Development Vehicle

Good riddance to Shirley Porter as Leader of Haringey Council, and well done to Labour's National Executive Committee on having made her position untenable. But having arranged the meeting between Jeremy Corbyn and the County Durham Teaching Assistants the evening before the 2016 Durham Miners' Gala, which led to his endorsement of their cause during his Gala speech the following afternoon, I have always been very disappointed, even allowing for the distance involved, that he has never attended any of their subsequent protests, pickets, marches or rallies.

At last year's Gala, the previously supportive Durham Miners' Association even seated the Leader of Durham County Council, Simon Henig, on the platform with Corbyn and with Angela Rayner. The man whose political advice has led 472 of the Teaching Assistants to lose 23 per cent of their pay has been made Political Advisor to Laura Pidcock, who is herself notable for having walked out of the Teaching Assistants' Solidarity Rally when a speaker, who is now a constituent and near neighbour of hers, called for the defeat of all Labour candidates at what were then the upcoming local elections.

Had that advice been followed instead, then the TAs would have won by now. As they would have done if they had returned their champion, Owen Temple, at North West Durham. But as it is, they must endure Pidcock and her Advisor until I am elected for this seat. Justice for the 472 will be a non-negotiable part of the price of my support for any Government in the hung Parliament that is by far the most likely outcome of the next General Election. Please give generously. Very many thanks.

Unsettled Dust

I have no doubt that @RedStarRedDust really is based in Consett. The reference in its name is fairly niche. And that Twitter account opines: "Lindsay's Left allies, what about #Brexit, friendship with Tories/Tory Lib Dems/Tory Independents, Marxism, Scottish independence, #Catalunya, immigration, climate change, #trans rights, abortion, assisted dying, sex work, drugs, Fathers 4 Justice, #Trump, #Murdoch, #DailyMail?" It would have been rude not to reply:

I have always supported Brexit, like most of the organisations that you profess to represent. I have numerous Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent friends, and I will have Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents on my parliamentary staff.

Like Jeremy Corbyn, I have never been a Marxist; like him, I see that Marxism asks many of the right questions. I have always opposed Scottish independence. Like the SNP, Catalan separatism is the "taxpayers' revolt" type of right-wing populism that I find utterly unsympathetic.

I support the tighter immigration controls that have long been advocated by trade unionists such as Paul Embery, and which were recently taken up, at least in part, by John McDonnell.

Any approach to climate change must protect employment, encourage development, uphold the right of working-class and non-white people to have children, hold down and as far as practicable reduce fuel prices, and not restrict either travel opportunities or a full diet to the rich.

My position on transgenderism is that of the Morning Star. On abortion, that of John Smith and Ronnie Campbell. On assisted suicide, that of them and of the Morning Star. On prostitution, again, that of the Star. Prostitution, pornography and drugs are capitalism at its very worst.

I would not have voted for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. I do not blame those who voted for him against her neoliberalism and neoconservatism. I would welcome his State Visit for the protests, provided they were organised by people who would have been just as opposed to her.

I saw nothing to fear in Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of Sky News. What was so wonderful about his rivals, especially the BBC? I would take the Daily Mail over Richard Branson any day, and look forward to its exposés of Virgin's NHS and rail privateering.

In reaction, not least because "Lindsay is a vicious religious bigot: #TERF, anti right to choose, anti right to die, #SWERF, pro war on drugs, all dressed up as anti capitalism," we are told that, "The whole Left can & must defeat this man."

Meanwhile. a rather charmingly callow acolyte of Laura Pidcock's (although she is barely older than he is), characteristically based outside this constituency, has accused the Tow Law-based @ProudWhitePower of being obsessed with her. Causing it to tweet and pin the following: "For the record we have no interest in recently arrived @LauraPidcockMP, one term MP with a black boyfriend on her CV. Our enemy is our international enemy of 20 years and local enemy of 25, @davidaslindsay. Keeping him out of Parliament is White Nationalists' number one priority."

Quite. If it is not 15 years, then it is not far off, since the Ku Klux emailed, from the United States, every Labour member of Derwentside District Council to warn them against fielding me as a parliamentary candidate at North West Durham. I have been in the Far Right's cross hairs for a very long time. Laura who?

Meanwhile, via the medium of @ProudWhitePower, Alison Saunders speaks. It took the threat of a private prosecution by a charity for the Crown Prosecution Service to act against Alison Chabloz, whom Google if you have to. But there was no need of any of that for it to act against me. Similarly, Poppi Worthington's father has not been charged, and will not be. But I have been. The case of Toby Young demonstrated, not for the first time, the commonality between those two interests, including at the very highest levels of public life.

Think on.

First and Foremost

Donald Trump may wish to apologise for having retweeted Jayda Fransen, but his having done so is a key part of Britain First's and its allies' campaign on her behalf to keep me out of Parliament here at North West Durham, "the number one priority for White Nationalists at the next General Election."

That has been recanted by none of Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders or Heinz-Christian Strache.

Bring it on, say I. I have been in the Far Right's cross hairs for two thirds of Laura Pidcock's life, and counting. I have been looking forward to this for a very long time.

The Oliver Kamm Challenge

As he awaits justice in the High Court at the hands of Neil Clark, Oliver Kamm has been Liking tweets by an anti-Lindsay, pro-Pidcock Twitter account, presumably as a kind of "coo-ee, I'm here". What a very full and active life he must lead. But since he is taking an interest in these matters, he has six options.

He can endorse Laura Pidcock against me, lining himself up with Owen Jones and apparently with George Galloway. He can endorse me against Laura Pidcock. He can endorse the Conservative candidate against both of us. He can endorse the Liberal Democrat candidate against both of us. He can contest this seat himself. Or he can shut up and go away.

