A Hierarchy of Victimhood and a Division Along Identity Lines
Newham Labour Parties have gone through some convulsions recently. In West Ham they have to be told how to behave at the start of every meeting. They have been warned that they should not cause offence, even if that offence is unintended.
This is not about ensuring that no-one is offended, just those in the list of protected isms and phobias that now abound in place of the working class.
In the victim Olympics, differing groups assert their virtue by association with their victimhood.
Except when they fall out.
Going back a short while we saw various of the comrades in West Ham GC exercised by the success of one ethnic group over another. In this case, the South Asian members seemed to take most of the top jobs. The group which lost out were those of African descent. They got nothing.
We have no way of knowing whether those who were elected would do a good job. That wasn’t the point. How well individuals are fitted for the roles they seek to perform is no longer relevant. What is relevant is how well members fit into the correct oppressed identity group.
Readers may recall that the same meeting gave rise to a situation in which a gay candidate was beaten for a LBGT role by a man who was “alleged” to be straight. This had some echoes in East Ham when selecting an Ethnic Minorities Officer. One of the members was Irish and female. We know that the Irish continue to suffer from the yoke of English imperialism and identify separately on any equal opportunities’ jobs form. So this particular member registered as one of a minority.
She also stood for the post, and won. Oh dear. How dare a white woman stand for such a post? Even if she is the object of historical English imperialism. Clearly it would block opportunities for Black and Asian members to get a chance at the top table. One year prior, only 10 of the 11 posts went to Asian candidates, one, the LGBT post went to a white candidate.
Is it now the case that factions in Newham are organising along ethnic and identity lines rather than political or ideological beliefs?