LABOUR'S VAX PASS HYPOCRISY

It's fair to say that Labour have been incredibly inconsistent when it comes to domestic vaccine passports.  They voted against them in Scotland, but have implemented them in Wales.  How will they vote in England?  That's anyone's guess, but when they were proposed earlier this year it appeared they weren't keen at all.  Starmer told the Daily Telegraph that the idea was against 'British sense and instinct' and outsourcing such decisions to pub landlords was 'wrong in principal'.  Fast forward two months and Starmer had changed his tune, telling Nick Ferrari on LBC that he would back them for sports event as long as a negative test could be used in addition to the pass.  However, he was categorical that he didn't want them used in 'everyday settings' such as shops.

A month later he watered down his opposition even further by telling BlackCountryLive: "There will be a role for vaccine passports in the future".  He went on to repeat his mantra that a negative test should be sufficient and vital services should not be affected.

A few days later frontbencher Emily Thornberry wrote that Labour were 'not convinced' by domestic vaccine passports and the party supported a more 'test-driven approach'.

By far the most scathing response towards vax passes came from her fellow frontbencher David Lammy.  He used his LBC radio show to question the 'ethical and legal complications' surrounding the imposition of such a scheme and said that the very notion 'did not feel British'.  He even went as far as to call it what it undoubtedly is - a form of apartheid.  You can watch the clip below.

Given this apparent lack of appetite for domestic vax passes, imagine our lack of surprise to find that when it came to the Labour conference last month - vaccine passports were a requirement of entry.  This was just a few weeks after Thornberry said the party was 'not convinced'.  Furthermore, despite having been double jabbed or tested negative, delegates were also required to mask up!

When the vote inevitably comes to the Commons in the next month or two, there is little hope that under Starmer's feeble leadership Labour will do anything more than abstain.  The best we can hope for is that a majority of Conservative MPs suddenly and inexplicably realise they are conservatives and not nanny state socialists.

THE WEEK IN CARTOONS 26 SEPT-2 OCT 2021

26.09.21 - Morten Morland, Sunday Times

27.09.21 - Steve Bright, The Sun

27.09.21 - Graeme Bandeira, Yorkshire Post

27.09.21 - Martin Rowson, Guardian

27.09.21 - Morten Morland, Times

28.09.21 - Patrick Blower, Daily Telegraph

28.09.21 - Christian Adams, Evening Standard

28.09.21 - Morten Morland, Times

28.09.21 - Graeme Bandeira, Yorkshire Post

29.09.21 - Peter Brookes, Times

29.09.21 - Patrick Blower, Daily Telegraph

29.09.21 - Dave Brown, Independent

29.09.21 - Christian Adams, Evening Standard

30.09.21 - Dave Brown, Independent

30.09.21 - Matt Pritchett, Daily Telegraph

30.09.21 - Patrick Blower, Daily Telegraph

30.09.21 - Steve Bell, Guardian

30.09.21 - Peter Brookes, Times

30.09.21 - Ben Garrison, Grrr Graphics

01.10.21 - Graeme Bandeira, Yorkshire Post

01.10.21 - Josh, GWPF

02.10.21 - Andrew Birch, Spectator

02.10.21 - Richard Jolley, Spectator

TURNCOATS AND TRAITORS

Angela Rayner clearly let herself go at the Labour conference, but her sparring partners on the karaoke were perhaps anything but random.  First up Rayner paired up with Jonathon Ashworth for a not-so-subtle "You're The One That I Want".  Ashworth is a renowned snake who was caught lambasting Jeremy Corbyn before voters even went to the polls in the 2019 general election.  The sight of him and Rayner pointing at each other as they sang the chorus would have certainly raised an eyebrow at Starmer HQ.

However, it was the next pairing that would have rattled Starmer's robotic cage more than anything.  Rayner and Burnham - arguably the two most ambitious pretenders to Sir Squeaky's crown - combined for a rendition of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)".  If there was a deeper meaning to those lyrics then perhaps it could indicate that Burnham would be the man who falls down at her door, but only in return for a safe Labour seat so that he could be back in contention for a future leadership punt himself.

