Labour's NEC has rejected Ken Livingstone's request for Lutfur Rahman to get back into the Labour party.

The NEC's organisation sub-committee was setting the process for selecting a Labour mayoral candidate in Tower Hamlets. He or she is now expected to be chosen in April, to give them time to build up a head of steam against Lutfur, who was sacked as Labour candidate in the 2010 mayoral election for his close links to an Islamic fundamentalist group, the Islamic Forum of Europe, which believes in turning Europe into a sharia state. Lutfur is also backed by a group of powerful local businessmen.

Labour MP, Tom Harris, congratulated Labour's NEC in a tweet: "Well done Labour's NEC for rejecting Ken Livingstone's request for Islamist Lutfur Rahman to get back into our party."

Politics UK, 16 January 2013

This report is evidently based on a blog post by that poisonous little shit Andrew Gilligan, whose reputation for accurate journalism is, shall we say, poor. So we should perhaps suspend judgment until we get information from a more reliable source. As for Tom Harris, he's the man who tweeted this response to initial news of the massacre carried out by Anders Breivik.

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Walsall Labour Party is giving its full support to a peaceful demonstration celebrating community strength and tolerance being held in Gallery Square on Saturday at 11am.

The "We are Walsall" rally is being held to counter the racism of the English Defence League who are bussing in people from across the country to incite hatred of the town's Muslim community.

Cllr Tim Oliver said it is fantastic that so many community groups, churches, temples and members of political parties are joining together to oppose the EDL's message of hate, and instead celebrate the town's tolerance and understanding.

"We in the Labour Party were the first to warn about this vile group and its plans to come to Walsall in July.

"Since then the leaders of all the borough's main political parties have condemned it and people from so many diverse and varied backgrounds have come together to organise this peaceful statement to show our communities won't be divided by the hatred of outsiders.

"As a party we have made representations to the council and the police on how we can minimise the threat and disruption the EDL want to bring to our streets. 

"Given that past protests by the EDL in areas like Dudley have become drink-fuelled, violent rampages we are very concerned that the site of their demonstration will take place so close to bars and we would urge that landlords either shut for the day or refuse to serve them."

The "We are Walsall" rally will be joined by local Labour MPs David Winnick and Valerie Vaz, who will stress the rally's message that the people of Walsall won't be divided."

Cllr Oliver added "The best response to the EDL is for the people of borough to join the peaceful rally and send an overwhelming message that they are not welcome in our town."

Walsall Labour Party press release, 25 September 2012

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'We Are Bristol' march against EDLLabour's Bristol mayor candidate Marvin Rees has been accused by a rival politician of being "naïve and weak" in his handling of the run-up to Saturday's EDL march and counter-protests.

Mr Rees was also branded as "easily led" in the statement released today on behalf of Lib Dem councillor Gary Hopkins. But the mayoral candidate has hit back – saying he is "disappointed" by the move.

Mr Hopkins' statement notes that Mr Rees and other Bristol Labour politicians appeared on Unite Against Fascism (UAF) leaflets before the counter-protests on Saturday, and that violent clashes had broken out between counter-EDL protesters and the police.

The councillor, who is in charge of community safety in his council role, said: "The Labour Party were well aware that there was likely to be street violence but still persisted in supporting direct counter-demonstration and, it is reported, speaking at the rally.

"Labour councillor Mike Wollacott faces calls to step down from his position of responsibility on the council after he tried to put pressure on the council leader to speak on behalf of UAF and then ignored police attempts to bring order by encouraging a potentially dangerous assembly in a provocative place. Does Mr Rees support Councillor Wollacott or not?

"This was totally irresponsible. Marvin Rees has shown himself to be weak, easily led and – if he didn't realise violent disturbances might follow – naïve, as well."

Mr Wollacott told ThisisBristol that the calls for his resignation after he had asked the council leader to speak at the demonstration made it a "disappointing day for democracy" .

Mr Rees reacted to Mr Hopkins by saying it was "simply not good enough to abdicate responsibility" when it came to the issue of the EDL march, and that Bristol needed "change and leadership".

He said: "Let's remember the most important thing here is standing up against the dangerous and divisive politics the EDL represent. At the same time, it goes without saying that under no circumstances would I support violent protest.

"I'm disappointed in Gary and the Liberal Democrat press office. The challenges thrown up by the EDL march are just too important to Bristol's future to be used for Party posturing, yet that is what the Liberal Democrats are doing with them. Their press release lacks insight, understanding and accuracy."

Mr Hopkins also criticised Bristol Labour MP Kerry McCarthy for letting herself be reported calling for a ban of the EDL march, which he said was “wholly irresponsible”.

