LABOUR OF LOVE FOR LULA

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (a bit of a mouthful) is better known as 'Lula' and is adored by the left.  He was the 35th President of Brazil and served two terms before leaving office in 2010.  Last October the youth wing of UK Labour made him their honorary president.  Nothing wrong with that, you might think, except that Lula has been in prison since last April on multiple corruption charges totaling 12 years.

This week a number of senior Labour figures signed a letter labeling Lula a 'political prisoner' and calling for his release.  The letter suggests that the current President of Brazil - nationalist Jair Bolsonaro - is somehow responsible for Lula's incarceration.  However, Bolsonaro only took office this year, long after Lula's conviction and appeals were done and dusted.  The letter also suggests democracy is somehow under threat in Brazil, which at the time of writing appears to be working just fine, with one less corrupt Latin American politician involved in the process!

The signatures to the letter are as follows;

Diane Abbott MP (Labour)

Richard Burgon MP (Labour)
Daniel Carden MP (Labour)
Emma Dent Coad MP (Labour)
David Drew MP (Labour)
Karen Lee MP (Labour)
Grahame Morris MP (Labour)
Laura Pidcock MP (Labour)
Danielle Rowley MP (Labour)
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP (Labour)
Laura Smith MP (Labour)
Baroness Jean Corston (Labour)
Baroness Llin Golding (Labour)
Neil Findlay MSP (Labour)
Tariq Ali, writer and political activist
John Pilger, journalist and film-maker
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC
Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite the Union
Dave Prentis General Secretary, UNISON
Tim Roache, General Secretary, GMB
Paddy Lillis, General Secretary, USDAW
Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA
Mick Whelan, General Secretary, ASLEF
Ronnie Draper, General Secretary, BFAWU
Chris Kitchen, General Secretary, NUM
Tony Burke & Christine Blower, Vice-Chairs, Brazil Solidarity Initiative
Rachel Garnham, Labour NEC & Labour Friends of Progressive Latin America

It's a disturbing indictment on Corbyn's Labour when it is seen to support the freedom of convicted criminals, as long as they are from the left.  Just another reason why the mere suggestion of a Corbyn government should send shivers down the spines of every right-thinking person in the land.

Asides from their politics, Lula has something else in common with Jeremy Corbyn.  They are both supporters of Julian Assange, along with a host of international left-wing politicians and luvvies, not forgetting the Russian government.  While Assange may have exposed some pretty sinister and nasty stuff over the years, take one look at the type of people sticking up for him and you'll soon come to the conclusion that he is no friend of ours.

LULA AND LABOUR

The name Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.  Apparently he is more popularly known as 'Lula', but you'd be forgiven for still not having the faintest idea who he is.  Well, old Lula the rascal hasn't escaped the notice of the youth wing of our very own UK Labour Party - Young Labour (imaginative).

So who is he?

Lula is the most prominent member of Brazil's Workers' Party, the party he founded and led.  He was also the President of Brazil for two terms between 2003 and 2011.

Where is he now?

In prison serving a 12 year sentence for multiple counts of corruption that included money laundering, taking bribes and obstruction of justice.  Lula was indicted as part of the huge anti-corruption investigation known as 'Operation Car Wash'.

So what has this got to do with Young Labour?

Well, on the 3rd of October they named Lula as their 'honorary president'.  Let that sink in!