Difference between revisions of "Jo Bird"

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{{person
 
{{person
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|image=Jo_Bird.jpg
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|constitutes=politician, dissident
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|image=Jo_Bird_Green.webp
 
|image_width=240px
 
|image_width=240px
 
|image_caption=[[Jew]] process: [[Jo Bird]]'s play on words
 
|image_caption=[[Jew]] process: [[Jo Bird]]'s play on words
 
|religion=Jewish
 
|religion=Jewish
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|twitter=https://twitter.com/bird4riv
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|political_parties=Labour Co-op, Green Party
 
|interests=Jewish Voice for Labour
 
|interests=Jewish Voice for Labour
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|nationality=British
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|description=Liverpool councillor who was expelled from the [[Labour Party]] becomes [[Green Party]] candidate
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Jo Bird''' is the Labour and Co-operative councillor for Bromborough in the Wirral. Her term of office is from 23/08/2018 to 07/05/2020.<ref>''[https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=50002020 "Councillor Jo Bird, Party: Labour and Co-operative, Ward: Bromborough"]''</ref>
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'''Jo Bird''' is a British politician who has been the Labour and Co-operative councillor for Bromborough in the Wirral since August 2018.<ref>''[https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=50002020 "Councillor Jo Bird, Party: Labour and Co-operative, Ward: Bromborough"]''</ref>  
  
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On 19 November 2021, Jo Bird tweeted:{{QB|I'm delighted the Labour Party expelled me today.
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I'm free from fear about speaking and meeting with other people.
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I continue to work for people of Bromborough as your local Councillor. FOR THE MANY, not the few.
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This racist [[Labour Party]] is dying as a vehicle for social justice.<ref>''[https://twitter.com/bird4riv/status/1461723054191616009 "I'm delighted the Labour Party expelled me today"]''</ref>}}
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On 2 September 2023, [[Skwawkbox]] announced that Jo Bird will stand for the [[Green Party]] at the Birkenhead parliamentary constituency in the [[UK/General election/2024]].<ref>''[https://skwawkbox.org/2023/09/02/breaking-bird-announced-as-green-candidate-for-birkenhead/ "Breaking: Bird announced as Green candidate for Birkenhead"]''</ref>
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==Birkenhead turns Green==
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[[File:Green_Birkenhead.jpeg|240px|right|thumb|[[Greens]] edge ahead in Birkenhead]]
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On 4 June 2024, Jo Bird posted on '''[[X]]''' ahead of the [[2024 UK General Election]]:{{QB|
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:"Real hope and real change: [[Green Party]] launch Jo Bird for Birkenhead MP"
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:Wirral Green Party has announced Jo Bird as their candidate for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead_(UK_Parliament_constituency) Birkenhead constituency] at the [[UK/General election/2024|coming General Election]].
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:[[Greens]] are the clear challengers to [[Labour]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead_(UK_Parliament_constituency) Birkenhead.]
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:In the 2023 local council elections, more people voted Green than [[Labour]]: 38% voted Green and 36% voted Labour, across [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead_(UK_Parliament_constituency) Birkenhead constituency including Bebington.]
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:[[Greens]] hold 10 out of 21 local councillor seats in Birkenhead.}}
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==Previously in Labour==
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Cllr Bird had hoped to succeed [[Louise Ellman]] as the MP for Liverpool Riverside and, in a video released in October 2019, said:
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:“I am one of many [[Jewish]] members of the [[Labour Party]] here in Liverpool City Region. We don’t recognise the description that [[Louise Ellman]] paints of the Labour Party being institutionally [[anti-semitic]].
 +
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:“My experience is a very welcoming Labour Party. For me as a Jewish person, as a socialist and as a human I’m proud to represent this community. Louise Ellman was elected on a Labour ticket, she should resign and call a by-election as she is no longer part of the Labour Party.”<ref>''[https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/17984487.wirral-councillor-jo-bird-lined-replace-liverpool-mp-louise-ellman/ "Wirral councillor Jo Bird lined up to replace Liverpool MP Louise Ellman"]''</ref>
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In the event, [[Kim Johnson]] was selected for the Liverpool Riverside seat and she became the city's first black MP at the [[UK/2019 General Election]].
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==NEC candidate==
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Jo Bird applied for the vacancy on Labour's [[National Executive Committee]] created by the election to Parliament of former NEC member [[Claudia Webbe]] but was narrowly beaten by right winger [[Johanna Baxter]],<ref>''[https://labourlist.org/2020/04/corbynsceptics-sweep-the-board-in-labours-ruling-body-by-elections/ "Corbynsceptics sweep the board in Labour’s ruling body by-elections"]''</ref> after what was described as an attempt to rig the NEC election.<ref>''[https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/labour-attempts-rig-internal-election "Labour attempts to rig internal election"]''</ref>
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=="Jew" process==
 
