I have not even watched the video yet. I am dw lol :). My only issue with labour is following bush into war and brown selling the gold to china and Gordon Brown estate agents sighns popping up after everywhere. They did at least pull a profit on a budget once.
They won't accept donations by debit card, only PayPal. I've been banned from PayPal but I did try to donate. Perhaps they can allow donations by other means? I have signed up to their mailing list though
So glad you have left labour! Every time people join us who understand that the major parties are imperialist global corporatist parties is always a great thing to have happen!
@PlanetaryCitizen. I don’t believe you. It’s as simple as that. This is one of those letter-writing campaigns. So obvious and so clumsy, it actually makes you laugh. Who would admit to being a fool for so many years ? And who deserts the Army on the very brink of victory ? Think about it.
I’ve struggled with the concept of supporting Labour in order to oust the Tories. Struggled to the point where I felt I didn’t know enough to make the right decision, but I couldn’t ignore the simple fact that Starmer is a liar and I don’t want him running the country. This has helped me realise that there are options!
This situation is because of the first past the post system. People can never vote for the party they truly believe in. We end up with the worst politicians and worst political system which does not represent the voting percentage. And there is no ambition from either side for this to change. So who should I vote for? If I vote Labor I would be voting for something I don't fully support. If I vote for a small party I will be throwing my vote away. If I don't bother voting I would become one of the sad people who don't take involvement in the situation. I am stuck. I will most likely vote for the spoilt ballot protest, like I did in the police commissioner election.
There are two options for Government - Labour or Tory, you don't get any more choice than that. We have a 1st past the post electoral system and no amount of serious thought will change that fact before the coming election. Don't waste your vote. If you're lucky enough to live in a constituency where the non-Tory candidate is SNP or Lib Dem, or you live in Brighton, then you won't have to vote Labour.
Basically what benolifts says. I shall be voting for Labour in the GE because voting Green takes a vote from Labour away and aids the Tories to get back in. Plus, I want to actually see the Tories punished with an Earth-shattering loss at the next election. On that morning after the election results night, I want to be eating a full English, drinking fresh orange juice and watching Tory MPs getting fired on breakfast TV! I will vote Green in local elections and if we get PR (which must happen some day soon as FPTP looks increasingly undemocratic and archaic), I will vote Greens in general elections.
@DylanusPrime. Here’s the difference. I was disappointed by Corbyn’s limp performance as Leader, his failure to convince the “undecideds”, his little band of favourites, the questionable way he played the race card, his lazy assumption that he needn’t bother working - that he was simply going to float into Number Ten on a wave of discontent. But I was still prepared to vote Labour because nothing else came near. I held on. I wish you hero-worshippers could find the same intestinal fortitude.
After 30 years as a member of the Labour Party, 11 years as a branch secretary and 21 years as a Reading Borough Councillor, holding various positions, including Mayor of Reading and Chair of planning, I was suspended on a Starmer false charge of antisemitism, that finished my political career in a single stroke, so I understand what you are saying. I too will be voting Green.
I'm truly sorry for your horrible experience and that of everyone else who have been falsely accused and hounded out. Who would want to be part of this awful iteration of Labour! I tore up my membership when RLB lost out on the leadership because I could foresee what was coming down the track. I decided to just give money to my union and I donated to union action funds to help keep strike action going. Then came the Labour Leaks and proved my point about the snakes extant in the organisation. It's not pleasant having your worst guesses confirmed. 😢
Cruel and heartless, cynical beyond belief. This motley crew of soulless power-hungry charlatans have hijacked the Labour Party. Tony Benn must be spinning in his grave at the actions of his son. Beggars belief, but take comfort in the fact that you’re no longer tainted by association with these devils
I voted conservative last election and I don't regret my decision (Corbyn YUCK!!) but imo the Tories have been really disappointing, especially on the economy. This year I'm proudly voting for Keir Starmer. He's exactly the sort of realistic, no-nonsense politician this country needs
Very inspiring Owen. I've been contemplating voting Green all my life but always succumbed to the "tactical vote" of labour, following step with my family and friends to avoid Tories at all costs. You've convinced me that there is no better time to vote with your heart than now.
