

33/1 - Lisa Nandy (Wigan since 2010)

50/1 - Dawn Butler (Brent Central since 2017)

66/1 - Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South since 2011), Hilary Benn (Leeds Central since 1999), Jess Phillips (Birmingham Yardley since 2015)

COWARDS IN THE COMMONS

Some Labour MPs spent the first day of prorogation hanging around the Commons like a bunch of bored schoolchildren in the summer holidays.  Rather than return to their constituencies and do some proper work these sulky brats tweeted pictures of themselves skulking around Parliament.  They are handsomely paid to be MPs and their jobs entail much more than just attending Parliament, but here they are taking selfies to presumably score some cheap political points.  Furthermore, they could have been actively campaigning for their re-election right now if it weren't for their own cowardice.

11.30 Wednesday - it should be #pmqs but Parliament illegally prorogued - I’ve come to the chamber but no sign of the Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/gl118cs7YQ

— Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) September 11, 2019

Quietly and peacefully I have gone back to sit in my usual spot in the House of Commons. No shouting or scuffles - just a quiet statement about our democracy. Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament is unlawful. MPs should be here debating the national crisis. #recallparliament pic.twitter.com/nEFMIad5vr

— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) September 11, 2019

Reporting for duty pic.twitter.com/2YN6oa46BI

— Jonathan Reynolds (@jreynoldsMP) September 11, 2019

Around 30 MPs also gathered outside Parliament and addressed reporters, including Labour's Hilary Benn, Bambos Charalambous, Neil Coyle, Stephen Doughty, Rosie Duffield, Ian Murray, Stephen Pound and Rachel Reeves.  Change UK's Mike Gapes also spoke, as did Luciana Berger who has this year served alongside Mike as both a Labour and Change MP, but is now a Lib Dem.  Speaking of which, Chuka was there too!

Meanwhile, another bunch of losers travelled to Brussels at the invitation of Labour MEPs, primarily their odious leader Richard Corbett.  Clive Lewis, Rachael Maskell, Chi Onwurah, Lloyd Russell-Wotsit and Alex Sobel were among the honoured guests.  Bet their constituents were well impressed with this use of their time - visiting an institution that will soon become irrelevant.

Great to receive Westminster #Labour MP colleagues from @LoveSocialism at the European Parliamentary Labour Party today to discuss how best to stop the #BrexitShambles pic.twitter.com/p4x3iIWhvx

— Richard Corbett (@RCorbettMEP) September 11, 2019

LUCAS'S FEMINIST COUP

Caroline Lucas, Justine Greening and Anna Soubry

Green MP Caroline Lucas has bizarrely called for an all-female unity government to stop a no deal Brexit.  She has written to nine fellow Remain MPs, plus Nicola Sturgeon, asking them to join forces with her in forming a feminist anti-Brexit government in the event that the Johnson administration is brought down by a no confidence vote.  Who would be the Prime Minister following Lucas's ambitious coup?  Well, according to the Guardian, it could be none other than Lucas herself.  Jo Swinson could be her deputy.  It's sounds absolutely nuts, but this is the current political climate we are in and these people will do almost anything to stop Brexit from happening.

The recipients of Lucas's letter were all women and all Remainers:

Heidi Allen MP (Ind)

Kirsty Blackman MP (SNP)

Yvette Cooper MP (Lab)

Justine Greening MP (Con)

Sylvia Hermon MP (Ind)

Liz Saville Roberts MP (Plaid)

Anna Soubry MP (Change UK)

Jo Swinson MP (Lib Dem)

Emily Thornberry MP (Lab)

Nicola Sturgeon MSP (SNP, First Minister of Scotland)

Dear Colleagues

It is hard to remember a moment in my lifetime when Britain faced a greater crisis.  A coup led by a small group of right-wing libertarians is all but complete, as the Vote Leave team has been re-assembled and taken control of 10 Downing St.  They are set upon implementing the most extreme 'No Deal' version of Brexit - and, most terrifyingly, we are running out of time to stop them.

At times of national crises, political leaders need to bring a country together.  But that is not happening.  The government is hell-bent on creating more divisions, scapegoating our friends and neighbours, and ignoring the inequality and democratic deficit that fueled the Brexit vote.

We will only get through this crisis if we come together, from across the political spectrum, and set up an 'emergency cabinet' - not to fight a Brexit war, but to work for reconciliation.  And I believe this should a cabinet of women.

Why women?  Because I believe women have shown they can bring a different perspective to crises, are able to reach out to those they disagree with and cooperate to find solutions.  It was two women who began the Peace People movement during the worst of the troubles in Northern Ireland; it was two women who were key to the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate; difficult, intractable problems have found the beginning of resolution thanks to the leadership of women.