Which is it to be?

"Why Are You Standing Against A Left Candidate?"

Neither Jayda Fransen nor any of her named supporters against me has issued any sort of denial. Nor has any of those who have been named against me in support of Laura Pidcock: Stalinists and Maoists, Trotskyists and Shachtmanites, anarchists and the dissident Irish Republican opponents of the peace process. Like Fransen and Friends, those latter all know that they have been listed. Like Fransen and Friends, none of them has demurred. They have fielded or endorsed many a candidate against each other. They have fielded or endorsed many a candidate against the Labour Left. Frank Dobson was few people's idea of a right-wing Labourite even in the pre-Blair days, never mind in 2000, when Ken Livingstone beat him for Mayor of London. On the last three occasions that George Galloway has stood for Parliament, then he has done so against left-wing Labour candidates.

The Labour machine here has been worked up about the possibility of my intervention for a decade. Ask them, and they will tell you. Had my health not failed in 2010, then, with the support that I have now, I might just about have been the First Past the Post; even without that support, then I would have taken enough votes to have given the seat to the Lib Dems. Had I been able to raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign in the time between the calling of last year's General Election and that event itself, then I would at the very least have taken enough votes to have seen Laura Pidcock elected with fewer that half of those cast, thereby bringing this seat well and truly into play for the Conservatives next time. Not inconceivably, I could have given this seat to the Conservatives this time.

Ms Pidcock and her entourage do not appreciate any of this, but that is because this time last year, they had never set eyes on North West Durham. She does, however, have necessarily recent form as an electoral asset to the Conservative Party. And a key figure in that entourage is Ben Sellers, her avowedly Trotskyist "Political Advisor" whose political advice has cost 472 of Durham County Council's Teaching Assistants 23 per cent of their pay. Of course, I would have been elected to Durham County Council last year if Labour had not cheated. But by selecting the candidates that they did in this ward (a seriously ill old man, and a young mother with no political background), then they factored in at least one by-election between now and 2021. See you at that.

I am 40 now. It is 15 years since the Labour Party ruined my life, although it must be said that it has also ruined Neil Fleming's life in the meantime. He, too, is 40, but if anything he stands less chance of entering Parliament than I do. Lanchester, where he once chaired the Parish Council, is now presented to the world as the political base of Laura Pidcock. Either the Conservative Party as such, or, not to put too fine a point on it, the Lib Dem candidate personally, could have afforded to have challenged her election on the grounds that she had given a false address on the paperwork. I have no idea why they did not do so. I certainly would have done.

The vengeful delight would still be real in delivering this seat to "the Tories", shrieked as if the mere shrieking of it closed any debate. But at my age, I am well and truly in it to win it. I know perfectly well that this is my last chance. All that I need is £10,000, and preferably also the people to deliver the leaflets bought with those monies. Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and especially the strong local networks of Independents, this is your opportunity. Therefore, this is your responsibility. And stalwarts of the local Labour Party, with whom do you have more in common? Do you have more in common with Laura Pidcock and with her arrogant, exotic entourage, whom you had never met this time last year, but with whom you are most certainly acquainted today? Or do you have more in common with Alex Watson and with me?

Crowdfunding My Parliamentary Candidacy

Here:

I am a freelance journalist and a political activist based in Lanchester, County Durham. I am not a member of any political party. For five main reasons, I intend to contest this parliamentary seat of North West Durham at the next General Election.

First, I understand the political pluralism of this constituency, and the needs of the local communities. I would seek to work with a Labour, a Conservative, a Liberal Democrat and an Independent representative in each of the County Wards, ideally including someone in each of the former District Wards, to communicate the concerns of local people to me, and then to work with them and with me in order to address those concerns. My Campaign Patron is Councillor Alex Watson OBE of Consett North, who previously served for many years as the Executive Leader of Derwentside District Council.

Secondly, in the hung Parliament that is by far the most likely outcome of the next General Election, the price of my support for any Government would be the necessary support for a number of projects in each of the former District Wards equal to the former number of District Councillors, together with justice for the 472 Teaching Assistants whom Durham County Council has deprived of 23 per cent of their incomes.

Thirdly, drawing on a very wide range of political traditions, my Westminster office would be a national and international centre for the formulation, articulation and implementation of the alternative to the neoliberal economic policy that had already given us the Carillion crisis, and to the neoconservative foreign policy that had already given us the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. This would include the active pursuit of justice against those responsible.

Fourthly, a recent poster campaign in parts of this constituency has announced that Jayda Fransen of Britain First would contest this seat against me because I was mixed-race, and that she would do so with the support of all of this country’s neo-Fascist and neo-Nazi parties, of the Loyalist paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland, of several racist and Holocaust-denying publications and publishing houses, and of neo-Fascist, neo-Nazi and white supremacist leaders from Continental Europe and the United States.

And fifthly, a recent poster campaign in this constituency’s principal town of Consett has endorsed the sitting MP, specifically against me by name, on behalf of every Stalinist, Maoist, Trotskyist, Shachtmanite and anarchist organisation in Great Britain and Ireland, and on behalf of every dissident Irish Republican organisation opposed to the peace process.

A serious parliamentary campaign, which would be the only kind worth fighting, would cost £10,000. But we need only to be the First Past the Post. Anyone interested, please contact davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.

Two Days On

This time on Saturday, I asked:

Does County Durham Labour side with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache?

