In or Out: Labour dispute over hokey cokey protest (From Warrington Guardian)
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In or Out: Labour dispute over hokey cokey protest
10:20am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News
The flash mob in Warrington town centre
A LABOUR campaign group donned David Cameron masks to stage a protest about the planned EU referendum.
But their actions have been described as a ‘publicity stunt’ by members of the Warrington North Labour group.
Members of Warrington Young Labour staged the Flash Mob protest in Warrington town centre on Friday.
Wearing Cameron and Clegg masks, members performed the Hokey Cokey, bearing signs saying "David Cameron, are we in or are we out? Don't shake us all about!".
Tom Jennings is chairman of the group.
He said: "With the announcement of the EU referendum, David Cameron has shown once again that when the going gets tough, with Tory back-benchers pressuring from behind and UKIP biting at his ankles, he buckles.
“Now, of course the EU needs reform, no-one denies that; Britain needs to be a stronger political presence in Europe and in turn, the EU needs to be more economically efficient.
“But considering how Cameron plans to fight our corner for reform; by threatening Europe to give us everything we want or we leave, as though EU leaders are going to clamour and eat of his hands."
A spokesman for Warrington North Labour Party said: "This was a publicity stunt performed by a group of individuals, and was neither endorsed nor arranged by the Labour party in Warrington North.
"We understand that the majority of individuals involved were not Labour party members.
"To that end, we do not recognise their right to identify themselves as 'Warrington Young Labour' and we disassociate ourselves from this activity."
Comments(19)
yazhoo1
says...
12:01pm Wed 30 Jan 13
We are actually supposed to take the likes of Helen jones, Nick Bent and the O'Neill council seriously after this? Who is this Tom Jennings anyway?
Nick Tessla
says...
12:55pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Nick Tessla
says...
1:47pm Wed 30 Jan 13
yazhoo1 wrote:I believe that Tom Jennings is the one whose conduct at a council meeting, when allowed to ask a question, caused problems (through what it may have been his own ignorance rather than any malicious intent) but whose actions were then were supported by Warrington Labour -well it did suit them politically!
What an absolutely pathetic and childish thing to do. Typical Labour, whose answer to the EU issue is not to have a proper debate, but dance around the town wearing masks like five year olds. We are actually supposed to take the likes of Helen jones, Nick Bent and the O'Neill council seriously after this? Who is this Tom Jennings anyway?
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
2:29pm Wed 30 Jan 13
yazhoo1
says...
3:02pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Why didn't they get support from the people in Warrington that they identified themselves with?
Most likely because of the way they have decided to air their views. Dressing up in masks and dancing around like something out of a circus troupe isn't a dignified way to make your point. If they want to be taken seriously, Labour (young or not) would probably do well to stop operating at the level of two year olds.
It sounds like Tom Jennings has a history of conducting himself in a less than acceptable way. Not surprising that the mainstream Labour lot have run a mile.
Just a though... Nick bent and Helen Jones are keeping quiet about all this. Geoff Settle, too. Any of them care to tell us what they think or can we expect to see them donning Cameron masks in the near future? Now THERE is something I'd like to see!!!
dickvandyke
says...
3:13pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Tom Jennings
what a silly little boy !
Nick Tessla
says...
3:18pm Wed 30 Jan 13
yazhoo1 wrote:Geoff Settle seems to be keeping quiet about everything - ever since Terry O'Neill rejected the petition to protect Peel Hall Park.
Why didn't they get support from the people in Warrington that they identified themselves with?Most likely because of the way they have decided to air their views. Dressing up in masks and dancing around like something out of a circus troupe isn't a dignified way to make your point. If they want to be taken seriously, Labour (young or not) would probably do well to stop operating at the level of two year olds. It sounds like Tom Jennings has a history of conducting himself in a less than acceptable way. Not surprising that the mainstream Labour lot have run a mile. Just a though... Nick bent and Helen Jones are keeping quiet about all this. Geoff Settle, too. Any of them care to tell us what they think or can we expect to see them donning Cameron masks in the near future? Now THERE is something I'd like to see!!!
Dan Irwin
says...
4:00pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Whilst the masks/dancing etc were a mistake, it is very disapointing that the part has publicly criticised and shunned young people who evidently want to become engaged in politics. Surely encouraging them to become members and teaching them how to campaign effectively would have been a little more appropriate?
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
5:00pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Boxerboy
says...
5:09pm Wed 30 Jan 13
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
5:21pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Boxerboy wrote:What are you referring to? The right if free speech has been prevalent in all of the previous comments. We don't have to agree with each other and comments will flow from our current thinking and from own personal experiences without doubt.
I see freedom of speech as been got at , did I say something wrong ! all FACT
Dan Irwin
says...
5:57pm Wed 30 Jan 13
SAC_in_Warrington wrote:I am 21, and don't really feel it is an effective method of engaging with young people. However rather than alienating and attacking young people who no doubt acted with good intentions, Warrington North Labour Party should have approached this issue in a much less aggressive and nasty manner.
This is a modern generation communicating to a modern generation! Well done I say and it made a point, or two. You Labour traditionalists have lost the point as well as the plot. These are your present and future. You should have been supporting them as you may even be sharing the same political views. Their generation is a prime recruitment ground so step up and include them in your apparently "closed shop". Their publicity works with their generation! Seize the day I say!
I doubt any of those "disassociated" by the party will get involved again after this, which was probably their first involvement with politics. Regardless of who one supports, I think that is quite sad to see.
pnewsome
says...
9:39pm Wed 30 Jan 13
yazhoo1 wrote:Who is this Nick Bent person anyway? Never heard of him before. Someone the council have hiding in the cupboard?
What an absolutely pathetic and childish thing to do. Typical Labour, whose answer to the EU issue is not to have a proper debate, but dance around the town wearing masks like five year olds.
We are actually supposed to take the likes of Helen jones, Nick Bent and the O'Neill council seriously after this? Who is this Tom Jennings anyway?
old-codger
says...
8:17pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Let me remind you that you do not, I repeat do not have to be a member of the labour party in order to be a labour supporter, Get a grip and bring yourselves into the 21st century.
yazhoo1
says...
8:34pm Thu 31 Jan 13
SAC_in_Warrington
says...
10:34pm Thu 31 Jan 13
pnewsome wrote:Judging by the comment he will be some sort of politician. I have observed that some people who know who he is, still ask this same question.
yazhoo1 wrote:Who is this Nick Bent person anyway? Never heard of him before. Someone the council have hiding in the cupboard?
What an absolutely pathetic and childish thing to do. Typical Labour, whose answer to the EU issue is not to have a proper debate, but dance around the town wearing masks like five year olds.
We are actually supposed to take the likes of Helen jones, Nick Bent and the O'Neill council seriously after this? Who is this Tom Jennings anyway?
Nick Tessla
says...
10:47am Fri 1 Feb 13
pnewsome wrote:Nick Bent is a failed candidate for MP who appears to be hanging around until the next election hoping that Warrington will be his route to Westminster.
yazhoo1 wrote: What an absolutely pathetic and childish thing to do. Typical Labour, whose answer to the EU issue is not to have a proper debate, but dance around the town wearing masks like five year olds. We are actually supposed to take the likes of Helen jones, Nick Bent and the O'Neill council seriously after this? Who is this Tom Jennings anyway?Who is this Nick Bent person anyway? Never heard of him before. Someone the council have hiding in the cupboard?
As far as I am aware he is neither a WBC councillor or has even bothered standing as a candidate in elections to become one.
Nick Tessla
says...
10:49am Fri 1 Feb 13
Boxerboy says...
11:38am Wed 30 Jan 13