That is why I am reaching out to you, not so that a small group of us decide on Britain's future, but so that we end the dangerous pursuit of a crash-out Brexit and find a way forward which allows the British people to decide which course to take.

It means denying Boris Johnson the reins of power with a no confidence vote, establishing a national unity government and then pressing the pause button in order to organize a confirmatory vote which offers people the choice of the status quo or pressing ahead with the latest government plan – whether that is a revised Withdrawal Agreement or, as seems more likely, a proposal to leave with no deal.

It also means a commitment that, as politicians, we accept the outcome of that fair, transparent and informed vote, even if it delivers a result we do not agree with.

I believe we can make this happen.  I'm asking you to meet with me in the coming days, so together we can transform the conversation about Brexit.  So together we can find a positive way forward, revitalize our democracy and stand up to this Government's reckless gamble with Britain's future.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Caroline Lucas MP

Considering that Caroline is from the painfully politically correct Green Party, the idea of an exclusively female government is hypocritical to say the least.  Such is her party's dedication to gender equality that it has been traditionally led by a male and female co-leader for most of its existence.  So why has she now ditched this 50:50 mantra in favour of a 100% female agenda?  Is it a self-serving power grab so that she can claim the top job and ultimately the 'glory' for reversing Brexit?

Of course the irony of the so-called 'national unity government' is that it wouldn't be and couldn't be anything of the sort.  It is dedicated to the overthrow of a pro-Leave government, replacing it with an exclusively pro-Remain government, one that would not merely be concerned with stopping a no deal Brexit, but would be committed to revoking Article 50 full stop.  This would not lead to 'unity', it would lead to chaos.

The only recipient of Lucas's letter to respond publicly at the time of writing is Emily Thornberry.

I thank @CarolineLucas for her fight against Brexit, and I will always stand with her on a platform to Remain, but I worry her new proposed plan would not solve our country's divisions. The people must have the final say, not politicians from either side. Here's my full reply. pic.twitter.com/VByHbf9d7Y

— Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) August 11, 2019

Diane Abbott also expressed reservations.

Backdoor route to a National Government. Didn’t work for Ramsey Mcdonald and won’t work now, whatever the gender of the participants https://t.co/ru0CbHwrK4

— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) 11 August 2019

But Clive Lewis was impressed, though he complained that Lucas had neglected to write to any BAME women.

.⁦@CarolineLucas⁩ calls for emergency female cabinet to block no-deal Brexit> I think this a very interesting proposal.. One genuine question: Where are the BAME women politicians? 🤷🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/qQu5m6wsHV

— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) August 11, 2019

What they all really need to realise is that Vote Leave won in 2016.  If it has been "re-assembled" in Downing Street, as Lucas puts it, then we may actually have a chance to see the Leave mandate implemented.  She wants to overturn that mandate.  She doesn't want to "revitalise" democracy, she means to destroy it.

WILLIAMSON VS LEWIS

Chris Williamson is apparently desperate to take up the Labour whip again, but many of his Parliamentary colleagues are not so enthusiastic.  Dozens of Labour MPs have publicly expressed their opposition to his potential reinstatement.  When Williamson tried to stage a rally in Brighton this week, the local Labour MP (Peter Kyle) persuaded the venue to cancel his booking.  He was also involved in a Twitter spat with Neil Coyle, at the end of which Coyle blocked him.

Williamson's fanatical supporters routinely dismiss his critics as 'Blairites', 'right-wingers' and 'Zionists', but a new run-in suggests he is running out of friends on the left as well.  Clive Lefty Lewis responded to one of Williamson's recent tweets by calling out his "divisive crap".  Williamson, predictably, bit back...

BALLOON HEADS ON THE MARCH

Little Owen is currently headlining a bunch of fascist lefties gathering in London to protest against Boris Johnson and the Leave mandate.  Labour MPs Clive Lewis, Marsha de Cordova and Anneliese Dodds are among the remoaners addressing the crowd.

The losers have also shelled out on a rather pathetic cartoon 'blimp' of Boris Johnson.  We say 'blimp', but it's actually just a big balloon that floats a few feet off the ground.  It's fair to say that the left has hit rock bottom with these playground antics, throwing shed loads of money at gimmicks that make themselves look idiotic rather than the people who the balloons are supposed to represent.  The fact the morons can't see it shows how much they share with their daft balloons ie. they're both full of hot air and little else.

For some reason Owen had to pull out of his big speech today, "for personal reasons" he tweeted.  A huge loss for the crowd no doubt, half of whom think he's an annoying little narcissist gobshite as much as anyone on the right does.