Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?

Over the past couple of years, the Labour Party, of which I have been a member for more than four decades, has been brought into disrepute by the blatant abuse of its disciplinary processes to settle political differences.

I have generally refrained from comment upon such matters as an office holder within the Party, not least because my many years of experience of contesting such abusive disciplinary action within my trade union has taught me patience, caution and, above all, to attend first of all to the wishes of those who are the victims of such disgraceful treatment.

News of the expulsion from our party of Crispin Flintoff, legendary organiser of “Stand Up for Labour", ought not however to pass without comment.

More than 150 Constituency Labour Party have benefited from Crispin’s fundraising activities. This has included, for example, a fundraising event for Brighton Pavilion CLP at Party Conference in 2017, and a fundraising event to launch the local election campaign in Brighton and Hove in March 2019.

Over 140 comedians have performed at "Stand up for Labour” events over the years, and political speakers have included Keir Starmer, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Stella Creasy, John McDonnell, Jess Phillips, Jeremy Corbyn, Rachel Reeves, Dawn Butler, David Lammy, Wes Streeting, Clive Lewis, Denis Healey, Neil Kinnock, and even, in Eastbourne in 2013, your humble blogger.

I hope that many of those who have enjoyed, participated in or benefited from "Stand up for Labour" will share my view that the Labour Party National Executive ought to reinstate the membership of Crispin Flintoff. This includes, of course, our current Leader.

Keir Starmer should reflect upon the observation that a King who cannot tolerate a jester in his court is unlikely to be a good ruler or enjoy a long reign.