Candidate in the general election Jon Ashworth has joined the prestigious ranks of being a member of the occasional Canary series “Labour politicians running from the public” – this time, exposing himself as the party’s answer to Alan Partridge.
On a serious note, though, and the former shadow cabinet stooge was seemingly intimidated by some Muslim uncles – as they asked just why he abstained in parliament on the vote for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Labour politicians running from the public: a Canary miniseries
As the Canary’s James Wright previously wrote, Labour candidates do not like being asked about Israel’s genocide in Gaza. For example, a voter asked the candidate for Bethnal Green and Stepney, Rushanara Ali, if he could ask her a question. But like shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves did earlier this year when asked questions on Palestine, Ali promptly ran away.
Then there’s shadow secretary for culture, media and sport Thangam Debbonaire, candidate for Bristol Central. Earlier in June, Owen Jones tried to asked her whether she supports an arms embargo on Israel amid its genocide against Palestinian people in Gaza. But she ran off too.
In February, Labour’s Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali marked another instance of Labour people trying to run the country without answering questions. Ali sped away in his car when reporters from 5 Pillars asked him “is Labour a party of genocide?”
Now, Ashworth has also joined these ranks
Jon Ashworth: ‘stop bullying me!’
Community activist Majid Freeman and some locals bumped into Jon Ashworth and his Labour Party stooges on the campaign trail in Leicester South. As Freeman noted:
Elderly Muslim uncles who previously supported Jon came out to ask why he abstained from the Palestine ceasefire vote so he resorted to playing victim by saying we were bullying & intimidating him.
Yes indeed. Apparently, members of the public asking questions is “bullying”:
Bumped into Labour MP @JonAshworth who was canvassing in Leicester. Elderly Muslim uncles who prev supported Jon came out to ask why he abstained from the 🇵🇸ceasefire vote so he resorted to playing victim by saying we were bullying & intimidating him. We have every right to Q you pic.twitter.com/5q5UDCgTXN
— Majid Freeman (@Majstar7) June 21, 2024
Ashworth was filming on his mobile – although it is not clear for what purpose. However, what was clear is there was just a smidgen of… something distinctly racist… as Ashworth said:
If you want THESE people [emphasis as per Ashworth’s tone] to win this election… the bullies and the loudmouths… you’ve got to come out and vote against this.
Against what, Ashworth? People asking you questions over Gaza, Palestine, and genocidal Israel?
Clearly, the Labour candidate IS intimidated by the public asking him questions he doesn’t want to answer – as towards the end of Freeman’s video Ashworth does some weird, Partridge-style yoga shit – seemingly in an effort to look calm and in control. Watch from 1:40:
Bumped into Labour MP @JonAshworth who was canvassing in Leicester. Elderly Muslim uncles who prev supported Jon came out to ask why he abstained from the 🇵🇸ceasefire vote so he resorted to playing victim by saying we were bullying & intimidating him. We have every right to Q you pic.twitter.com/5q5UDCgTXN
— Majid Freeman (@Majstar7) June 21, 2024
Lynn! LYNN!
It all feels very… well… this:
This:
This:
And this, Jon Ashworth:
Consider yourself in the Canary Hall of Fame.
There is of course a broader point to be made, here.
Jon Ashworth and Labour: gaslighting the public
Jon Ashworth and other Labour candidates’ reactions over the serious question of Israel, Gaza, and their position reeks of an extreme arrogance – but also complete lack of accountability to the public. More and more, we’re seeing the Labour Party present itself as somehow unanswerable to the public – many of whom have genuine concerns over its stance on Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and its wider apartheid across the Occupied Territories.
Hiding behind accusations of bullying and intimidation betrays Labour candidates true motivations: that they will happily wring their hands over Israel’s killing of tens of thousands of people if it means a whiff of power for them. However, when questioned on it, their own consciences cannot lie. Therefore, they gaslight the public by claiming they’re the ones being threatened.
This is sick in the extreme, and shows the moral void that exists in the Labour Party now.
Politicians like Ashworth awkwardly being caught on camera is funny – but the underlying issue is deadly serious.
Featured image via X – screengrab