I added:

If not, then it will let the matter against me drop. If County Durham Labour does not let the matter against me drop, then it sides explicitly with each and all of those, as therefore does Simon Henig personally.

This time on Saturday, I asked:

Does Durham County Council side with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache?

I added:

If not, then it will let the matter against me drop. If Durham County Council does not let the matter against me drop, then it sides explicitly with each and all of those, as therefore does Simon Henig personally.

And this time on Saturday, I asked:

And does the Crown Prosecution Service side with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache?

I added:

If not, then it will let the matter against me drop. If the Crown Prosecution Service does not let the matter against me drop, then it sides explicitly with each and all of those, as does Alison Saunders personally.

Well, County Durham Labour has not let the matter drop. It, and Simon Henig personally, side explicitly with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache.

Durham County Council has not let the matter drop. It, and Simon Henig personally, side explicitly with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache.

And the Crown Prosecution Service has not let the matter drop. It, and Alison Saunders personally, side explicitly with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache.

Focal Point Publications is David Irving’s global nerve centre of Holocaust denial. The University of Sunderland employs Simon Henig as a Team Leader for Humanities. It ought to be contacted, and asked when it intended to appoint David Irving to an academic position. There is no reason to have Henig on the academic staff, but not Irving. Indeed, at least David Irving is not engaged in a conspiracy to send me to prison for an offence that never took place at all, as part of what is no doubt a national pattern of such conspiracies by Alison Saunders in order to secure for herself a Labour seat in Parliament. If I am wrong, then let her sue me. Meanwhile, I look forward to hearing from others among her victims.

Each and All

Last night seems to have been busy on the streets, and today would seem to be busy on Twitter. This afternoon, the world would appear to divide between, on one side, those who expect a General Election and who are determined to stop me from being elected at it, and, on the other side, Sunderland season ticket holders.

Two posters have been seen around this constituency of North West Durham, and they have both been posted on Twitter. One has been seen up around Consett, where I have not been since the day of the last General Election, when I happened to have a hospital appointment at Shotley Bridge. The other has been seen up around Tow Law, where I last attended a Fabian lunch 15 years ago, if not longer; around Crook, where the last thing that I can ever recall doing was arguing with Hilary Armstrong over what was then the imminent war against Iraq, also 15 years ago; and around Willington, where I have spent one afternoon in my life, at least as long ago and also in relation to the Fabian Society.

Until the ongoing persecution of me through the criminal justice system has ceased and desisted, then I do not have any device capable of taking photographs, nor do I have a printer. In any case, I was most certainly not out in the bitter cold and the snow last night.

This is the first poster:

A General Election Is Coming 

Vote Laura Pidcock

Vote Against David Lindsay

We Will Campaign For Laura Pidcock

We Will Defeat David Lindsay

Alliance for Green Socialism, Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, Anarchist Federation, Class War, Communist League, Communist Party of Britain, Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), Communist Party of Ireland, Communist Party of Scotland, Communist Workers Organisation, Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, Independent Working Class Association, Industrial Workers of the World, International Socialist League, Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, People Before Profit Alliance, Republican Communist Network, Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, Revolutionary Communist Group, Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, Socialist Equality Party, Socialist Labour Party, Socialist Party (England and Wales), Socialist Party of Great Britain, Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, Solidarity Federation, Spartacist League of Britain, Stalin Society, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, Workers’ Party of Ireland, Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution.

Support Laura Pidcock MP

1 Gledstone House, 26 Newmarket Street, Consett, County Durham, DH8 5LQ

01207 501 782

laura.pidcock.mp@parliament.uk

And this is the second poster:



BRITAIN FIRST

A General Election could easily come in 2018.

David Lindsay is preparing to stand here in North West Durham: the REAL THREAT of a MIXED-BLOOD MP for this WHITE AREA.

Jayda Fransen, Deputy Leader of Britain First, and famously retweeted by Donald Trump, will stand in North West Durham against David Lindsay.

Jayda will be actively supported by Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing and Focal Point Publications.

Steve Bannon and Judge Roy Moore will travel from America to speak for Jayda against David Lindsay. So will Marine Le Pen from France, Geert Wilders from Holland and the new Vice-Chancellor (Deputy Prime Minister) of Austria, Heinz-Christian Strache. 

Contact: Britain First, PO Box 119, Swanley, Kent, BRB 9DY 

0208 914 8212 or 020 3409 6216

In response to the first poster, who has been tweeted by someone who informs us that “The whole Left is coming [to North West Durham, and especially to the Consett area] for the next Election,” Ms Pidcock now has three options.

First, she could accept the endorsement of each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, and World Revolution.

Secondly, she could accept the endorsements of some of those, but not of others, specifying which fell into each category and why. Or thirdly, she could reject the endorsement of each and all of them. Which is it to be? Of course, any of them might also withdraw its endorsement of her, in which case it would be honour bound to field or support a candidate against both her and me. In any event, George Galloway needs to consider his recent decision to transfer his support from me to Ms Pidcock. He would be more than welcome to resume his role, which he has never formally resigned, as my Campaign Patron.

In response to the second poster, tweeted by someone who informs us that “Keeping [me] out is the number one priority for Nationalists at the next General Election,” I say bring it on. I can scarcely wait to take the fight to Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications (which is David Irving’s global nerve centre of Holocaust denial), Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache.