Progressives should vote Green, conservatives should vote Reform. Break the two party state and bring back politicians that actually represent their respective members of the electorate.
@@CarboKill Can’t you see ? Our country is sinking by the hour.This is no time to start mucking about. This is a lot like 1939 , when we were facing destruction. We closed ranks in the face of the common enemy. We came through and then we elected the most successful, most reformist Labour government in History.
Jeremy Corbyn condemned attacks by Hamas, but he won't condemn Hamas itself. In 2017 Corbyn condemned bombings by the IRA, but he wouldn't condemn the IRA itself. If you're wondering why Corbyn kept losing general elections, that could be your answer.
The problem for Corbyn was that he was too far left for most of the electorate. To get into power, you have to appeal to the middle ground, and not just the card-carrying members.
@@harrybarrow6222how come if socialism is so evil the Labour Party in the 2017 GE garnered more votes than any Party the history of the 'British' Parliament? It was only the corupt FPTP electoral system that kept Labour from a massive majority. In fact the tory party, which has misgoverned the British state for the last 100 years has never achieved as many votes as Corbyn did in 2017.
Re the two child cap on child benefit and Starmer not removing it. “He did it to sound tough. Tough on who? On kids. Sorry, tough on poor kids.” I think this alone tells us all we need to know about Starmer. ‘Nuf said. I’m voting Green Party, or Plaid Cymru, as I have done for the last 12 years.
@@Psmith-ek5hq And what difference would that make, sweetie? Are you going to spit the tired old "champagne socialist" argument, straight from the BNP playbook?
Yes lad! Very well-spoken on this. I know I’m more green-leaning than any other UK party so I’ll be sure to exercise my right to vote this upcoming election
The Jeremy Corbyn manifesto won awards and was talked about on TV shows around the world. It was a vision of hope and social values. THAT is what I want.
@@DavidH175 I guess you'll believe whatever suits your agenda, but the facts are different from your opinions. before the establishment media with help from Labour MPs sought to destroy him, this happened... Corbyn's 40.5% majority was larger than that attained by Tony Blair in 1994. His margin of victory was said to be "the largest mandate ever won by a party leader", though no previous Labour leader had been elected with so little support from their own MPs.
I relate to this a lot. I was a labour member since I was old enough to be and was even a Councillor at one point. I cannot stand to see what the party has turned into 🥲
Well done Owen. I had a conversation with my niece some years back as she came of age to vote. She said that she didn’t know how to vote. She said she didn’t like Labour but didn’t see the alternative. What’s more, many of her friends felt (feel) the same. I told her that voting Green wasn’t a wasted vote if young people, sick of two party politics, vote Green in their droves. They may not win overall but they can show Westminster that the time has come to climb off their high horses and pay attention. I hope they listen to you.
50 years as a Member, I resigned at Christmas. I am bereft, but Starmer, the most untrustworthy member of parliament, of any hue. A complete Charlatan. I will be donating.
I cancelled my Labour Party membership on the day Kier was appointed. I voted Green Party in every election before Jeremy Corbyn was elected, and voted for Labour only in his years of hope. Will never vote Labour again unless they become socialist again.
Same, 38 now and my first two general elections I voted Lib Dem, based on their policies, particularly abolishing tuition fees as I was a student. Since their coalition with the Tories I voted Green, except when Corbyn was Labour leader.
I cancelled mine when Rebecca Long-Bailey was sacked for rightfully saying US police were being taught techniques such as the knee on the neck by Israelis.
The Jeremy Corbyn who took money from the mullahs in Iran while they were arresting and torturing people who voted against the ruling party, and who almost never voted with his own party? That party guy?
I was also surprised! But that is a pretty strong family history, cats and all. So I guess it's kinda comparable to quitting on close relatives. You keep hoping they'll come around for longer than you have reason to believe that is a realistic prospect.
