Rarely a better way to promote policies for the many, than to be a candidate

Crispin Flintoff: You’ve written a powerful post on social media about how positive you feel about this expulsion. Can you tell us how you got to that way of feeling about this?

Jo Bird: Thanks Crispin, and it’s appalling how you’ve been treated and many other people across the country - members of the Labour Party who joined for all the right reasons and followed the Rulebook.

But I am delighted to say that the Labour Party expelled me a couple of days ago [19 November]. I’m still euphoric about it. I’ve been having non-stop parties, great conversations and being reunited with so many good comrades who are no longer members of the Party. All kinds of options are open to us, going forwards.

The Party said that they are expelling me for signing a petition and speaking at a meeting, like years ago. Three years ago, I spoke at a meeting that was organised by Labour Against the Witchhunt, and I’m glad I did that. The National Executive Committee only banned Labour Against the Witchhunt four months ago. But they’re applying this retrospective justice. It’s a complete breach of natural justice, of all sensible laws in all sensible countries. Nobody can understand the retrospective nature of that.

This is the fourth or fifth episode of intense hostility against me by the Labour Party. I’m glad that I’m free of that hostile environment. It’s been terrible. Jewish members of Jewish Voice for Labour, like myself, we are 31 times more likely to be subject to investigation for talking about the racism we face, for talking about antisemitism. [31 times] more likely than any other members of the Labour Party. It’s not an okay situation.

Catch yourselves on Labour! The Labour Party is expelling Jewish members - that’s antisemitism.

They are not taking into account human rights. Our rights of Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Association - that’s what I exercised when I spoke at a meeting, signed a petition and so on. I’m entitled to do that. The Labour Party should be upholding human rights, but it’s not.

The Labour Party is dead and dying as a vehicle for social justice. It’s not the same Party that many of us joined in 2015-2016. Labour is losing elections left, right and centre, up and down the country [because less people are voting for Red Tories.]

I do want to reassure the people who elected me. 61% of my ward re-elected me on a 13% vote share gain, just a few months ago last May. I’m still the councillor for Bromborough, New Ferry & Port Sunlight. I haven’t changed, my values haven’t changed. The things I stood for, that you voted for haven’t changed. I’m still for the many, not the few. I’m still opposed to cruel conservative cuts. I’m still promoting justice and equality. I’ll continue to do that as your independent councillor.

Thanks very much for having me on [Not The Andrew Marr Show]. I’m more than happy to talk to anyone at any time. If people need to talk to me anonymously that’s fine.

I feel free from this ridiculous oppressive regime that the Labour Party has become. It's like to remain a member you have to keep your head down. So what’s the point?

So, a lot of people are saying form a new party. [I'm not advocating another new Party.] My question back is ‘What is the party for?’

We have political parties, in my opinion, in this country, to:

1. Promote policy

Policies for the many, not the few. We’ve got our manifestos at a national level. At a local level, we just need to translate socialist solutions to what is happening in your ward. It’s not difficult to do as capitalism is battering our communities. So, it’s promoting policies 'For The Many, Not The Few'.

2. Secondly, a political party should build social movements.

Be part of [progressive] social movements around us. Black Lives Matter, school students, environmental campaigns [and trade union disputes]. More of that sort of thing. Contribute to that, reinforce that [because power comes from people’s collective action].

3. Thirdly, out of social movements, comes our candidates.

People who are willing and able to stand for election, to promote those policies, to promote them with a different platform.

I’ve been a candidate in five major elections in the last four years. It’s been brilliant, I’ve learnt loads. It [being a candidate] gives you a platform to promote the policies of socialism. It gives you a licence to go and deliver leaflets, to talk to the media, go through social media, make videos, talk to people face to face, local Facebook forums. All kinds of platforms. It's brilliant. There is rarely a better way to promote policies for the many, not the few, than to be a candidate.

And if you’re not able to be a candidate, then you can back candidates. You can back somebody to be a candidate. You can be their back-office support. You can do whatever your skillset is. Because it takes a team to run a successful campaign, to really put things out there, rather than merely being a name on the ballot paper. To win hearts, minds and votes, you need a candidate and a team with them.

4. Fourthly, we aim to win those elections.

We don’t have to win. I’ve lost more elections than I’ve won. The point is to stand and to promote the policies. Sometimes you get lucky, and you’re in the right place at the right time, and you win elections. You win some access to some levers of power. Winning is not the be-all and end-all. But you also win an increased platform. You get more access to media and your voice carries more weight. Your messages can go further.

So that’s kind of what I think the next gap is for our movement – is people being willing and able to be candidates. Seriously, have a good think about it, consider it, it doesn’t have to be a terrible onerous thing. It can be a really life affirming thing.

All the effort we put into dissing this and dissing that and how terrible the situation is or the Labour Party is - that effort can be put into positive things instead. It can be put into promoting the alternatives, standing for election and putting out those messages. Have a think about it and be in touch.

Crispin Flintoff: Thank you Jo. Good to see you looking so well on it.

28 November 2021