Corbyn the “Pied Piper”

I was as surprised as anyone at the result of the UK election and under normal circumstances would be overjoyed at the resurgence of Labour, the establishment of a desperately needed strong opposition and the rejection (well almost) of the ‘nasty party” and its ruinous policies.

However, let’s not forget Labour still lost its third election in a row, where many will argue that Corbyn still lost perhaps the most winnable election in an age, due to the sheer ineptitude of May and Co. She virtually offered the election to Corbyn, silver platter and all. That does not take away from his huge achievement, but does provide much needed perspective.

As a Jew and a long time Labour supporter, I cannot accept this man is good for the party, let alone the country, despite the recent success at the ballot box. Indeed his success only increases my concern. I desperately want to see a fairer society, better social care, a strong, well, resourced and well, managed NHS and importantly, better education, with free higher education for all. I believe that the railways should be nationalised, perhaps even utilities and the Post Office. I believe that those at the top should pay their share and I believe that power of the corporations and the excesses of the free market must be curbed by a responsible government.

I also believe that these things are not just desirable but deliverable as well. I do not believe however, that Corbyn and his cronies can or will deliver. On the contrary, I believe an emboldened Corbyn, his cronies and his enforcers will do untold damage to the party and indeed, the country.

When you get to the crux of the matter, for me it is about the man and those around him. Their credibility is highly questionable, given their ideology, their character and yes, their principles. Corbyn’s supporters argue passionately that he is a “man of principle”.

For me though, Jeremy Corbyn is a blinkered ideologue who picks and chooses his principles according to his world view. His and his close associates’ record of support for terrorist organisations and “armed struggle” is shameful, as is their admiration and support for the IRA, Hamas, Hezbollah, Putin’s Russia, Chavez’s Venezuela, Iran, even Assad’s Syria, take your pick; just some of the organisations and regimes for whom he has expressed, admiration, support or friendship. The evidence is there for any who care to see.

Corbyn is happy to take money and appear on Press TV the international mouth piece of the Iranian regime, which imprisons journalists, executes gays, stones young girls and helps the Syrian regime slaughter its own people. This is the height of hypocrisy from a man and his supporters who quite rightly attack the UK government for doing business with regimes like the Saudis. Quite simply, this is not the behaviour and these are not the “principles” of a suitable leader of the Labour Party, let alone the country.

When it comes to anti-Semitism, Corbyn has proven that he is either incapable or unwilling to tackle the spread of the “oldest hatred” within the party. In failing to act in any meaningful manner, Corbyn has alienated the vast majority of Jews in the UK, many of whom are traditional Labour voters. Moreover in brushing the issue of anti-Semitism under the carpet, Corbyn is facilitating a sickness within the party which will spread like a virus, where anti-Semitism never stops with the Jews.

For those of you who sit there and say, he’s not anti-Semitic, he is anti-Zionist, let me say this.

When you watch intimidation and outright persecution of Jewish member of your own Party and do nothing, you are anti-Semitic! When you accept blatantly anti-Semitic comments and actions from your political allies (e.g. Ken Livingstone) in your party, you are anti-Semitic! When you deny Jews the very same freedoms and right to self-determination as you promote for others, you are anti-Semitic!

When you call organisations that seek to kill Jews, wherever they may be (read statements by Hamas and Hezbollah), you are anti-Semitic! When you share platforms with Holocaust deniers and those who support suicide bombing in Israel, you are anti-Semitic and when you lay a wreath at the grave of a man responsible for planning the massacre of Israeli, Jewish athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, you are anti-Semitic!

So save me your platitudes and rationalisations. If I were a black man complaining about racism in the party, citing numerous examples you would not be so dismissive.  You would sit up and take notice.  You would be appalled.  You would call for action.  The same would apply if I was gay or Muslim or any other minority for that matter however, when it comes to Jews, well, you just can’t see it, or perhaps you choose not to.

Corbyn’s success sends a worrying message to Jews in the party and the country and should be a cause of great concern for all.

Regrettably, I view Corbyn as a “Pied Piper” who, having charmed a sizable population and lured them with promises akin to, “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens”, will lead the party and if given the chance, the country; right over a precipice.