ELEANOR'S 'RACIST FLAG'

It may be a little known event outside the West Midlands, but today is Black Country Day.  The date recalls the inauguration of the regional flag on 14 July 2012.  Ahead of the event most of the region's MPs gathered for a photoshoot in Westminster, something that twelve months ago would have required significant more Labour involvement than it did this time around.  Prior to the general election Labour held eight of the thirteen seats, but were left with just three on December 13.

Warley's Labour MP John Spellar joined seven Tory MPs for the photoshoot, posing with a flag that one of his former colleagues dubbed 'racist' in 2017.

Black Country MPs pose with the regional flag, including Labour's John
Spellar (middle, left)

Every aspect of the Black Country flag symbolises the region's industrial past.  The black third represents the name for which the region is known, from the soot that is said to have blackened the sky.  The red third represents the sky at night, from the many burning furnaces.  The white cone shape that is formed in the centre of the flag represents the glass-making industry, while the chains represent another Black Country industry.  It was the chains that upset former Labour MP Eleanor Smith.

Smith represented Wolverhampton South-West for one brief term between 2017-19.  Just weeks after she was elected she slammed the local flag on Black Country Day itself and demanded that it be scrapped and redesigned in order to represent the region's multi-cultural communities.  Smith was not a Black Country native and saw the flag completely differently to everyone else, espousing views that would be perfectly at home in the Black Lives Matter cancel culture of 2020: "I have serious concerns about the racist connotations of the flag, particularly the fact that chains are being used to represent the Black Country.  The white on black imagery used together with the chains... when you break it down I’m not going to pretend it doesn’t worry me as a black person.  People have to understand that it can be seen as offensive".

Labour's Eleanor Smith

Smith continued her daft assault on the flag: "I understand the flag was designed by a young person, and I don’t for one minute think they realised its connotations.  I think it is time for an intelligent conversation about the flag.  I would look to have it changed.  Why can’t we have a flag that represents all of us united as a collective rainbow of people?  In my constituency there are 130 different languages spoken.  Let’s get a flag that actually says we are proud of where we come from".

Smith was roundly mocked by local people and she didn't garner any support from her Parliamentary colleagues who were only too happy to pose with the flag.  Perhaps it was no surprise that on December 12 her 2,185 majority was overturned as the Conservatives regained a seat they'd lost in 2015.

Labour MPs Ian Austin, Tom Watson, Pat McFadden and Adrian Bailey in
2017.  After the 2019 general election only McFadden remained in office.

NO BULL TOM, IT WAS BREXIT

When Tom Watson formed the 'Future Britain Group' earlier this year it appeared that Billy Bunter was in for the long haul.  He was the fearless leader of the moderates, to such an extent that Jess Phillips once suggested that she would stand down if he ever did (no such luck).  As many others dropped like flies around him, Watson stood strong and tall.  The far left were strengthening their grip, but Tom wasn't going to be forced out.  Chuka left, Berger left, his friend Tom Watson threw in the towel.  Watson undermined Corbyn at every turn, smirked in the faces of the Corbynista hate mob and deftly batted away the coup attempt to remove him at this year's party conference.  Nothing rattles him.

So when Tom Watson told the Guardian this weekend that he quit because of "brutality and hostility", the smell of bullshit was overpowering.

It came as no great surprise to anyone that one of Labour's lost seats in the general election was West Bromwich East, least of all its former MP - Tom Watson.  Having spent the last two years ignoring both Labour's 2017 manifesto commitment to "accept the referendum result" and his own 68% Leave constituency, he must have known the writing was on the wall.  If he had any foresight that he might soon be serving in the first Labour government in almost a decade he wouldn't have quit when he did.  He knew they couldn't win, but more importantly he knew he would be one of those thrown on the scrapheap by the electorate.

Rather than face the ignominy of being unseated, rather than give Brexiteers, Corbynistas, George Galloway, Harvey Proctor, Owen Jones, the right-wing press and countless others the pleasure of watching it happen - Tom Watson stood down.  It was nothing to do with the brutality, hostility or abuse of the far left,  it was about his pride and his acceptance that Brexit was going to be the end of his political career.

