Diane Abbott quits the shadow cabinet.

Perhaps forum members interested in political discussion in regard to the Labour party would once again get on better if all returned to the "Sensible Discussion on the Labour Leadership Hopefuls MK2".

That thread at least remained reasonably respectful and very respectful at the start.

Voting has now been in progress for the last two days with some very interesting comments being made. ?

I suppose maybe DA was around earlier and therefore was exposed to more unpleasant stuff. PP benefits from ( I hope) a more inclusive and fair minded society possibly?

Chewbacca
Reading many of the threads lately, you are absolutely spot on.

GaGaJo
No, put quite simply, you are wrong.

All the criticism of Diane on GN is political and none of it is racist.

Although I acknowledge that bringing her difficult private life about her son into it is a step too far. But the private lives of many politicians of all parties, all races, colours and creeds has been very thoroughly discussed on GN too.

No.

Why is race referred to as a card game? I don't understand that.

Oh do leave that hackneyed word alone. 'Woke' is so 'boomer'.

Diane Abbott and Priti Patel: They're both black/brown. Both MPs. Both female. Both born into immigrant families; one from Jamaica and one from Uganda. Both from the same working class background. Both university educated. One is a Labour MP, the other is a Tory MP. Both have been criticised for both professional and personal mistakes in the press, by the public and on this forum.

It's evidently racist to subject the Labour Party woman to further criticism but it's not racist to criticise the other woman, indeed, anyone who tries to highlight the disparity, will be told that there haven't been any disparaging remarks made about PP or that posters have spent a lot of time searching for the evidence. Demands are made as to why the achievements of DA cannot be recognised, but no mention of the achievements of PP is acknowledged. Why is that?

And then we get The reason so many on here can't acknowledge DA's achievements is very simple. Racism.

I would counter that with there is selective racism on here. If you don't happen to like the politics of the woman who is being criticised; that's fine, criticise her as much as you like. But not if the woman is from the political party that you support; that's definitely racism.

What astounding hypocrisy from those of you who flatter yourself that you're so terribly socially aware and politically woke. You're not. You're as blinkered and blind as those you shout down.

GagaJo Tue 25-Feb-20 17:17:59

'No, actually. Trisher ISN'T wrong.

The reason so many on here can't acknowledge DA's achievements is very simple. Racism.

Just because another racist agrees with you, doesn't make you right'
--

You are doing it AGAIN!

Calling me a ' RACIST'

Not only do you twist what posters scribe you do not soak in what anybody who does not agree with you is saying.

You are throwing the word ' RACIST' around like bloody confetti.

trisher Tue 25-Feb-20 16:40:27

' So why not acknowledge Diane Abbot for her acheivements POGS? Working class girl. went to Cambridge. Fast tracked n Civil Service. First Black woman MP at a time when racism and misogyny were rife.
All irrelevant because you didn't like her sending her son to private school, or for some other reason you don't like to face?
----
'So why not acknowledge Diane Abbot for her acheivements POGS'

The only achievement I can see is Dianne Abbott was the first black female MP in Parliament. She was pleasant enough on the settee with Micheal Portillo on This Week.
---
' Working class girl. went to Cambridge. Fast tracked n Civil Service.' .

Yes I see that as an achievement, for ' ALL ' working class MP's and those through education or strength of character have done well for themselves.
----
'All irrelevant because you didn't like her sending her son to private school,'

There is nothing ' relevant' about it in the first place, I do not like the hypocrisy of those who tell others what not to do whilst doing the same. Why don't you understand the likes of Dianne Abbott, Shami Chakrobarti et al who want to see the back of private schools are two faced if they do not practice what they preach.
--

' or for some other reason you don't like to face?'

If I have interpreted that correctly, not sure how I could do otherwise, then you have joined the cabal of posters who like to call others racist without having the guts to say so outright. It is becoming a trait on Gransnet again of late. .

As I said to another who tried the same tactic:-

Usually that form of attack is used when the attacker feels uncomfortable and their only avenue out of the situation is to make it nasty and personal.

They made a great double act, didn't they oopsminty.

Going back to isms - they should not be used as a deflection away from genuine criticism of a politician.
Every politician's words and actions should be subject to scrutiny because they work for us.

Most of the criticism I have ever seen has been about Diane is as a politician but then I do not inhabit the nastier more abusive sites online.

I must say I used to like DA on the Andrew Neil show with Michael Portillo.

Opal Along with reporting posts they don’t like/can’t answer their other refuge is resorting to “ism”. They keep it close at hand for when the going gets tough. It’s a handy little word as it can be attached to a variety of other words to shut down discussion. The other is phobic/phobia. They never touch their keyboards without them.

Although some of her political opinions disgust me I applaud Nancy Astor for being the first woman to take her seat in the H of C (not the first elected that was Constance Markievitz) The only possible reason I could see for anyone not recognising DAs achievements is racism although if someone can give me another reason I will consider it.

Ah the race card again. So predictable, and getting very boring. I'll just go and tell my lovely friend, who is black, that I've been labelled as a racist on here, it'll make her laugh . The pack dogs strike again - are you two joined at the hip???

trisher 17:56:34

Yes, she has achieved such a lot and was a trail blazer.
However, it has to be acknowledged that she has said and done some controversial things over the years which invite criticism.
Saying that about her does not make exclusive amongst MPs before anyone starts mentioning others from other parties.

However, perhaps there is something wrong with her health wise and she should have stood down as Shadow Minister before now, as soon as it became obvious that she was not coping for whatever reason.

No worries Trisher. They disgust me.

Those are the types that make me fear for my grandson, IF he grows up in the UK.

Sorry that followed you Gagajo still they know who I mean.

Same old, same old. Don't you Greek chorus ever get fed up of echoing others? Or is the sheer effort of thinking for yourself too much for you?

No, actually. Trisher ISN'T wrong.

The reason so many on here can't acknowledge DA's achievements is very simple. Racism.

Just because another racist agrees with you, doesn't make you right.

Game, set and match to POGS, without a doubt

100%. Epic fail Trisher. You’ve been owned as the younger generation would say ?

Another poster when challenged told me she wouldn’t come back on here to answer POG’S post as she didn’t wish to feed the beast- for that read “my hypocrisy has been exposed yet again so I’ll ignore it”.

Game, set and match to POGS, without a doubt .

So why not acknowledge Diane Abbot for her acheivements POGS? Working class girl. went to Cambridge. Fast tracked n Civil Service. First Black woman MP at a time when racism and misogyny were rife.
All irrelevant because you didn't like her sending her son to private school, or for some other reason you don't like to face?

trisher Tue 25-Feb-20 12:28:14

' Not on this thread Annie as I always pointed out to children we are now discussing what has been said here, bringing up what others have said, at other times, in an attempt to justify wrongdoing just doesn't work. Deal with this issue and I might comment. Which is why GN is much like an infant school class. Unwilling to tackle an issue (possibly because they know they are wrong) some try to deflect the subject. It's just plain boring.'
-

Then stop doing it.

trisher Tue 25-Feb-20 10:46:41

'WOW POGS you must spend an awful lot of time searching through threads'
---

Nope!

It's a current thread, did you not read that? A good memory is handy too.

There is nothing clearer or factual to point out hypocrisy than using the words from the horses mouth.