“She has some explaining to do,” he said. “Was she deliberately stirring up passion and anger for political gain or was she genuinely so ignorant of the facts that she thought a ban was possible?”

Kerry McCarthy replied: "Yet again Cllr Hopkins and the Liberal Democrats have taken a cowardly and unprincipled position which has been characteristic of their time in office.

"I am, of course, opposed to all violence and that is why Cllr Wollacott and I were in frequent contact with Pride, UAF and the police to ensure these groups were talking to each other and working together.

"It is a disgrace that the Lib Dems failed to take leadership. They have focused all their energy on attacking those standing against division and violence, while failing to speak out against the disruption the EDL brought to Bristol."

Bristol Post, 19 July 2012

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Bristol's two Labour MPs, and the party's candidate for elected mayor, have issued a joint statement condemning Saturday's march by the English Defence League (EDL) in the city.

Dawn Primarolo (Bristol South), Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) and Marvin Rees said yesterday there was "no place for the EDL in Bristol", but urged those planning to protest against the group to co-operate with police.

The EDL will march through the city, ending in Queen Square, on Saturday. A counter march, organised by a trade unions and community groups, will begin in the city centre. Up to 1,000 police officers are expected to keep the two sides apart.

The two marches come on the same day as the city Pride Festival comes to an end, with a party at College Green.

In a joint statement yesterday, the Labour group said: "We reject entirely the aims, philosophy and method of the EDL. At a time when decent people from all backgrounds are working together to improve their communities, the EDL seeks to cause division, fear and hatred.

"There is no place for the EDL in Bristol. On July 14, thousands of Bristol residents will be celebrating the Bristol we know – a proud and welcoming city that celebrates our differences and rejects totally any attempts to divide us. Bristol is much stronger than a motley collection of EDL members, bussed in from far-flung corners of the country.

"We hope that Bristolians from all backgrounds will go about their normal business on the 14th, but we do understand why those who feel especially strongly about the EDL's presence in our city will want to protest against their presence. We would ask simply that they co-operate with the police, who will be working hard to ensure that public safety is protected.

"By Saturday evening, the EDL will have left Bristol. They will find little support for their dangerous views and we hope, and expect, that they will never return."

A group called We Are Bristol – made up of trades unions, politicians, academics and community organisations – have organised the counter demonstration for 11am on Saturday in the city centre, opposite the Hippodrome.

The group has claimed they have been faced with a "hostile attitude" from police who have "focussed attention on 'extremists' who wish to show their opposition to the racism of the EDL, rather than on the violent record of the EDL against local communities and on their demonstrations".

Against the backdrop of the arrests of three men on terrorism charges – thought to have been plotting an attack on the EDL – the We Are Bristol group has insisted it is aiming to hold a peaceful rally.

"We wish in our counter-demonstration to hold a peaceful and family-friendly protest against the EDL," it said. "In this way we wish to express through our trade unions and other groups our abhorrence of the racism of the EDL, and to celebrate our city's cultural diversity and innovation. We hope that the authorities, including local police, will take notice of our peaceful intentions, and support our right to protest."

Bristol24-7, 11 July 2012

It would have been better if the three Labour leaders had issued a call to Bristolians to join the We Are Bristol counter-demonstration. This is backed by the TUC South West Regional Council. What is the objection to Bristol Labour politicians supporting it?

As for Bristol24-7, its report adds that tomorrow it will publish "our interview with the EDL, and its response to the Labour MPs' claims".

If the EDL were antisemites protesting against the supposed threat posed by the Jewish community, would Bristol24-7 be providing them with a platform to promote their vile views and lie about their real aims? You can bet it wouldn't.

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A peer suspended by the Labour Party for allegedly offering a £10m bounty on the head of US President Barack Obama has had the suspension lifted.

Lord Ahmed, who denied the accusations published in a Pakistani newspaper the Express Tribune, thanked Chief Whip Lord Bassam for a "fair" investigation. Lord Ahmed said he was "delighted" the suspension had been lifted as he had been a member of the Labour Party for 34 years.

He told BBC Asian Network said his colleagues in the Lords had been "very sympathetic" while the suspension was in place. The story was "lies" and he said he was considering taking legal action against the Express Tribune newspaper, he added.

In April this year the Express Tribune quoted Lord Ahmed saying: "If the US can announce a reward of $10m for the captor of Hafiz Saeed, I can announce a bounty of £10m on President Obama and his predecessor George Bush." They later corrected the article.