He was right about that much.  Five weeks after he announced his departure, his old seat turned blue for the first time in its history.  Spare us the bull Tom.

West Bromwich East general election 2019

Nicola Richards (Con) 16,804 (46.7%) +8.5%
Ibrahim Dogus (Lab) 15,211 (42.3%) -15.7%
Christian Lucas (Brexit) 1,475 (4.1%) New
Andy Graham (Lib Dem) 1,313 (3.6%) +2.1%
Mark Redding (Green) 627 (1.7%) +0.4%
George Galloway (Ind) 489 (1.4%) New
Colin Rankine (Yeshua) 56 (0.2%) New

TOM WATSON QUITS

Labour's deputy leader has stunned politics tonight by announcing his resignation.

Click to enlarge

Corbynistas are understandably cock-a-hoop, but their enthusiasm may be misplaced.  Watson may well have lost his seat next month anyway, but he wouldn't be quitting so easily unless he expected a nationwide defeat.  This is the guy who has endured years of abuse from Corbyn's footsoldiers, but remained steadfast and almost smug about it.  He even set up his own centrist group within the party earlier this year.  His decision to quit now does not bode well for Labour's chances in the election.

Leave-voting West Bromwich is now guaranteed to have two brand new MPs come Christmas.  Both incumbent Remainers have stood down rather than face their voters.  Adrian Bailey announced his departure last week from his 69% Leave seat.  Both men were expected to face tough challenges from the Tories, with Watson and his 68% Leave seat considered a prize scalp for the Conservatives.  UKIP polled big here prior to the EU referendum, so the presence of the Brexit Party could potentially throw a spanner in the works next month.

West Bromwich East general election 2017

Tom Watson (Lab) 22,664 (58.0%) +7.8%
Emma Crane (Con) 14,951 (38.2%) +13.3%
Karen Trench (Lib Dem) 625 (1.6%) -0.4%
John Macefield (Green) 533 (1.4%) -0.3%
Colin Rankine (Ind) 325 (0.8%) New

West Bromwich West general election 2017

Adrian Bailey (Lab) 18,789 (52.1%) +4.7%
Andrew Hardie (Con) 14,329 (39.7%) +15.8%
Star Anderton (UKIP) 2,320 (6.4%) -18.8%
Flo Clucas (Lib Dem) 333 (0.9%) -0.6%
Robert Buckman (Green) 323 (0.9%) -1.1%

HANDS AROUND JEZZA'S NECK

George Galloway has spoken to the local rag in West Bromwich about his forthcoming electoral showdown with Tom Watson.  George is fighting his campaign primarily on Brexit and hoping to capitalise on the fact West Bromwich East returned a huge 68% Leave vote in 2016.  However, independents rarely succeed and it's clear that Galloway seriously overestimates his popularity.  If the Brexit Party contests this seat he'll be lucky to save his deposit.  The reality is that this is one seat that could seriously benefit from a Leave alliance.  It's unlikely that a Tory could unseat Remainer Watson in such a traditional Labour seat, but a Brexit Party candidate in their place could pose a serious threat.  Perhaps George should seek the nomination (like he did in Peterborough)...

West Bromwich East 2017 general election

Tom Watson (Lab) 22,664 (58.0%) +7.8%
Emma Crane (Con) 14,951 (38.2%) +13.3%

Karen Trench (Lib Dem) 625 (1.6%) -0.4%
John Macefield (Green) 533 (1.4%) -0.3%
Colin Rankine (Ind) 325 (0.8%) New

West Bromwich East 2015 general election

Tom Watson (Lab) 18,817 (50.2%) +3.7%
Olivia Seccombe (Con) 9,347 (24.9%) -4.0%
Steve Latham (UKIP) 7,949 (21.2%) +18.6%
Flo Clucas (Lib Dem) 751 (2.0%) -11.2%
Barry Lim (Green) 628 (1.7%) New

The seat has been held by Labour since its creation in 1974, although the Labour majority has varied from just 298 votes (in 1983) to a high of 13,584 (in 1997).