A proper parliamentary campaign, which is the only kind worth fighting, would cost £10,000. I can be contacted on davidaslindsay@hotmail.com, which accepts PayPal. I am already on Patreon, in search of a regular income to support my work as a journalist and as an activist. A campaign fund with trustees would be set up as soon as it was demonstrably worthwhile to do so; bluntly, as soon as people had pledged serious money. We need only to be the First Past the Post. As Editor of The Lanchester Review, I have given a rare platform to the National Health Action Party and to the Pirate Party, and I would therefore hope for their support. The Women’s Equality Party might endorse Laura Pidcock, or it might endorse Jayda Fransen, or it might stand its own candidate against all three of us, but it would have to do one of those things if it wished to retain any credibility. The same is true of the Cannabis Law Reform Party.

I warmly invite each and all of the many Independent County and Parish Councillors in North West Durham, among whom Councillor Alex Watson OBE is already my Campaign Patron, to sign my nomination papers and to campaign for me, as well as to join me in identifying in each ward of the former Districts of Derwentside and Wear Valley a number of projects equal to the former number of District Councillors, so as to campaign in support of those projects.

The necessary support for each and all of those projects, together with justice for the 472 of Durham County Council’s Teaching Assistants who have now lost 23 per cent of their pay, and together with bringing Volkswagen’s production for the British market to County Durham after Brexit, would be the price of my support for any Government in the hung Parliament that would be the most likely outcome of a General Election in the early part of 2018.

My Westminster office would be a national and international centre for the formulation, the articulation and, where possible, the implementation of the alternative to neoliberal economic policy and to neoconservative foreign policy. My own preference is strongly for economic equality and international peace through the democratic control of the means to those ends, recognising the leading roles of the principal victims of inequality and war, namely the working class and the youth. I am the first to say that Jeremy Corbyn is the most culturally significant British politician in living memory, the most agenda-setting Leader of the Opposition ever, and the global leader of the opposition to neoliberal economic policy and to neoconservative foreign policy. There is an urgent need to co-ordinate that critique at home and abroad, in preparation for the Corbyn Government that will lead Britain and the world out of politically chosen austerity, and away from wars of political choice. In short, I am firmly a man of the Left. But I would provide a national and international platform for a wide variety of perspectives opposed to neoliberal economic policy and to neoconservative foreign policy, to politically chosen austerity and to wars of political choice. Many of the strongest influences on my own thinking have come, and continue to come, from what would at first sight appear to be the opposite end of the political spectrum.

In the same spirit, my constituency staff would include members or supporters of each and all of the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, and any other Groups on Durham County Council that had representation at either County or Parish level here in North West Durham. The ideal would be a Labour, a Conservative, a Liberal Democrat and an Independent figure in each of the County Wards, including a person in each of the former District Wards, all conveying the concerns of local people to me as the Member of Parliament, and all working with them and with me in order to address those concerns.

Obviously, and entirely correctly, normal party political activity would continue. These figures would be free to contest elections, even against each other, and to support their own candidates. It would seem a bit much for any of them to be candidates against me at an election at which only one could be elected, but let’s not run ahead of ourselves, so to speak. No one who was currently employed by Laura Pidcock need necessarily fear for his or her livelihood. Those staff would be free to stay, and they would be free to go. Those who went, would go of their own free will. County Durham Labour, meanwhile, needs to decide with whom it sides by continuing its forlorn persecution of me.

Does County Durham Labour side with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache?

If not, then it will let the matter against me drop. If County Durham Labour does not let the matter against me drop, then it sides explicitly with each and all of those, as therefore does Simon Henig personally.

Does Durham County Council side with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache?

If not, then it will let the matter against me drop. If Durham County Council does not let the matter against me drop, then it sides explicitly with each and all of those, as therefore does Simon Henig personally.

And does the Crown Prosecution Service side with each and all of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, World Revolution, Jayda Fransen, Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Heinz-Christian Strache?

If not, then it will let the matter against me drop. If the Crown Prosecution Service does not let the matter against me drop, then it sides explicitly with each and all of those, as does Alison Saunders personally.

Under those circumstances, and indeed under any and all circumstances, I greatly look forward to confronting both Simon Henig and Alison Saunders on the stump during the battle for this parliamentary seat of North West Durham. Labour Councillors within this constituency, however, are a different matter. They all know me to some extent, and several of them know me very well indeed. None of them has been involved in persecuting me. All of them would wish to participate in identifying in each ward of the former Districts of Derwentside and Wear Valley a number of projects equal to the former number of District Councillors, so as to campaign in support of those projects. All of them would wish to participate in ensuring that there was a Labour, a Conservative, a Liberal Democrat and an Independent figure in each of the County Wards, including a person in each of the former District Wards, to convey the concerns of local people to me as the Member of Parliament, and to work with them and with me in order to address those concerns. None of them had any role in selecting Laura Pidcock in 2017. They were all most recently elected on the day that she lost her own seat on Northumberland County Council, an event that she did not condescend to attend.

And none of them has anything in common with any candidate of the Alliance for Green Socialism, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, the Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain, the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), the Communist Party of Ireland, the Communist Party of Scotland, the Communist Workers Organisation, the Economic and Philosophic Science Review, Éirígí, the Independent Working Class Association, the Industrial Workers of the World, the International Socialist League, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Left Unity, Lewisham People Before Profit, London Black Revolutionaries, the New Communist Party of Britain, Old Swan Against the Cuts, the People Before Profit Alliance, the Republican Communist Network, the Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, the Revolutionary Communist Group, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement, the Scottish Socialist Party, Socialist Action, Socialist Appeal, the Socialist Equality Party, the Socialist Labour Party, the Socialist Party (England and Wales), the Socialist Party of Great Britain, the Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Resistance, Socialist Studies, the Socialist Workers Party, Solidarity, the Solidarity Federation, the Spartacist League of Britain, the Stalin Society, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, Workers’ Fight, the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International, the Workers’ Party of Ireland, the Workers Revolutionary Party, or World Revolution.