Click below for a brief, but painful excerpt of Rayner and Burnham in action...

If you're wondering who the third wheel is during this performance, it's the Daily Mirror's political editor Pippa Crerar.  Crerar is something of an opportunistic turncoat in herself, having become a tubthumper for Starmer's leadership it wasn't so long ago that she was happy to embrace the outright communism of his predecessor...

Pippa Crerar with Jeremy Corbyn

STARMER'S BIG SPEECH HECKLED

Keir Starmer tried to move on from Jeremy Corbyn's leadership during his mammoth 88 minute keynote address to the Labour conference.  Starmer's subtle digs at his predecessor failed to land convincingly given his own instrumental participation in Corbyn's policy decisions, in particular Brexit.

Starmer's speech was met with a mixed response and there were occasional jeers from some members of the audience.  Sixteen minutes in Starmer completely lost his train of thought as one furious woman shouted and pointed repeatedly.  He was again rattled 35 minutes in when someone shouted out "Where's Peter Mandelson?" in response to Starmer's commitment to 'clear values'.  Predictably, this vacuous and vague speech did not leave the audience or the country with any clear idea of what this non-entity actually stands for.

Standing ovations were frequent, but they were by no means universal and large sections of the crowd remained seated and stony faced.  Others waved red cards to signal their disapproval.  The TV cameras more often than not trained their attention on Starmer's front benchers who stood and applauded as vociferously as possible.  Occasionally the cameras picked up significant opposition to Starmer, as seen below with the red cards being waved right in front of him.

The full speech can be found below, but it comes with a warning: long exposure to the monotonous tones of Sir Squeaky can result in fatigue and loss of concentration, but is great for insomniacs...

McDONALD QUITS FRONT BENCH

Keir Starmer's disastrous party conference continues with the resignation of frontbencher Andy McDonald.  McDonald was the only Corbynista in Starmer's Shadow Cabinet and quit on Monday in a row about the minimum wage.  He had been the Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights since Starmer took over as leader.

McDonald published his resignation letter on Twitter (see below, click to enlarge).

McDonald also discussed his resignation with Oli Dugmore of JOE (click below for video).

Shadow Scotland Secretary Ian Murray has since accused his former front bench colleague of 'planned sabotage'.  At the time of writing McDonald has not been replaced, but with only two days of the conference left Keir Starmer will probably be concentrating on his big speech.

CONFERENCE CHANTS "OH, JEREMY CORBYN"

In further embarrassment for Keir Starmer, on day one of his first conference as leader delegates chanted 'Oh, Jeremy Corbyn' during a speech.  David Evans had just been appointed general secretary and was addressing the hall when he asked the somewhat ill-judged question: "Everybody remembers why they joined Labour, what was it for you?"  A solitary voice shouted out 'Jeremy Corbyn' which quickly led to the famed Corbyn chant.

Evans is an ally of Starmer, so the incident was particularly humiliating.

As for Corbyn himself, he received a standing ovation at a Young Labour event.  Speakers included his far left comrades John McDonnell, Zarah Sultana and Nadia Whittome.

Jeremy Corbyn addressing an event on Saturday night

SIR KEIR'S FLAT ENTRANCE

Keir Starmer's hopes of a triumphant party conference were derailed before he even set foot in Brighton.  His ambitious deputy let slip that his proposed rule changes for future leadership elections had bit the dust, meaning that although a confrontation with the far left would be averted - his own leadership was severely undermined.

A small posse holding Labour placards greeted his arrival at the conference, but it was it was a pitiful scene and his desperate attempt at levity came across as, well, desperate.  Starmer was flanked by his treacherous deputy Rayner, national campaign co-ordinator Shabana Mahmood and party chair Anneliese Dodds.  As he spoke about the parlous state of the country a reporter could be heard asking about his disastrous u-turn regarding the leadership rule changes.

Starmer has nothing to offer anyone, not in his party or the country at large.