=="Jew" process==
 
On 4 March 2019, Jo Bird was suspended by the [[Labour Party]] pending investigation of allegedly [[antisemitic]] remarks she made in May 2018 at a meeting in support of political activist [[Marc Wadsworth]], who was expelled for behaviour deemed "grossly detrimental" after a confrontation with Labour MP [[Ruth Smeeth]] in 2016.
 
On 4 March 2019, Jo Bird was suspended by the [[Labour Party]] pending investigation of allegedly [[antisemitic]] remarks she made in May 2018 at a meeting in support of political activist [[Marc Wadsworth]], who was expelled for behaviour deemed "grossly detrimental" after a confrontation with Labour MP [[Ruth Smeeth]] in 2016.
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:"[[JVL]] is campaigning with others to overturn [[Marc Wadsworth]]’s unfair expulsion, clear his name and to defend [[Jackie Walker]] (who is black and [[Jewish]]) and others earmarked for the next phase in expulsions.
 
:"[[JVL]] is campaigning with others to overturn [[Marc Wadsworth]]’s unfair expulsion, clear his name and to defend [[Jackie Walker]] (who is black and [[Jewish]]) and others earmarked for the next phase in expulsions.
  
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:"[[JVL]] is calling for disciplinary hearings to be paused until a due process has been established based on principles of natural justice. What I call [[Jew]] process."
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:"[[JVL]] is calling for disciplinary hearings to be paused until a due process has been established based on principles of natural justice. What I call [[Jew]] process."<ref>''[https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/labour-councillor-suspended-after-jew-15920639 "Labour councillor suspended after 'Jew process' joke"]''</ref>
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===Tory councillors engage in antisemitism===
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Speaking at a meeting of Wirral Council on Monday 4 March 2019,<ref>''[https://wirral.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/406578 "Wirral Council meeting Monday 4th March 2019"]''</ref> [https://wirral.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/406578 Cllr Bird was video recorded (from 01:30:40 to 01:33:20) saying:]
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:“I’m sorry that the Wirral Conservatives feel the need to leave the chamber at this point. You will not be able to hear the voice of Bromborough and New Ferry residents, nor my apology for my words being misunderstood…”
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(see 01:31:00 interruption by Mayor Geoffrey Watt to facilitate the [[Tory]] / Independent walk-out)
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:“…thank you, it is unfortunate that the [[Conservative Party|Conservative]] members have chosen to leave, thereby depriving their own residents of their voice in this chamber. And I’d like to address everybody, fellow councillors and residents of Wirral. I nip out during the Christian prayers here partly because I’m [[Jewish]]. My great-grandparents were refugees from ethnic cleansing and [[fascism]] in Europe. My grandfather never knew his cousins because they perished in the [[Holocaust]]. I know from lived experience…
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(see 01:31:54 Independent Councillor Chris Meaden is seen walking out)
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:"…what racism against…
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(see 01:31:56 Independent Councillor Moira McLaughlin is seen walking out)
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:"…[[Jewish]] people looks like, and it’s vile. Just today I received [[anti-Semitic]] hate emails. I was told that it is time for [[Jews]] to leave the [[UK]], that I’m low-life, go and crawl back under your rock, and that I’m a [[Nazi]]. And actually what gives me nightmares these days are political moves to the right and the far right, for example, Conservative leaders like [[Theresa May]], creating what she herself calls a hostile environment for migrants who enrich our country, such as the Windrush generation. And we’ve seen just right now the hostile environment created by Conservatives in the Wirral. It is [[Labour Party|Labour]] who have led every piece of anti-[[racist]] legislation in this country. As you know, at our last council meeting, this birdy has a self-deprecating sense of humour and I’m sorry if any offence has been caused by my plays on words.<ref>''[[Document:We condemn the suspension of Jo Bird and the appointment of Lord Falconer]]''</ref> That was not my intention. As councillor for Bromborough / New Ferry, I welcome the proposed budget and the much-needed fund for New Ferry. The fund will help to rebuild lives and the livelihoods of people and traders devastated by the gas explosion almost two years ago. Thank you all for your support.”<ref>''[https://wirralinittogether.blog/2019/03/31/were-tory-councillor-ian-lewis-and-2-x-independent-wirral-councillors-being-anti-semitic-after-a-failed-vote-and-a-walk-out-during-jewish-labour-councillor-jo-birds-speech/ "Wirral Tory / Independent antisemitism? Not reported in newspapers or media"]''</ref>
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===Expelled===
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In November 2021, Jo Bird was expelled from the Labour Party.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-59373343</ref>
  