Likewise, most or all of the other County Councillors in this constituency know me to some extent, as do many non-Labour Parish Councillors, including all of them in Lanchester, where I voted for 12 of the 15 serving Parish Councillors, including all of the Independent, Conservative and Liberal Democrat ones. Several of them know me very well indeed. All of them would wish to participate in identifying in each ward of the former Districts of Derwentside and Wear Valley a number of projects equal to the former number of District Councillors, so as to campaign in support of those projects. All of them would wish to participate in ensuring that there was a Labour, a Conservative, a Liberal Democrat and an Independent figure in each of the County Wards, including a person in each of the former District Wards, to convey the concerns of local people to me as the Member of Parliament, and to work with them and with me in order to address those concerns. They were all most recently elected on the day that Laura Pidcock lost her own seat on Northumberland County Council, an event that she did not condescend to attend.

And none of them has anything in common with Jayda Fransen, or with any candidate of Britain First, the British National Party, the National Front, National Action, the Britannica Party, the British Democratic Party, Ulster Resistance, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders, the Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, the Springbok Club, the London Swinton Circle, the Conservative Monday Club, the League of St George, Candour, Spearhead, Redwatch, Black House Publishing, Focal Point Publications, Steve Bannon, Roy Moore, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders, or Heinz-Christian Strache.

They all know where I am. Everyone knows where I am. The question now is where, together, we are all going.

Rerun The County Council Election In Lanchester

I like the two County Councillors for Lanchester, and I have known one of them for 35 years, so I have always resisted the many suggestions that I call for the election to be rerun. Yes, their party, not them but their party, openly cheated by manufacturing a criminal charge against me. And yes, even after that, the declared result was pretty much impossible. To echo the most common refrain, I got more votes than that in Burnhope alone.

But if you grew up in the land of Durham County Council, then you take in your stride a level of municipal corruption that would be litigated to Kingdom Come anywhere else in Britain, and which would provoke riots in the streets in much of the rest of Europe. No, I said, think of the cost of a by-election.

The cost of a by-election. In this ward, Labour factored that in by fielding the candidates that it did, and the voters did so by electing them. No one has ever seriously suggested that they were both going to be in office until the spring of 2021. For one reason or another, there was always going to be at least one by-election here in the course of this term.

The Labour Party openly cheated by manufacturing a criminal charge against me. And even after that, the declared result was pretty much impossible. I got more votes than that in Burnhope alone. As was always going to happen at some point during this term, the County Council election in the Lanchester Ward needs to be rerun. The two sitting Councillors need to have the decency to resign and make that happen, as it was always going to happen one way or another. No one has ever seriously suggested that they were both going to be in office until the spring of 2021.

The Heiress Presumptive

To ask what the political opinions of Laura Pidcock MP are, simply that, is apparently now to engage in "personal attacks". Truly, she is the Heiress Presumptive.

To placate what is still the profoundly unconvinced Constituency Labour Party that was never asked whether it wanted her, she has been appointed to Shadow a Ministry that does not exist. Over to that CLP.

By all accounts, it is an open secret in circles in favour Scottish independence that Laura Pidcock is one of theirs, placing her at variance with both of her new patrons, Owen Jones and George Galloway, as well as with Richard Leonard, whom she was already considered important enough to be invited to endorse.

But does she agree with Galloway, and probably also with Jones, that the Falkland Islands ought to be handed over to Argentina? My own view is that no one should be taken seriously who opposes that view but who does not also support the Chagos Islanders, that the amount of money and attention paid to the Falkland Islands is obscene compared to the neglect of the larger population on St Helena such as during the recent crisis over the airport, that the pointed absence of St Helenian and other brown faces whenever the Falklands are shown on British television can only be explained as a matter of policy, and that the Falkland Islanders are among the people who need to be reminded that the people of Great Britain also have a right of self-determination, which they have exercised in order to leave behind far larger populations in the past, including after wars that were far more recent. But none of those is the same thing. What, however, is the view of Laura Pidcock?

Yes, that does mean that I disagree with Galloway. Why would I not? I do on a number of matters, as I have done from time to time with my other Campaign Patron, Councillor Alex Watson OBE. For example, while I accept that public figures do all sorts of things for charity, Galloway's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother cost him his own seat, and Respect several more, in the hung Parliament of 2010. You could expect no comparable strategic error from me. But might you from Laura Pidcock?

With Respect

"To my comrade David Lindsay, with respect, George Galloway." So reads the inscription in my copy of his book, I'm Not The Only One. I have enormous political respect and personal affection for George, who needs to face facts. He is not going to be a Minister in a Corbyn Government. He is never again going to be a Labour MP. He is never going to be let back into the Labour Party at all.

Whatever the rights or wrongs of his expulsion in 2003, he has since stood for Parliament against Labour five times, he has been successful on two occasions, he has taken seats from Labour on both of them, he has prevented the re-election of a Labour MP on one of them, he has actively supported several other parliamentary and numerous municipal candidates against Labour ones, he has stood for the European Parliament against Labour (I voted for Respect at those elections in 2004, albeit not in London, where he was the lead candidate), he has stood for the Scottish Parliament against Labour, he has stood twice for the London Assembly against Labour, he has literally allowed his name to appear in that of a London Assembly list against Labour on a third occasion, and he has stood for Mayor of London against Labour.

