Mr Evans, First, how curious, our contributions arrived without a second between them!1. This thread began with my asking for clarification as to what occurred during the “investigation”. Nothing anyone has contributed has provided me with it. Certainly not your comment that the dossier was “very thin stuff”. Not a terribly closely-argued piece of textual analysis, is it!2. It was the complainant, not I, who accused Huq of racism. 3. You write: “Her record and words in the past give no indication of anti-Semitism”. We need to examine her record then. You have given your account of it. There are, however, unrelated matters that paint a different picture. I shall give an account of them. Not here. This thread is not about making a case for or against Rupa Huq in respect of anti-semitism. It is about whether the investigation that was conducted can enjoy credibility. 4. You write: “Peter Mason, a local councillor who has been a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn over anti-semitism is, to the best of my knowledge, happy with her as an MP.” I could quote a number of people who are not. And Mr Mason’s being a councillor in a Council led by Julian Bell is of itself no guarantee of integrity! Not that I wish to criticise Mr Mason. I and my neighbours are kept busy enough dealing with the “gang of three” who represent us. 5. You write: “Your demand for proof of innocence is never going to be met.”I never asked for proof of innocence. I asked for clarification as to what occurred during the “investigation”. That certainly has not been met. 6. You write: “I'm sure the complaint was looked into properly ….I’m sure you are sure. That is because you are disposed to be. I require evidence. 7. You continue: “the claim was made by Labour that it was independently assessed. Independently? By a barrister, you mean? The question is who paid him (if he was paid) and what he took to be in the interest of his client.8. You write: “It is highly unlikely that an internal Labour investigation would ever have ruled against a BAME female MP with a large majority who wasn't too vocal a critic of Corbyn unless the allegations were very serious and proven.”I think it unlikely it would have done anyway! And why would the fact that it was dealing with a BAME female make any difference? It shouldn’t, should it? It is, of course, taken into account by Labour when selecting candidates. 9. You write: “However, the facts speak for themselves - she clearly isn't an anti-semite. Which facts are you referring to? We are dealing here with opinions. 10. You write: “If you want to set the bar so low for giving a person a label like this ….Where in any of what I written have I given anyone a label? I have asked questions, awkward enough, it seems, to trigger you.' 11. You write: “… you need to reflect that the same standards could be applied to you. By this measure what's to stop people demanding you 'prove' you are not an Islamophobe and misogynist…accusations of racist behaviour should not be made lightly or used clumsily as a tool to make a political point.Nothing, it seems, is going to stop your making unpleasant insinuations without referencing anything I have written to support them. I have not asked Rupa Huq to prove her innocence. I have asked the Ealing Labour Party to demonstrate that a plausible investigation was carried out. 12. As to islamophobia, having listened to the debate In Parliament on defining what that might mean, I am none the wiser. The definition, as stated, is intellectually risible and poisonous in intent, useful only for left-wing folk to throw out as an accusation. 11. You write: “You seem to be vindictively obsessed with a female MP of Muslim origin determined to interpret everything she does in the worst possible light.”Point to any word or phrase that I have written that would lead any reasonable person to think I am misogynistic. The MP in question happens to be a woman and may be a Moslem. Does that mean she cannot be criticised? Do you really think I would not criticise a man of whatever religion if I found it necessary?12. Not that I have criticised anyone yet. So why not wait until I do before you engage in literary criticism and please try to offer something a little more analytical and supported by quotation than your ham-fisted one-word comment “clumsily”. And, if you wish to make accusations, be man enough not to hide behind insinuation, there’s a good chap.
Andrew Farmer ● 2373d