[Abernathy]

Conspiracies abound. How come nobody knew about this recording of Azhar Ali saying that the Israelis allowed Hamas to massacre people on 7 October so that they could destroy Gaza, until it was made public by the Daily Mail ?

Who made the fucking recording in the first place?

Could the Mail have been sitting on the tape for weeks, even just waiting until nominations for the Rochdale by-election had closed to publicise it in order to maximise the damage to Labour?

You might think so, I couldn't possibly comment.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

I didn't do a fucking thing.

Yeah, right...

[Malcolm Armsteen]

I don't think that what Azhar Ali said was anti-semitic, it was anti-Netanyahu. Some Israeli organisations see that as the same thing, but it really isn't.

And I agree with him. Hamas' attack gave legitimacy to what has clearly been a massive land-grab and ethnic cleansing operation, as well as the most almighty punishment of civilians.

[Abernathy]

And I agree with him. Hamas' attack gave legitimacy to what has clearly been a massive land-grab and ethnic cleansing operation, as well as the most almighty punishment of civilians.

You think that the Hamas attack was deliberately allowed in order to acquire that legitimacy ?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Not at all.
I'm saying that it is well within the bounds of reason that Israel used it as an excuse - see all my previous comments on DORA.

[Abernathy]

Ta for clarifying. When you said that you agreed with Azhar Ali - who said he thought Israel had deliberately allowed the Hamas attack in order to acquire legitimacy for its subsequent actions in Gaza - I was somewhat taken aback.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Nah.
But I do think that Netanyahu is the sort of nasty cunt who would never hesitate from profiting from a disaster - never let a crisis go to waste - hence the DORA reference. I think he's been wanting to do this for some time (like always) and this isn't really about punishing Hamas (a bonus) or rescuing hostages, it's about more than that.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Is Jon Craig auditioning for the New York Times here?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Jon Craig has a great love of Labour-bashing.
The man is a cunt, and nowhere near as clever as he thinks he is. Treats everything as a game...

ex-Express.

[Abernathy]

Remind me, Malc, what is DORA ?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Defence Of the Realm Act 1914/15

Allegedly long in preparation, the bucket list of reactionary measures desired by the establishment, enacted as a response to WW1 breaking out.

Oxford History

Legislation (1914, 1915, 1916) by the British Parliament during World War I. Under the Acts government took powers to commandeer factories and directly control all aspects of war production, making it unlawful for war-workers to move elsewhere. Left-wing agitators, especially on Clydeside, were “deported” to other parts of the country. Strict press censorship was imposed. All Germans had already been interned but war hysteria led tribunals to harass anyone with a German name or connection (for example, the writer D. H. Lawrence) and to imprison or fine pacifists (for example, Bertrand Russell). The Act of May 1915 gave wide powers over the supply and sale of intoxicating liquor, powers which were widely resented but which nevertheless survived the war. An Emergency Powers Act of 1920 confirmed the government's power to issue regulations in times of emergency and in 1939 many such regulations were reintroduced.

My belief is that reactionary governments always have contingency plans for overturning liberal legislation, they just need to find the right crisis to justify it.

[Samanfur]

Labour suspends second parliamentary candidate over Israel comments

I know this one personally, and've been out campaigning with his wife. I work in his target constituency, although I don't live there.

I genuinely didn't see this coming. The news broke as I left work, so it'll be interesting to see if anyone I know over there knew more than I did the next time I'm in.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Precious vase...

[NevTheSweeper]

Bold prediction there from “NevTheSweeper”.

I’m no Piers Morgan or Rishi Sunak, but would you fancy a small wager on your prophecy of a Labour defeat at the election (I don’t think that’s remotely likely).

Shall we say £100, Mr. Sweeper?

I'm not a betting man, however, I might be tempted....

[Abernathy]

That a bet, then? Agreed ?

[NevTheSweeper]

Labour suspends second parliamentary candidate over Israel comments

I know this one personally, and've been out campaigning with his wife. I work in his target constituency, although I don't live there.

I genuinely didn't see this coming. The news broke as I left work, so it'll be interesting to see if anyone I know over there knew more than I did the next time I'm in.

How long would it take before Labour has to restart ALL of the candidates' selection process? What would happen if Sunak called an election now? Labour is now toast....

[Abernathy]

Do we have a bet ?

[davidjay]

Do we have a bet ?

He won't pay. He never does.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Labour suspends second parliamentary candidate over Israel comments

I know this one personally, and've been out campaigning with his wife. I work in his target constituency, although I don't live there.

I genuinely didn't see this coming. The news broke as I left work, so it'll be interesting to see if anyone I know over there knew more than I did the next time I'm in.

You'll never guess who's gone off at half-cock.

[Samanfur]

A community meeting, not a party meeting.

I'm not surprised that Jake Berry is lying about it, of course.