George most recently stood for Parliament against Labour a mere six months ago. When it comes to merely threatening to stand against Labour, the offence for which I was expelled because I had done it once, even he himself has probably lost count. Even now, he is dropping hints about Kensington and Chelsea Council. He has told me live on air that I ought to stand for Parliament, and he has told me face to face that I ought to stand for Parliament. He has not formally resigned as one of my Campaign Patrons.

George's name has appeared alongside mine on several published and unpublished round-robin letters, and it has also appeared, obviously without mine, on an unpublished letter attacking the abuse of the criminal justice system against me. I have avidly retweeted his material, and he has fairly regularly retweeted mine. I have publicised his radio programme, his television programme and his documentary film, all of which I shall continue to do, since they are excellent. He tapped me to be a weekly panellist on another RT programme that he was to have presented; it was never commissioned, but a pilot was made, and I was in it. He agreed to write a weekly column for my magazine, which remains a work in progress, whatever the George Wallace County Durham Labour Party and the Bull Connor Crown Prosecution Service might do to try and kill it.

I published an article in The Huffington Post making the case for George's London Mayoral candidacy, and The Lanchester Review carried an extensive expression of support for him. Other than those in County Durham which were not being defended by Grahame Morris, the Teaching Assistants' Champion, Manchester Gorton was the only constituency in Great Britain at which I did not advocate a Labour vote last year, calling instead for a vote for George. I maintain that he would have won it if it had been a by-election after all, having accurately predicted George's victory at Bradford West in 2012. Just as I accurately predicted a hung Parliament in 2010, Ed Miliband as Labour Leader, UKIP's defeat at every by-election where its candidate was not the incumbent MP, no UKIP gains in 2015, Jeremy Corbyn's runaway victory after his rivals' infamous abstention, Corbyn's increased mandate in 2016, and (uniquely, so far as I am aware) a hung Parliament in 2017.

Those who say that I am a false prophet either ignored George completely in 2012 or said that he was going to lose his deposit, predicted a Conservative overall majority in 2010, predicted that David Miliband would lead the Labour Party, predicted that UKIP would win every English by-election during that Parliament, predicted that it would return dozens of MPs in 2015 as it "replaced Labour in the North", predicted that Anyone But Corbyn would win the Labour Leadership, predicted that Owen Smith would either defeat him or massively reduce his margin of victory, and predicted a landslide for Theresa May. Had it not been for the electoral fraud to which the Conservative Party freely admits, but which the CPS can find "no public interest" in prosecuting, then Labour would indeed have won the 2015 General Election, as I predicted.

George's doomed desperation to be let back into the Labour Party has led him to set aside all of this in order to declare Laura Pidcock above criticism by a journalist and activist who is also her constituent and near neighbour. Laura has just been named a Shadow Minister for Labour even though, while there ought to be a Ministry of Labour, in point of fact there is not one.

Yet it is either certain or very highly likely that she disagrees with George, and with me, about Brexit, about the Teaching Assistants, about crossparty friendship and co-operation, about working for Murdoch-owned broadcasters, about writing for the Mail newspapers, about Scottish independence, about the relative importance of funding university students over their peers, about all-women shortlists, about being or not being a Marxist, about immigration, about the policy approach to climate change, about Donald Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton, about the possibility of a State Visit by Trump, about fathers' rights, about abortion, and about assisted suicide.

Laura has been endorsed as a potential future Leader of the Labour Party, and thus as a potential future Prime Minister, by Owen Jones. Does she agree with him about drugs, about prostitution and pornography (including the lap-dancing clubs that have been an issue in this constituency in the past), and about gender as a matter of self-identification? Or does she agree, as I do, with George Galloway on those questions? And what is George's response to her answer?

Never Mind The Pidcocks?

I have had numerous communications about yesterday's post concerning George Galloway and Laura Pidcock.

The Constituency Labour Party here in North West Durham nominated Jeremy Corbyn for Leader in 2016, so it would have selected a left-wing parliamentary candidate of its own accord in 2017. Yet the Labour Party nationally decided that nobody in North West Durham was capable of being a parliamentary candidate, or even of having any say in the selection of one.

The hurt is real and the anger is raw. But 2017 could have been my fourth General Election, if you had done what you should have done while Laura Pidcock was still a schoolgirl of whom you had never heard. Since then, I have been trying for years and years to tell you that you would not actually die if you stepped outside the Labour Party. George Galloway is testament to that.

Yet he is desperate to get back into it, even though he has been out of it for even longer than I have. So desperate, in fact, that he will now favour Laura Pidcock, whom he has probably never even met and with whom he has probably never had any kind of communication, over me, with whom he has been co-operating for some years. And for what? Labour is never going to let you back in, George. Never. That is just a fact.

Ho, hum. By popular request, here are a few more issues on which George has very strong opinions, with some of which I agree wholeheartedly, with others to a more qualified extent, with others more in aspiration than anything else, and with others not at all. The question is, since George has joined those to whom Laura is the Heiress Presumptive, does she agree with them?

George Galloway is a stalwart supporter of Durham County Council's wronged Teaching Assistants, including the 472 who have still had their pay cut by 23 per cent. As am I. But is Laura Pidcock? Indeed, has she ever been?

George Galloway has a long and ongoing history of crossparty friendship and co-operation. As have I, albeit on a much smaller scale, but including in relation to the Teaching Assistants. What has Laura Pidcock to say to that?

George Galloway not only presents a weekly programme on RT, but he also presents a three-hour weekly radio programme on a Murdoch-owned station, he appears fairly regularly on the BBC in general and on Jeremy Vine in particular, he has written for the Mail newspapers many times over many years, and has sided, like Jeremy Corbyn, with the Daily Mail against Virgin Trains. I would, and given the opportunity I do, practise a comparable ecumenism when it came to being offered a platform. But would Laura Pidcock?