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Speaking on Monday 4 March 2019, Cllr Bird said:
 
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:"I am sorry for any offence caused by my play on words - that was not my intention."<ref>''[https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/labour-councillor-suspended-after-jew-15920639 "Labour councillor suspended after 'Jew process' joke"]''</ref>
 
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
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==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>

Latest revision as of 15:09, 14 June 2024

Person.png Jo Bird TwitterRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(politician, dissident)
Jo Bird Green.webp
Jew process: Jo Bird's play on words
NationalityBritish
ReligionJewish
InterestsJewish Voice for Labour
PartyLabour Co-op, Green Party
Liverpool councillor who was expelled from the Labour Party becomes Green Party candidate

Jo Bird is a British politician who has been the Labour and Co-operative councillor for Bromborough in the Wirral since August 2018.[1]

On 19 November 2021, Jo Bird tweeted:

I'm delighted the Labour Party expelled me today.

I'm free from fear about speaking and meeting with other people.

I continue to work for people of Bromborough as your local Councillor. FOR THE MANY, not the few.

This racist Labour Party is dying as a vehicle for social justice.[2]

On 2 September 2023, Skwawkbox announced that Jo Bird will stand for the Green Party at the Birkenhead parliamentary constituency in the UK/General election/2024.[3]

Birkenhead turns Green

Greens edge ahead in Birkenhead

On 4 June 2024, Jo Bird posted on X ahead of the 2024 UK General Election:

"Real hope and real change: Green Party launch Jo Bird for Birkenhead MP"
Wirral Green Party has announced Jo Bird as their candidate for the Birkenhead constituency at the coming General Election.
Greens are the clear challengers to Labour in Birkenhead.
In the 2023 local council elections, more people voted Green than Labour: 38% voted Green and 36% voted Labour, across Birkenhead constituency including Bebington.
Greens hold 10 out of 21 local councillor seats in Birkenhead.

Previously in Labour

Cllr Bird had hoped to succeed Louise Ellman as the MP for Liverpool Riverside and, in a video released in October 2019, said:

“I am one of many Jewish members of the Labour Party here in Liverpool City Region. We don’t recognise the description that Louise Ellman paints of the Labour Party being institutionally anti-semitic.
“My experience is a very welcoming Labour Party. For me as a Jewish person, as a socialist and as a human I’m proud to represent this community. Louise Ellman was elected on a Labour ticket, she should resign and call a by-election as she is no longer part of the Labour Party.”[4]

In the event, Kim Johnson was selected for the Liverpool Riverside seat and she became the city's first black MP at the UK/2019 General Election.

NEC candidate

Jo Bird applied for the vacancy on Labour's National Executive Committee created by the election to Parliament of former NEC member Claudia Webbe but was narrowly beaten by right winger Johanna Baxter,[5] after what was described as an attempt to rig the NEC election.[6]

"Jew" process

On 4 March 2019, Jo Bird was suspended by the Labour Party pending investigation of allegedly antisemitic remarks she made in May 2018 at a meeting in support of political activist Marc Wadsworth, who was expelled for behaviour deemed "grossly detrimental" after a confrontation with Labour MP Ruth Smeeth in 2016.