WATSON RATTLED BY GALLOWAY

George Galloway's next attempt to break back into Parliament shouldn't really be keeping the incumbent awake at night, but Tom Watson is biting.  Realistically Galloway doesn't have much of a chance.  He is parachuting himself in as a pro-Brexit candidate in an attempt to capitalise on disenchantment felt within a strong Leave seat represented by an ardent remoaner.  However, unless the Brexit Party are prepared to stand aside it's a non-starter for him.

Remarkably, instead of ignoring Galloway and starving him of publicity, Watson has gone on the offensive.  Declaring that Galloway stands for "division and hate", Watson announced a crowdfunding campaign to fund his election campaign.  This came four days after Galloway set up his own crowdfunding campaign.  Bear in mind these are very wealthy politicians.  It's ironic that Watson should accuse Galloway of 'division and hate' when not so long ago it was revealed that he was pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds from the former fascist Max Mosley.

Watson also has a rather twisted interpretation of democracy.  Asides from his anti-Brexit stance being at odds with his 68% Leave voting constituents, he considers Galloway's candidature an attempt to 'silence' him.  No Tom, it's an election, don't be so insecure.  Perhaps Tom is feeling a bit threatened because he's way behind his challenger in the funding stakes.  Galloway is over half way to his target already, while Watson...

Galloway GoFundMe = £14,085

Watson GoFundMe = £4,528

GALLOWAY TAKES ON WATSON

While Labour continues its preparations for the 'imminent' general election, former Labour MP George Galloway announced his own candidature yesterday.  George's latest attempt to break back into the Commons will take place in West Bromwich East where he intends to unseat Labour deputy leader Tom Watson.  West Bromwich East is notoriously pro-Leave (68 per cent in 2016) while its MP is notoriously Remain.  Although Galloway will be fighting on a pro-Brexit ticket, he is not standing for the Brexit Party and will be an independent.  Good luck with that George!

If a general election takes place in a scenario where Brexit has not been realised, then George will obviously be smashed by the Brexit Party.  If Brexit has occurred, then they will both be deemed irrelevant (as were UKIP following the Leave vote).  Of course Galloway's motives are two-fold.  His decision to parachute into Watson's seat is as much about trying to silence Corbyn's most troublesome opponent as it is about Brexit.  Why isn't he challenging the hideous Yvette Cooper?  After-all, George has a Yorkshire pedigree, so to speak.  He was the MP for Bradford West (2012-2015) and Cooper's 69 per cent Leave voting constituency is just down the road.  The truth is that wherever he stands, his chances of winning as an independent are naturally slim.

Galloway is crowdfunding his West Bromwich campaign, pleading for donors via his full array of social media accounts.  At the time of writing he is just short of £5k.  Not bad for less than 24 hours, but where's your own financial input George?  What happened to all the wealth you garnered as an MP over a 26 year career?  What about the libel awards and the reported £300k you earned outside Parliament in just one year?  TalkRadio and Russia Today salaries?  Book sales?  Social media?

Then again, what could be more socialist than squandering other people's money rather than your own?

WATSON'S REMAIN CRUSADE

Not content with yesterday's u-turn on the Euro leaflets, Tom Watson is demanding a concrete pledge on a second referendum in the party's Euro manifesto.  Tom is desperate to overturn the 2016 result, so it's no surprise that he wants to overturn the last Labour manifesto that famously stated "Labour accepts the referendum result"...

Labour member or supporter? Please let your reps on the NEC know if you want them to support a confirmatory ballot on a brexit deal in our euro manifesto: @hudaelmi_ @Yasmine_Dar @LabourRachel @NavPMishra @ClaudiaWebbe @darrenw_cardiff @jonlansman @AnnDHenderson @PeterWillsman

— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) April 28, 2019

Tom Watson and co must be working on the assumption that this will attract voters from the hard Remain parties of Green, Lib-Dem, Plaid/SNP and of course the so-called 'Change UK'.  Sadly for Tom it will also alienate swathes of Labour Leave voters like many in Tom's own 68% Leave voting constituency.