George Galloway has been unwavering in his support of me against the universally acknowledged, though technically still ongoing, attempt by the George Wallace Labour Party in Durham County Hall and by its Bull Connor accomplices in the Crown Prosecution Service to send me to prison for an offence that was never in fact committed by me or by anyone else. What is the view of Laura Pidcock, who is my MP?

George Galloway describes Winston Churchill as his hero, whereas I go to some lengths to balance the cult of him with the facts of his record, not least with respect to the miners and to racial questions. What does Laura Pidcock, the poster girl of Stand Up to Racism turned golden girl of the Durham Miners' Association, think of Winston Churchill?

George Galloway wants to abolish the monarchy (a move that Jeremy Corbyn ruled out in interview during the General Election campaign), whereas I have a republican heart but a monarchist head, since I accept that the monarchy keeps sweet certain people who need to be kept sweet, although I cannot see what it has ever done for them, and I want to transfer the powers of the Royal Prerogative to an institution that, as much as anything else, would be far more representative of those people. Does Laura Pidcock want to abolish the monarchy?

George Galloway campaigned vigorously against Scottish independence, which I also actively opposed, and he would do so again, as would I. Did Laura Pidcock oppose Scottish independence? Would she do so again?

George Galloway advocates Proportional Representation, a cause of which I have never been entirely convinced, although that was before I acquired an MP who refused to have a cup of tea with one third of her constituents, and who has presumably instructed her staff not to reply to telephone calls or to emails from the non-Labour majority of councillors for wards in her constituency. Does Laura Pidcock advocate Proportional Representation?

George Galloway wishes to establish the principle that whatever privileges were enjoyed by students in Further and Higher Education ought also to be enjoyed by their peers who were apprentices or trainees, and vice versa, and would favour all-working-class shortlists rather than all-women shortlists. In the strongest possible terms, I, too, wish to establish the principle that whatever privileges were enjoyed by students in Further and Higher Education ought also to be enjoyed by their peers who were apprentices or trainees, and vice versa. But would Laura Pidcock? At the very least, I would see all-working-class shortlists as preferable to all-women shortlists. But would Laura Pidcock?

George Galloway has always answered "No" to the question, "Are you a Marxist?" As has Jeremy Corbyn. And as have I. But what would be Laura Pidcock's answer to the question, "Are you a Marxist?"

George Galloway supports much tighter immigration controls, of the kind favoured by trade unionists such as Paul Embery. As do I. But does Laura Pidcock support much tighter immigration controls?

George Galloway has described anthropogenic global warming as "a tall tale", appearing repeatedly with Piers Corbyn. I pass no comment on the science, but I insist on an approach to climate change which protects and extends secure employment with civilised wages and working conditions, which encourages economic development around the world, which upholds the right of the working classes and of non-white people to have children, which holds down and as far as practicable reduces the fuel prices that always hit the poor hardest, and which refuses to restrict either travel opportunities or a full diet to the rich. Would Laura Pidcock describe anthropogenic global warming as "a tall tale"?

George Galloway has always said that he would not have voted either for Donald Trump or for Hillary Clinton, as have I, and, like me, he signed this response to the American Presidential Election, which was published as a letter in the Morning Star. Can Laura Pidcock say that she would not have voted either for Donald Trump or for Hillary Clinton? Would she have signed that letter?

George Galloway says that he would welcome a State Visit by President Trump, as it would be met by the largest demonstrations in British history, which would change British politics for generations to come, provided that they were led by people who had been just as opposed to Bill Clinton, to George W. Bush and to Barack Obama, and who would have been just as opposed to Hillary Clinton. That is precisely and emphatically my view. But is it the view of Laura Pidcock?

That brings us back to the origin of my apparent banishment from court, namely my journalistic audacity in publishing the concerns of other constituents that Laura Pidcock might share certain of the views of her other patron, Owen Jones. Unlike Owen Jones, George Galloway is strongly opposed to the legalisation of drugs; he is strongly opposed to prostitution and pornography, and with them to the lap-dancing clubs that have been an issue in this constituency in the past; and he rejects the idea, which is favoured by the Government, that gender is a matter of self-identification. As am I, as am I, and as do I.

But is Laura Pidcock strongly opposed to the legalisation of drugs? Is Laura Pidcock strongly opposed to prostitution, to pornography, and to lap-dancing clubs? Does Laura Pidcock reject the idea, which is favoured by the Government, that gender is a matter of self-identification? In a word, does Laura Pidcock agree with her patron, George Galloway? Or does she agree with her other patron, Owen Jones?

One could go on. But, with yesterday's, these ought to do. For now.

Georgie Girl?

I have not yet decided whether or not to contest the next General Election, but some people seem to determined to ensure that I do.

Here in North West Durham, George Galloway has apparently transferred his affections from me to Laura Pidcock, after I dared to publicise, as a journalist, the concerns of other constituents that, since she had been endorsed as a potential Leader by Owen Jones, she might share his views on drugs, on prostitution, on pornography, and on gender as a matter of self-identification. George, by the way, does not share those views. But what about Laura?

Here are a few more issues on which George has very strong opinions, with some of which I agree wholeheartedly, with others to a more qualified extent, with others more in aspiration than anything else, and with others not at all. The question is, since George has joined those to whom Laura is the Heiress Presumptive, does she agree with them?

George Galloway has supported every rebellion by one or more pro-Brexit Labour MPs on the Brexit legislation. Has Laura Pidcock? She has certainly not participated in any of them, any more than, on balance, I would have done.