The complete lack of humanity exhibited by most MPs towards the plight of Palestinians and migrants is indicative of the contempt with which they no doubt hold us all. You are correct, Owen - Labour has ceased to exist as a representative of working class people
Foreign policy is often just a platform for posturing. We can’t actually do anything . Unless we are ready to go to war. Be practical - do the things you CAN do. Make sure the children don’t go to bed hungry. . Revolutionise Public Services as Premier Attlee did. Examine the recent failures of policing and education. There’s plenty of real work to do right here, under your nose. You have the right and the responsibility. But you want the soft option - a nice job on the prison library.
“Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself” - Tony Benn... In today's society those that speak of hope are denounced and removed, those that preach fear are elevated.. A Sign of our times, in whatever country this finds you..
He MUST shift to Workers party if his efforts are to be worth anything, if he wants to help Britain. Waffling around without a party is stupid and would sum him up if he remains there. Shift to both Andrew Feinstein's "collective" and The Workers Party. Don't go, regularly Establishment, quadopoly+ Greens.
@@Greebstreebling absolutely agree. It is no longer doing what it was originally created for - serving it's people. So many decisions taken without our consent. Wars, austerity, etc. The entire system needs to be thrown out and a new system that actually serves the normal population created. The day I saw food banks in the UK I knew we had major issues ahead and it's only getting worse.
This is the problem many have. I'd never vote liberal cos I can't ever forget what they did! At the last election I voted Yorkshire independent candidate that amassed 230 votes! Likely this time I won't bother like the 40% that don't.
Labour is not the party of the working classes. I decided not to renew my membership twenty years ago because I realised they no longer fitted my expectations of a governing party. The difference between Labour and Conservative just isn't visible anymore. Labour is no longer a viable party in my opinion
The Tories are the real party for the working class. Just look a lot closer and you'll wake up one day. It's the party of aspiration and encourages people to better themselves.
Jeez.......'Powerhouse Owen'.....thanks for your very powerful, astonishing insight as ever....but this is on fire. ...me and my family are always right behind you Owen....and thank heavens you are here for us right now ......xx💐🥷💐
There are plenty worse than Starmer in Labour, unfortunately. In my opinion it's a systemic issue in large part centred around our undemocratic voting system which privileges swing voters in marginal constituencies. A voting system like STV (the single transferable vote) which is proportional (so all votes count equally) and where you can rank the parties in order of preference (which would virtually get rid of tactical voting and safe seats) is the key to the change we all want to see.
@@jgmediting7770 So you want Labour to only represent leftists, that means you want Labour to never ever win power. May I ask what is the point of that? By the way, Labours policies working people: collective wage bargaining end fire rehire end zero hr contracts repeal anti union laws That’s real Labour policies
I quit after nearly 40 years after they betrayed Jeremy Corbyn. And yes because of the stance of our political parties on Palestine I had already decided to go green or independent. I was hoping Jeremy would start a new party but I guess he’s probably left it too late now x
I'm with you entirely on this. My option is to lean towards finding a reliable people's party now Labour is about as left as my right foot. K Starmer is the most unrepresentative Labour leader we have had.
I left labour in 2000, and joined The Green Party, I joined again in 2016 when we once again had a socialist leader. I have now not only left again in 2019, and joined The Green Party again, I am now a Green Party District Councillor. The Only Party that speaks for the many, but also our dying planet too. We desperately need more Green Party MP's in Westminster, to look after the many and our planet!
I quit when Starmer became Leader: I transferred my membership to the Greens. Labour are chasing Tory voters with Tory policies. There are one or two socialists left in Labour, but they won't be there very long.
The Green party is not socialist and the attempt to make it so is every bit as dishonest as you accuse Starmer's Labour party of being. How is a Party which calls itself Green but is in fact Socialist any different from a Party which calls itself Labour but is in fact Social Democrat?
@@Onequietvoice "Green party is not socialist [...]" "How is a Party [sic] which calls itself Green but is in fact Socialist [...]" Can you even string a sentence which makes sense?
Labour agenda: Collective wage bargaining repeal anti union laws end fire re hire end zero hour contracts dynamic alignment with EU increase in childcare subsidies grants for nurses reform HoL state owned green energy company None of the above are Tory policies. I guess you don’t much about British politics
I voted Labour for 49 years. Wouldn’t believe this day would ever come. Why will no one admit the only reason Jerry lost election was Brexit. I became a paying member when he was elected. He even came to our town. The only politician I have ever seen. Wish momentum and all the other activist could get together. Thanks for the glimmer of hope with this campaign.
