Jeremy Corbyn.

[Titanic]

Writing in the Guardian, Mr Blair said: "It doesn't matter whether you're on the left, right or centre of the party, whether you used to support me or hate me," he wrote.
"But please understand the danger we are in.
"The party is walking eyes shut, arms outstretched over the cliff's edge to the jagged rocks below.
"This is not a moment to refrain from disturbing the serenity of the walk on the basis it causes 'disunity'.
"It is a moment for a rugby tackle if that were possible."

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

He had no mandate, implied or official to speak to terrorist organisations and from what I can find out, he had zero input into any part of the peace agreement. He wasn't consulted by either Major or Blair's government and neither does it appear that he offered any advice to either government. He also chose to be chummy with just one group of terrorists. If, as people are claiming, that he was trying to open dialogue with terrorist organisations then surely he would have consulted the loyalist paramilitaries too. There's zero evidence that he attempted to talk with them, invite them to the HoC, offer a minute's silence for dead loyalist terrorists etc etc etc. So the question remains "why was he so close to the IRA?"

I think Colin Parry, the father of one of the schoolboys murdered by Corbyn's chums is an excellent reference point here. He's called for peace from both sides time and again and spoken with both sets of terrorists and he had this to say about Corbyn's comments:

“When I saw the nature of the interview it didn’t surprise me. I think he saw an equivalence between the British Government’s armed forced and republican terrorists which I think anyone with a balanced view in Northern Ireland could hardly agree with.”

Given all of that, and of his past actions (minute's silence etc etc) I think a reasonable person would conclude that he has in the past supported the IRA, he just won't admit it.

These IRA accusations are from way back; a time when the media and internet platforms we now use to capture, store and publicly access news 24/7 did not exist. I wouldn't therefore draw too many conclusions from the lack of evidence you mention above. AlfredMizen made the point to me and Simster that even he was struggling to find direct evidence to support his arguments.

The problem I, and possibly many others have, is that we didn't know much (or anything) about Corbyn until recently. And this lack of directly attributable quotes about his distant past, a past we know little about, doesn't allow us to make any informed judgement. He might have supported the IRA, maybe not. I can't say at the moment. What I can say is that I'd have to make a serious jump to conclude he's an IRA supporter from the evidence you have supplied; it's nothing more than supposition.

I think Mr Mizen has said he remembers all this Corbyn stuff when it happened. I don't doubt this. If you remember it all as well then fine. I don't though, and this lack of info means I'm struggling to form any rounded judgement either way. No disrespect to you and Mizen but I need more info, from more sources, before I can judge such a serious accusation.

 

[Beach Hut]

ThIs will be one of the most spectacular own-goals in the history of British politics if he pulls this of and wins.

 

[Buzzer]

These IRA accusations are from way back; a time when the media and internet platforms we now use to capture, store and publicly access news 24/7 did not exist. I wouldn't therefore draw too many conclusions from the lack of evidence you mention above. AlfredMizen made the point to me and Simster that even he was struggling to find direct evidence to support his arguments.

The problem I, and possibly many others have, is that we didn't know much (or anything) about Corbyn until recently. And this lack of directly attributable quotes about his distant past, a past we know little about, doesn't allow us to make any informed judgement. He might have supported the IRA, maybe not. I can't say at the moment. What I can say is that I'd have to make a serious jump to conclude he's an IRA supporter from the evidence you have supplied; it's nothing more than supposition.

I think Mr Mizen has said he remembers all this Corbyn stuff when it happened. I don't doubt this. If you remember it all as well then fine. I don't though, and this lack of info means I'm struggling to form any rounded judgement either way. No disrespect to you and Mizen but I need more info, from more sources, before I can judge such a serious accusation.

Distant past? From a time way back? We're only talking 30 years and the peace accord less than 20. It's not like there's a shortage of literature or witnesses. There's been many, many books written about Northern Ireland and I've read a lot of them and can quite confidently state that Corbyn's name is never mentioned once as a back-room fixer/go-between or whatever. He was friends with the IRA because he was a fellow traveller, pure and simple. In some ways I take my hat off to him for being so open about his friendship with people that most would find repugnant. He's certainly doing that now with some of his close friendships with the vilest holocaust deniers and Jew-baiters around.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Distant past? From a time way back? We're only talking 30 years and the peace accord less than 20. It's not like there's a shortage of literature or witnesses. There's been many, many books written about Northern Ireland and I've read a lot of them and can quite confidently state that Corbyn's name is never mentioned once as a back-room fixer/go-between or whatever. He was friends with the IRA because he was a fellow traveller, pure and simple. In some ways I take my hat off to him for being so open about his friendship with people that most would find repugnant. He's certainly doing that now with some of his close friendships with the vilest holocaust deniers and Jew-baiters around.

My point about time was it was pre-internet age and for me to find info it's difficult. It might be in the books you've read but these are not readily available to me at this moment in time.

I'm not sure what you mean by "friends" as he has admitted he hung out with the IRA as he wanted to understand them; I don't have an issue with this per se. But this is a long way from out right support of them. I just don't see any clear evidence of support. You've said yourself that he doesn't get a mention as a fixer in the books you've read....so how do you therefore conclude he was a supporter? Is he mentioned in other contexts or situations aside from a fixer?