Both a recording of a speech leaked to the Jewish Chronicle from the meeting and a blog written by Jo Bird for Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) struck a similar tone on the issue, mentioning Labour members such as Mr Wadsworth and former London Mayor Ken Livingstone:

"JVL is campaigning with others to overturn Marc Wadsworth’s unfair expulsion, clear his name and to defend Jackie Walker (who is black and Jewish) and others earmarked for the next phase in expulsions.
"JVL is calling for disciplinary hearings to be paused until a due process has been established based on principles of natural justice. What I call Jew process."[7]

Tory councillors engage in antisemitism

Speaking at a meeting of Wirral Council on Monday 4 March 2019,[8] Cllr Bird was video recorded (from 01:30:40 to 01:33:20) saying:

“I’m sorry that the Wirral Conservatives feel the need to leave the chamber at this point. You will not be able to hear the voice of Bromborough and New Ferry residents, nor my apology for my words being misunderstood…”

(see 01:31:00 interruption by Mayor Geoffrey Watt to facilitate the Tory / Independent walk-out)

“…thank you, it is unfortunate that the Conservative members have chosen to leave, thereby depriving their own residents of their voice in this chamber. And I’d like to address everybody, fellow councillors and residents of Wirral. I nip out during the Christian prayers here partly because I’m Jewish. My great-grandparents were refugees from ethnic cleansing and fascism in Europe. My grandfather never knew his cousins because they perished in the Holocaust. I know from lived experience…

(see 01:31:54 Independent Councillor Chris Meaden is seen walking out)

"…what racism against…

(see 01:31:56 Independent Councillor Moira McLaughlin is seen walking out)

"…Jewish people looks like, and it’s vile. Just today I received anti-Semitic hate emails. I was told that it is time for Jews to leave the UK, that I’m low-life, go and crawl back under your rock, and that I’m a Nazi. And actually what gives me nightmares these days are political moves to the right and the far right, for example, Conservative leaders like Theresa May, creating what she herself calls a hostile environment for migrants who enrich our country, such as the Windrush generation. And we’ve seen just right now the hostile environment created by Conservatives in the Wirral. It is Labour who have led every piece of anti-racist legislation in this country. As you know, at our last council meeting, this birdy has a self-deprecating sense of humour and I’m sorry if any offence has been caused by my plays on words.[9] That was not my intention. As councillor for Bromborough / New Ferry, I welcome the proposed budget and the much-needed fund for New Ferry. The fund will help to rebuild lives and the livelihoods of people and traders devastated by the gas explosion almost two years ago. Thank you all for your support.”[10]

Expelled

In November 2021, Jo Bird was expelled from the Labour Party.[11]


 

Related Documents

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
Document:We condemn the suspension of Jo Bird and the appointment of Lord FalconerArticle4 March 2019AdminAs Ken Loach said: “If it looks like a witch hunt and behaves like a witch hunt – it may well be just that. This is intolerable and must end now.”
Document:Who should hold the next prime minister to account? Our best hope lies with the Green partyArticle12 June 2024George MonbiotThe Green party has a chance of winning six seats in this election – Brighton Pavilion, where former party leader Caroline Lucas is standing down, Birkenhead, Bristol Central, Clacton, North Herefordshire, and Waveney Valley. If you live in one of these constituencies and wish to evict the Tories, this is the most effective way to use your vote.
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References

  1. ↑ "Councillor Jo Bird, Party: Labour and Co-operative, Ward: Bromborough"
  2. ↑ "I'm delighted the Labour Party expelled me today"
  3. ↑ "Breaking: Bird announced as Green candidate for Birkenhead"
  4. ↑ "Wirral councillor Jo Bird lined up to replace Liverpool MP Louise Ellman"
  5. ↑ "Corbynsceptics sweep the board in Labour’s ruling body by-elections"
  6. ↑ "Labour attempts to rig internal election"
  7. ↑ "Labour councillor suspended after 'Jew process' joke"
  8. ↑ "Wirral Council meeting Monday 4th March 2019"
  9. ↑ Document:We condemn the suspension of Jo Bird and the appointment of Lord Falconer
  10. ↑ "Wirral Tory / Independent antisemitism? Not reported in newspapers or media"
  11. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-59373343
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