I am 60 years of age, have been Labour my entire life until Jeremy Corbyn was ousted and I ended my membership. To see what Labour has become is heartbreaking and certainly do not represent my values, my wellbeing, my future, and their recent/current ethos is blue to the core. To see how they have sided with Israel against the Palestinians and supported genocide is sickening. My trust, always, is with George Galloway.
Me too. He's got my vote. I'm all for a Galloway government and the legal prosecution and long term imprisonment of the majority of Tory, Labour, Lib dem, SNP and Green party MPs
💯 true, and many others should follow your morals when deciding to vote. The genocide upon Palestinians is the most sickening in history, and both Labour and Conservative are complicit in aid and abetting this biggest crime of humanity..... never vote any of these two parties, even if they decide to change! George Galloway or independents backed by him should be the only representatives for this country and far afield.
I ended my 40 year membership of the Labour Party when STARMER was made leader. I didn’t vote for him but my husband did, but he died in August 2023 not before he saw the error of his ways.
I've known office workplace middle managers who have used deceptive tactics in the style of Keir Starmer. Keir is at his core a corporate, civil service career-orientated management type.
Agree with every single word you have said. I was going to deliberately ruin my vote with the words "this is no choice -democracy has failed" as a protest but I prefer your suggestion. So I'll be supporting you plan.
Voted Labour for 30 years, never again! Campaign against Corbyn was disgusting but Kier's handling of the Gaza situation is unforgivable 😡 "Kier liar" 🤥🤥🤥 "Chameleon Karmer" 🦎🙄
I also quit Labour once Kier began culling Socialists under the "Antisemitism" (read scapegoat scandal). Now I'm a Green Party member. It hurt me too. I was raised in the 80's. I sung The Red Flag at every Labour Party Conference I went to. Starmer has made it clear people like me aren't welcome in their party... And as a disabled person I'm fed up of being used as a scapegoat (along-side immigrants) for MP's bad decisions.
It’s extremely sad but you made the right decision. If a party does not support your politics or values, leave. The best way to put pressure on the Labour Party to move left is to vote for a left-wing party. The model is how the Brexit Party, and now Reform Party, has moved the Tories to the right. Starmer will interpret votes for Labour as a mandate for reheated Thatcherism, rather than an anti-Tory vote.
I couldn't stand Mrs Thatcher but to say Starmer is like Mrs Thatcher is an insult to Mrs Thatcher. At least she thought she was putting her country first and I don't remember her lying either. Starmer is a disgrace.
Voting to the left of Labour seems like a reasonable strategy and creating pressure from the left like UKIP and Reform have done on the right looks like the way to go while we're stuck in FPTP. But we seem to have a real problem getting that going - is the left less focussed, more prone to splintering into sub-factions? Dunno but I guess we can only keep on trying.
The best way is to stay in the party and push the tiller left by supporting the MP's in Socialist Campaign Group within the Labour party. Anything else is a complete waste of time and helping the Tories.
It isn't a choice. Whoever is in government people like this have to be against. That's how they make their money. His whole business model breaks if his side is in power. Same as Farage and people like that. As long as you hate current leader then other people who hate current leader pay you to talk about current leader That's the grift. If he came out as a Green and the Greens won he'd support someone else
Agree! The issue I have with the Greens is that Polanski is a Baddiel fan. I was present when he was asked his position on Israel/Gaza and Polanski referred the person to Baddiel's book. That was the end of my brief flirtation with this incarnation of the Greens.
*There can never be a true alternative to the major two parties until we change our electoral system fundamentally.* First-Past-The-Past (the system by which we elect parliament in this country) ensures, essentially as a mathematical fact, that there will be two major parties and that the parliament will be massively imbalanced versus their actual popular support. Vote splitting, the spoiler effect, the tendency towards tactical voting, wasted votes, gerrymandering, the list goes on. It's a broken system where 3rd parties cannot gain a footing and parliament can never truly represent the variety of opinion that is present in society.