 

[beorhthelm]

The reception he is getting both at the meeting halls and on social media has been unprecedented. Standing ovations are a standard - his popularity is growing exponentially every day.

you are mistaking excited, vocal support of a narrow group for widespread popular appeal. have a look at the Labour membership is 280k, additional registered supporters has taken the eligable voters up to 425k. so apart from not even doubling, less than 5% of Labour voters are voting for the leader. i can certainly understand why Corbyn appeals to many, but then IDS was a popular figure in the rank and file Conservative members.

 

[Beach Hut]

Glad labour will elect a leader who supports terrorists

 

[Beach Hut]

Anyone who seriously thinks that Corbyn can't mount a serious 2020 election challenge is simply not paying attention.

ALL of his meeting hall talks have been packed to the brim, to the point that hundreds have been left outside.

His tour of Glasgow this week sold out within minutes and so they had to move it to a larger venue... He is the ONLY candidate that could win the seats back from the SNP.

The reception he is getting both at the meeting halls and on social media has been unprecedented. Standing ovations are a standard - his popularity is growing exponentially every day.

Britain does NOT want austerity, in 5 years time the electorate will be even more vehemently anti-austerity and yearning for social democracy, or even socialism.



Fascinating and exciting times.

No doubt as fascinating and exciting as the impact UKIP made at the last general election

 

[Buzzer]

My point about time was it was pre-internet age and for me to find info it's difficult. It might be in the books you've read but these are not readily available to me at this moment in time.

I'm not sure what you mean by "friends" as he has admitted he hung out with the IRA as he wanted to understand them; I don't have an issue with this per se. But this is a long way from out right support of them. I just don't see any clear evidence of support. You've said yourself that he doesn't get a mention as a fixer in the books you've read....so how do you therefore conclude he was a supporter? Is he mentioned in other contexts or situations aside from a fixer?

He certainly wasn't friends with them because of a need to understand them nor to persuade them to lay down their arms. He understood what they were about and that was why he was friends. I think the easiest way to show that Corbyn didn't join the debate as a peacemaker is to refer you back to that quote by Colin Parry. He's a man who got to know a great many of the key players in Northern Ireland and who showed, despite his own personal loss, great tolerance and understanding of both sides. He ended up earning the trust of some senior figures within SF/IRA and is privy to knowledge that will probably never make the light of day. He said:

“When I saw the nature of the interview it didn’t surprise me. I think he saw an equivalence between the British Government’s armed forced and republican terrorists which I think anyone with a balanced view in Northern Ireland could hardly agree with.”

In other words, Corbyn's views on IRA terror are well-known to the people in the know and he's not regarded by the likes of true peacemakers such as Parry as someone whose opinions are measured/balanced.

 

[Soulman]

 

[Doc Lynam]

 

[Igzilla]

What I find absolutely stupefying is the fact that left wingers or socialists are no longer welcome in the Labour Party, as their core values do not match. Keir Hardie is spinning in his grave.

 

[pb21]

I would suspect that if Corbyn gets elected he won't win a GE, but he has no less chance than any of the other three, who frankly don't inspire me at all.

However, IMO, the direction he steers the party would make the party more electable in the more distant future.

 

[sir albion]

No doubt as fascinating and exciting as the impact UKIP made at the last general election

4 million votes and robbed by the ancient system

 

[topbanana36]

Britain does NOT want austerity, in 5 years time the electorate will be even more vehemently anti-austerity and yearning for social democracy, or even socialism.

Absolutely nothing would surprise me with this society that they would gloss over Corbyns dealings with Libya, the IRA (what a c***), Carlos Latuff an anti-semitic cartoonist, hamas. Not too mention Corbyn's loser of a hero Moses Mordecai Marx Levy, just to save a few quid in their pockets. Let us not forget WE should have saved for that rainy day.

 

[severnside gull]

A friend of mine has been accepted as a member of the Labour Party in the last fortnight. He is a lifelong Tory voter and intends voting for Corbyn in the hope of ensuring that Labour remain/become unelectable in the medium to long term.
Having been a member since I was 19 years old I am keeping my money in my pocket after this. Any party allowing itself to be so openly and simply manipulated deserves what it will get.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

A friend of mine has been accepted as a member of the Labour Party in the last fortnight. He is a lifelong Tory voter and intends voting for Corbyn in the hope of ensuring that Labour remain/become unelectable in the medium to long term.
Having been a member since I was 19 years old I am keeping my money in my pocket after this. Any party allowing itself to be so openly and simply manipulated deserves what it will get.

Well done. Its been at least a whole 3 days since I last heard this.

 

[severnside gull]

Well done. Its been at least a whole 3 days since I last heard this.

Sorry about that. I only saw him in the pub at lunchtime when he showed me his card

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I received my ballot paper over the weekend. I did some research on Barnham and Cooper as well. It's going to be Corbyn for me.

 

[jakarta]

I received my ballot paper over the weekend. I did some research on Barnham and Cooper as well. It's going to be Corbyn for me.

Enjoy your time in Opposition Herr T!