A few years ago I was sitting in a draughty hospital corridor reading Chris Williamson’s book 10 Years Hard Labour, and found one chapter had the title I had chosen for a blog I was yet to write. It’s not unusual for Chris and I to think along the same lines, we attempted to set up a zoom meeting in which I hoped we might discuss issues where we might disagree. We failed three times and rarely have direct contact these days, and I have moderated my opinion of the ‘cowards’ in the Parliamentary Labour Party.

We were referring to the Socialist Campaign Group who would stand up against Starmer but back down when he cracked the whip. I still disagree but think they’ve shown extraordinary resilience in continuing a Sisyphean task, especially Diane Abbott who continues to be suspended and keeps bouncing back. I don’t understand why she hasn’t quit and joined Your Party, but I can’t help but admire her resilience. I’m reminded of Bertrand Russell’s Irregular Adjectives:

• I am Firm

• You are Obstinate

• He is a Pig-headed Fool.

The subject has arisen again after only 10 Labour MPs voted against the bill to Courts bill and 90 abstained. The 90 have been lambasted on social media more than those who voted in favour, although there votes would have been insufficient to stop the bill going forward – although Craig Murray points out the vote to abolish jury trials in England and Wales was only carried by the votes of Scottish Labour MPs whose constituencies are not affected.

It needs to be viewed in context, Labour tried to bamboozle MPs by packaging limits on jury trials with other issues that dissident MPs favoured. Fool me once, shame on you; shame me twice, shame on me!

Everyone can make a mistake and it’s a rare sign of integrity for a Member of Parliament to own up to one. Karl Turner MP has admitted that he was wrong to vote in favour of the proscription of Palestine Solidarity and only did so because it was packaged with two genuine terrorists groups. He’s not falling for that trick again and abstained in the hope that an amendment to the current bill can be passed that will remove the objectionable elements and allow the rest to pass.

You don’t need to agree with Turner to accept that he’s honest in what he’s advocating, unlike Starmer and Lammy. I’ld say the same for the thousands of barristers who have petitioned Starmer in opposition to the reduction in jury trials, I’ve nothing but contempt for the multitude of trolls on X who question their motivation as based on protecting their livelihoods. I haven’t looked at enough of these troll bots to work out how they think, or if they do, I’ve much better things to do than engage with them!

Not to put too fine a point on it, there are a few decent MPs remaining in the Labour Party though heaven knows why! I think we should cut them a bit of slack instead of heaping more pressure on them, they’re more sincere than those attacking their motives who I suspect are paid generously for a classic case of divide and conquer.

I wrote this poem while Jeremy Corbyn was leader of the Labour Party, I think it’s applicable to MPs of all parties and to many people posting on social media who I would hesitate to call comrade. I’m getting sick of ad hominem arguments, anyone with anything to say should be able to say it without resorting to abuse 😠

I heard from a comrade on X that he wasn’t able to read my last Diary blog and another comrade, who had responded to my original post, had a similar problem when he tried again. I had no problem when they brought it to my attention but I couldn’t see my own replies to their post and can’t blame them for thinking that X is messing with my account! I’ve become accustomed to having my account locked daily, it, easily resolved, but I’ve just been advised that X have added a temporary label to my account which may affect my reach.

I’m becoming increasingly pissed off with the nastiness I encounter on X, it takes great restraint to refrain from responding to some of the most obnoxious posts but it’s not good for my blood pressure. Here’s a recent one, with my reply.

A couple of years ago I did a survey of my followers which, despite a small response, confirmed what I suspected – a majority of my comrades are my age or older, voted Labour all their lives but wouldn’t do so again. So I’m incensed by the assumption that people over 65 are inherently conservative. This may be statistically true but we’re individuals, not statistics!

I maintain a presence on X for two reasons:

• It’s easier to share some material, including my own blog, to X and then copy to Bluesky. Even that’s more difficult as I need to log in to the X website instead of the app.

• I still have many friends and comrades who haven’t fully committed to switching to Bluesky, although they’ll be very welcome if they do.

I’ll conclude by a reminder that it costs nothing to subscribe to my blog but ensures you’ll never miss a post!