Owen: You don't need to be a body language *expert* to be able to "read" Starmer in any interview - his face (and his eyes in particular) say it all. When put in a corner on policy, you can readily see the fear in his face.
Excellent excellent Owen, I believe in all you said, and Labour under Keir has nothing but contempt for our beliefs! Shame on Keir Starmer and his supporters in the Shadow cabinet
It's truly hilarious how your average midwit Labour drone calls any successful Labour leader a "Tory" If you discredit Starmer and Blair as Tories then Labour haven't won an election since 1974. That's 50 YEARS AGO. By your own definition of what constitutes "Real" Labour your party has been a political irrelevance for half a century. What a self own.
2:46 Everyone thought Labour had it in the bag under Kinnock and the Tories got back in. Unlike Owen Jones some of us can't afford another five years of this shower.
I absolutely agree with you. This is a complete failure for the Labour movement. Like you I have abandoned Labour and am no longer a member. I voted for Starmer and strongly regret it. I agree this lot is just Tory continuation.
Love how the BBC reported on this video, they put it on their front page for less than an hour and then buried the article hehe. So glad Owen made this video, it's exactly how I feel. Thank you.
He's perfectly correct: who in the entire lifetime of the party could've expected to hear the most senior party leaders espousing an admiration for Margaret Thatcher, and believe they have any socialist values whatsoever!
@@RobinHarris-nf4yv: "Keir Starmer praises Margaret Thatcher for bringing ‘meaningful change’ to UK Labour leader says former PM ‘set loose our natural entrepreneurialism’ in appeal to Tory voters to back him" The Guardian, Sat 2 Dec 2023 23.10 GMT
@@iandeare1 you haven’t quoted the article, only an opinion piece in the Guardian, which says: “In the article, Starmer pointed to Labour prime ministers of the past - Tony Blair and Clement Attleee - as well as Thatcher, as examples of how politicians can effect meaningful change.” The words “examples of how politicians can effect meaningful change” is not praise. By the way it’s intelligent of Starmer to mention Thatcher when writing a piece in the Telegraph trying to attract Conservative voters, without which Labour can’t win. Do you know anything about political strategy?
@@RobinHarris-nf4yv: I didn't think it neccessary to quote the full article to you, but seeing as you apparently need it: "Margaret Thatcher sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism." The Telegraph, 2 December 2023 8:00pm PS apart from this response; I now refuse to engage with political trolls, with no apparent history, or social media footprint, espousing the official party line; as I've found it, both in my experience as a senior trade union officer, and as a journalist, a pointless excercise in dogma, without the benefit of being an educational debate - how's that for a political strategy
@@iandeare1 Thank you for admitting Keir Starmer did not praise Margaret Thatcher as you originally claimed. I note you conveniently didn’t point out Starmer also referred to Clement Attlee In regards to political strategy, in order for Labour to win a GE, they have to gain at least 120 marginal seats. Labour simply can’t do that by alienating the middle ground and disaffected Conservative voters. You have called me a “political troll” without stating where or why. You say you refuse to respond again, which shows you are scared of debating somebody who has a different opinion. If you are only willing to debate people who agree with you, you aren’t going to learn anything new. I would love this country to have a fairer wealth distribution and public utilities back under public ownership….but the public won’t vote for that currently, so I prefer to just get this right wing populist govt out of power. I’m surprised that’s not your priority as well? If you don’t respond, I wish you all the best anyway
I’ve had the exact same conflict. Everyone is going to vote Labour out of frustration with the Tories but they are the same. I have to vote with my conscience. Simply cannot vote for someone who doesn’t support a ceasefire and is happy to support withdrawing water and food from 2 million people. Green is probably the way
@@SubjectiveFunny🤔Why do so? Please give your reasons, using the words from Reform election materials . . . For example, Britain to leave the European Court of Human Rights. Now continue . . . 😠!