In response to the article, Lord Ahmed said: "I'm shocked and horrified that this whole story could be just made up of lies. I never mentioned President Obama, I never mentioned the word bounty.

"It was a discussion about people investing in Pakistan and yes, I did talk about illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Bush and Blair involved in it. But I did not mention any bounty or President Obama and the sort of rubbish that's been on the media."

BBC News, 30 June 2012

It's a sorry reflection on the Labour Party that it ever suspended Lord Ahmed in the first place, on the basis of a story that was quickly exposed as false, and without bothering to check its accuracy or even ask him for an explanation. That didn't prevent certain anti-fascists from using the suspension to attack Lord Ahmed. But then, he is a supporter of the Palestinian cause and as such has inevitably been a target for Zionists.

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An MP has called for a march through Bristol by the English Defence League to be banned.

The controversial protest group will congregate in Castle Park on July 14, the same day as Bristol Pride's We Are: Proud lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender event takes place on College Green.

A heavy police presence is guaranteed on the day, with up to 700 officers expected to be on duty to police the events, in an operation costing as much as £1 million.

But Bristol East Labour MP Kerry McCarthy has called for the EDL to be barred from marching that day, saying she fears for public safety. She has written to the city council and Avon and Somerset police saying she is "not satisfied" public order will be maintained after the march.

Ms McCarthy told the Post: "For me, this is not an issue about the freedom to protest but a matter of public safety. The clash of these two quite contradictory events on the same weekend will put our city under enormous pressure and could put public safety at risk. For this reason, I have written to the police and Bristol City Council to express my profound concern and to request that they reconsider their decision to allow the EDL to march on July 14."

The MP has attacked the organisation on her website, saying: "The EDL's reputation for Islamophobia, intolerance and public disorder runs contrary to what Pride and vast majority of decent Bristolians stand for. We know from their previous demonstrations in towns like Luton that EDL marches place a huge burden on the police and can lead to violence and intimidation."

A police memo seen by the Post said that the EDL leadership was keen to avoid any conflict with Pride. The EDL says on its website that it champions equality for homosexuals and a member of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender division will speak at its march.

Although Avon and Somerset chief constable Colin Port could apply to the Home Secretary to ban the march, the police fear that could open the door to EDL members congregating in the city unsupervised. A security operation is being put in place to keep both groups apart and police have met with leaders of the Muslim community to allay their fears.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Bangham said: "Bristol is open for 'business as usual'. Public safety is our top priority and we're working closely with our partners in Bristol, including the city council, to ensure the EDL march is peaceful. We're seeking to minimise disruption to those who live, work and visit.

"Our challenge is to balance the right to peacefully protest with the rights of the community and citizens of Bristol. We will facilitate peaceful protest, but we will be active in tackling anyone who becomes involved in violence or disorder, whatever form it may take."

Lib Dem Bristol West MP Stephen Williams warned rival groups not to protest against the EDL.

"I have no problem with any organisation demonstrating," he said. "That's what a free and democratic society is all about. As long as it's a peaceful demonstration it should not be a problem. More to the point, others should not seek to make it a problem.

"That's where the problem lies – people who give them much more publicity by protesting against them. It's much better for Bristolians to collectively turn our backs on them. They are a reprehensible bunch, and best ignored."

Bristol Post, 27 June 2012

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A contentious leaflet, distributed by the Conservative Party, has been slammed by Labour councillors.

The leaflet, which was sent out by the Tory party this week, in a last ditch attempt for votes, highlighted the controversial issue of the Dudley Mosque, which was rejected by High Court last month and suggested the Labour Party would be in favour of it if elected.

In his winner's speech, new councillor for Gornal, Dave Branwood, condemned the election literature, saying: "The Tory party should be ashamed and embarrassed about it."

While Shaukat Ali, the new Deputy Leader of the Council, compared the Conservative Party to the EDL and BNP in his speech, saying: "It is a real sad state of affairs when you get a major party stoop so low by putting all these leaflets out, showing their desperation. We need to work together to promote Dudley as a borough."

Dudley News, 4 May 2012

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Well, that the title to an article in the East London Advertiser reporting that the independent candidate Gulam Robbani won a council by-election in Tower Hamlets yesterday. Harry's Place prefers the headline "Lutfur Rahman's Islamists beat Labour, again".

But then, Harry's Place is a blog whose commitment to political balance and accuracy is illustrated by a recent post describing the Guardian newspaper as "The UK's leading publisher of Jew-haters". You do wonder why Harry's Place and CifWatch don't effect a merger. This would provide internet users with a convenient one stop shop for frothing-at-the-mouth Zionist rants.

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