George Galloway unconditionally supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, about which I am much more ambivalent, to say the least, where academic and cultural life is concerned. What says Laura Pidcock?

George Galloway sees no acceptable solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict apart from a single state from the River to the Sea, in which everyone would have one vote and that would be that, whereas I regret that cannot see how that could ever be made to work. What does Laura Pidcock think?

Therefore, George Galloway opposed Grahame Morris's motion to recognise Palestine in 2014, although he did not actually turn up to vote on it, whereas I would have turned up to vote in favour of it. What would Laura Pidcock have done?

George Galloway advocates a vote for Sinn Féin on both sides of the Irish Border, matters on which I pass no comment, although I am critical of Sinn Féin's turn to austerity and to Eurofederalism in government. Does Laura Pidcock advocate a vote for Sinn Féin on both sides of the Irish Border?

George Galloway supports a legal presumption of equal parenting, as do I, and he supports Fathers 4 Justice as an organisation, whereas I keep my distance from some of its tactics, and therefore from it, as such. Does Laura Pidcock support a legal presumption of equal parenting? Does Laura Pidcock support Fathers 4 Justice as an organisation?

And George Galloway is totally opposed both to abortion and to assisted suicide. As am I. But is Laura Pidcock totally opposed both to abortion? Is Laura Pidcock totally opposed both to assisted suicide?

One could go on. But these ought to do. For now.

Cash Point

What's this I hear, that Lanchester is to lose its cash point? The buses have been slashed, the library is barely open, and now this. With access to the great cash point that is County Hall, what do certain people do to justify paying themselves more than they have left for at least 472 of their Teaching Assistants?

My Head On The Block

"You are blocked from following @georgegalloway and viewing @georgegalloway's Tweets." For saying that, "As a journalist, I am not here to be any politician's cheerleader." In reference to Laura Pidcock.

To Clarify Her Position

This was sent to several newspapers, but apparently none of them has printed it:

Dear Sir,

We note that our Member of Parliament, Laura Pidcock, has been endorsed by the influential left-wing journalist, Owen Jones, as a potential future Leader of the Labour Party, and thus as a potential future Prime Minister. From different points on the political spectrum, we therefore call on Ms Pidcock to clarify her position on several issues in relation to which Mr Jones has expressed highly controversial opinions. Those issues are drugs, prostitution, pornography, and the suggestion that gender ought to be a matter of self-identification.

Yours faithfully,

Adam J. Young, Burnopfield, County Durham

James Draper, Lanchester, County Durham 

The Enemy No More

At 70,000, the membership of the Conservative Party is around 15,000 lower than the population of the former District of Derwentside. Most of those members are old. Many of them are very, very old. The urban myth has to be got up that it was ever thus. But it was not. Even I can remember a time before this.

Help, however, is at hand. If you were one of North West Durham's 16,516 Conservative voters last year, then I might be looking for members of my staff after the next General Election. At constituency level, that staff would include members or supporters of each and all of the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, and any other Groups on Durham County Council that had representation at either County or Parish level here in North West Durham.

No one who was currently employed by Laura Pidcock need necessarily fear for his or her livelihood. Those staff would be free to stay, and they would be free to go. Those who went, would go of their own free will.

Teaching Assistance

If I were a Member of Parliament, then I would not only table a motion demanding the dismissal of Toby Young, but I would read out the tweets that he had been furiously deleting, tweets that would have precluded his appointment as a Teaching Assistant. At the very least, in view of that fact, he ought to be paid no more than one pound below the salary of any of the 472 of Durham County Council’s Teaching Assistants who have now lost 23 per cent of their pay. The same is true of the members of Durham County Council, whose allowance should be reduced to that level.

But then, I would do a lot of things if I were a Member of Parliament. I would identify in each ward of the former Districts of Derwentside and Wear Valley a number of projects equal to the former number of District Councillors, so as to campaign in support of those projects. The necessary support for each and all of those projects, together with justice for the 472, and together with bringing Volkswagen’s production for the British market to County Durham after Brexit, would be the price of my support for any Government in the hung Parliament that, on the current figures that have now been in place for quite some time, remains the most likely outcome of the next General Election.

My Westminster office would be a national and international centre for the formulation, the articulation and, where possible, the implementation of the alternative to neoliberal economic policy and to neoconservative foreign policy. My own preference is strongly for economic equality and international peace through the democratic control of the means to those ends, recognising the leading roles of the working class in the struggle for equality, and of the working class and the youth in the struggle for peace. In short, I am firmly a man of the Left. But I would provide a national and international platform for a wide variety of perspectives opposed to politically chosen austerity and to wars of political choice. Many of the strongest influences on my own thinking have come, and continue to come, from what would at first sight appear to be the opposite end of the political spectrum.

In the same spirit, my constituency staff, drawn from throughout the constituency and based in every part of it, would include members or supporters of each and all of the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, and any other Groups on Durham County Council that had representation at either County or Parish level here in North West Durham. No one who was currently employed by Laura Pidcock need necessarily fear for his or her livelihood. Those staff would be free to stay, and they would be free to go. Those who went, would go of their own free will.

Fares Fair

The biggest hike in rail fares in five years arrived today, as the abysmal Transport Secretary flew out to Qatar. With the cost of HS2 diverted to reconnecting many towns to the rail network, we need the renationalisation of the rail services as each franchise came up for renewal, and thus at no cost, as the backbone of a rebuilt network of public transport, eventually free at the point of use, and prior to that requiring the approval of the House of Commons for any increase in fares. Make it happen.