Your decision to leave Owen has a massive amount of integrity behind it, bravo to you - you've given others a direction to follow & lets hope they follow in their millions because this Nation does never ever support such crimes as genocide!! 😢 Shame, deep shame on the Labour Party & supportive members 😮
For most of us, it takes a long time to give up on our close relatives, which is what it sounds to me like this is comparable to. As for the UK and "never ever" genocides, ahem, you might want to talk to some Maori, Awabakal or people from countless other groups around the world 🙃
You didn’t quit Labour. Labour quit being Labour. Exactly the thing happened to me, mate! Not the same country but our party connection is about the same. Your right mate, we need to organise! The question is just how and where.
Thank you I hope voters in England really listen I live in Scotland and will be voting for the SNP if I lived anywhere else I would definitely vote Green or Independent 🏴🇵🇸
Govt by People's Referenda: Peaceful Occupation of our Capitals until it's installed, or run Mascot Candidates Make it an annual event on Oct 14 Or YOU can continue to ask why no one is doing anything *YOUR CALL*
After Iraq, I decided to never vote for Blair or anyone who stayed in his cabinet at the time. So Brown didn't get my vote either. But over recent years, with the Blair contingent in their dotage, I allowed myself to be lured back, and voted Labour again - including at the last several general elections. But there's no way I can vote for this lot. Starmer is, like Boris Johnson, not fit for public office. The Greens will get my vote at the next election.
Whoever was in power would have done the same under pressure from US. Do not kid yourself it would have been otherwise. So childish to say Starmer is Blair. Pathetic.
@@neilmahoney7458Why? Other nations resisted US pressure to join in Iraq (e.g. France) or to condemn Israel (Republic of Ireland), and we have resisted pressure to join US wars in the past (Vietnam). Additionally, the US has failed to come to our aid in wars multiple times - e.g. World War 2, and the Falklands war, and has at times actively worked against us (Suez). We are an independent nation, not a US vassal - and as such, we should be in full control of our foreign policy.
Organize. Taking from the US Bernie Sanders campaign, "not me, us." Real change starts with real people. In the meantime, make sure that your MP knows no peace from you as you fill their inbox with letters and petitions.
Well done Owen...I joined in 1981 inspired by Tony Benn,l departed after Tony Blair lied us into the mass murder in Iraq,rejoined because of Jeremy Corbyn and departed when I realized Starmer was a deceitful snake who cannot be trusted to keep his promises.. I will actively campaign against Labour and Tories now that I have the wisdom of a young nearly 70 year old man...Starmer under Labour will be greatly damaged in the next 2 years...change is on the way...
LOL, the delusion of you people. Lucky you have zero power and influence otherwise you could be dangerous. Looking forward to the GE when Scotland takes a huge stride back towards Westminster and the SNP shysters are hammered.
Absolutely! fascinating time to be alive in Scotland. I'm in a historically Tory-dominated area and we're seeing the shift happen clear as day. Less sympathy and ties to the SE. A change is in the air due to both the young and old agreeing that the Westminster bubble does little for us. Across the water is the same. It won't happen over night but talk to the average Joe in the street and the change of perspective is palpable.
Hi Owen, I have been following the New Statemen and I find it baffling that in a-lot of Andrew Marr's videos of him pointing out that Labour will be a radical party once they come into power. None of the things I've read about have really proven to me that when they come into power, that this will be the case. What you have just pointed out in your RU-vid video in a nutshell it is spot on particularly your point on a labour majority, we have seen time and time again what such a large majority does. And this is something that I do find terrifying. It is refreshing that we have a political commentator whom is willing to point out these things.
You know, right now I just feel so dull. My head is actually all over the place. I’m not pretending to understand the nuances of politics but I’m sick to death of Tory lies, greed and corruption. I just don’t understand at how not voting Labour will still see the Tories out.
This is brilliant Owen. I left Labour a few years ago when they refused to see what a wonderfully kind man JC was. (Not really a leader but certainly not anti-Semitic). My decision was vindicated so many times since then.
🤔 If Jeremy Corbyn was ‘not really a leader’ please suggest what qualities a leader must have to succeed, when dignity, ethics, honesty, morality and political principles are ignored? Is there any current politician since 2010 you would recommend as leader?
In many respects I believe he did this, so that the Labour Party were pretty close to winning in 2017. Many people really like what he had to offer. Of course 2019 was a disaster but so much of that had to do with Brexit and Johnson’s lies about that.
