Readers will remember how last month Jeremy Corbyn's official campaign group rebranded to become the “People’s Momentum”, a red guard run by hard-left activist Jon Lansman. It vowed to “put our values, the people’s values, back into politics. To do this, we need to keep up the momentum we have built over the last four months”. John McDonnell said he wanted the group to "transform our democracy and our way of doing politics. We are part of this wider social movement, running an economy in the interests of all”. Oh really?
Typical properties in the Shad Thames
development to which Momentum is registered
Strange, then, that the “People’s Momentum” company address is registered to a million pound luxury riverside apartment in Shad Thames, one of central London’s most prestigious developments with an onsite concierge and views of Tower Bridge. It’s somewhere you usually find yuppie City traders rather than red flag-waving socialists. Must be what they mean by “the people’s values” and “an economy in the interests of all”…
People's Momentum ex People's Momentum
QUOTE
Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader has transformed into Momentum
- a network of people and organisations that will continue the energy and
enthusiasm of Jeremy's campaign.
What does Momentum want to do?
Organise in every town, city and village to create a mass movement for real progressive change.
Make Labour a more democratic party, with the policies and collective will to implement them in government.
Bring together individuals and groups in our communities and workplaces to campaign and organise on the issues that matter to us.
How will Momentum do this?
Organise events, rallies, meet ups and policy consultations to encourage mass mobilisation for a more democratic, equal and decent society.
Encourage those inspired by Jeremy Corbyn's campaign to get involved with the Labour Party. Assist members in making their voice heard in Labour Party debates.
Facilitate and coordinate people to build new and support existing organisations that can make concrete improvements to people's lives. Through these actions, we aim to demonstrate on a micro level how collective action and Labour values can transform our society for the better.
Who runs it?
Formed as a successor to the Corbyn campaign, Momentum is in the process of setting up governance arrangements to represent its supporters amongst the Labour Party membership as well as the wider social movement which is springing up. As it grows, Momentum will develop democratic governance structures at every level of the network.
What is the relationship to Labour and Jeremy Corbyn?
Momentum is the successor entity to the Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader
campaign but it is independent of the Labour Party's leadership. It will work
with everyone who supports Jeremy's aim of creating a more fair, equal and
democratic society.
UNQUOTE
Read it. Think about it. Believe it? Not me.
Momentum ex Wiki
Momentum is a British
left-wing[4]
political organisation,[5]
founded in 2015 by
Jon
Lansman, Adam Klug, Emma Rees and
James Schneider. It has been described as a
grassroots movement supportive of
Jeremy Corbyn and the
Labour Party.[6][7][8]
The current officers of Momentum Campaign (Services) Ltd are:[9]
Lansman,
Sam Tarry MP,
Mossley Hill Councillor
Elizabeth Hayden,[10]
solicitor Anthony Kearns,[11]
and Professor Cecile Wright of the
University of Nottingham.[12]
The organisation has polarised Labour politicians and journalists since its inception. Some have compared it to the Militant tendency within the Labour party; however, others have praised its grassroots engagement as well as its effective and virally spread but low budget information videos, such as those used in the 2017 general election campaign.
Since January 2017, all Momentum members must also be or become members of the Labour Party.[13] The organisation had 40,000 members in 2019.[3] It also has close links with the The World Transformed.