STANDING UP FOR THE GRASSROOTS....

Have just about recovered from a long day yesterday down to London and back for the Compass conference where the lrc/Labour Briefing had a packed fringe meeting. with speakers John McDonnell and economist Graham Turner, who ariculately and impressively argued the left case against the cuts..
Compass, along with the Fabians, LRC and Save The Labour Party organised a massive e-mail campaign to ask the Party leadership to enable all six declared candidates to stand.
In the event, the only reason there were five was because one candidate stood down and there was then the shambolic sight of last-minute horse-trading which had nothing at all to do with Party democracy - and everything to do with face-saving amid the prospect of four fortysomething male candidates with very similar policy ideas.
We are better off with five than four - but it should have been the case that Party members were not effectively vetoed by the PLP. And it must never happen again.
My guess is the rules will indeed be looked at - and that will happen because of the grassroots campaign which made it clear what loyal Labour Party people wanted.
What is rather sad in all this is that only two members of the NEC put pressure on to change the nomination threshold . They were Peter Kenyon and Christine Shawcroft (pictured with me at last year's briefing AGM)
It is my belief that it is the job of all six constituency representatives to act in the interests of ordinary members. Which is why I am standing for the NEC.
Two years ago, my constituency, Calder Valley, did its level best to get that threshold changed at Labour Party Conference. We failed because we were not backed by the big unions. One hopes they have now changed their view. And that the overwhelming call for an end to the stifling of Party democracy which tarnished the Blair years will now be supported by whoever is the new Leader.

BLEARS - WHY THE DISPARITY

NEC member Peter Kenyon rightly pointed out the other day that the Special Endorsements Panel set up in the wake of the expenses scandal was supposed to be in charge of whether Mps had transgressed the rules so unacceptably they should be de-selected. But only, it seems, if you are a backbencher. So far Ian Gibson, Elliott Morley and David Chaytor have announced they won't be standing again after being interviewed by Cath Speight and co. In Gibson's case, he has resigned. It seems Jim Devine, who inherited the late Robin Cook's seat, has also been told to walk the plank. Yet Blears is seemingly only at the mercy of her CLP, who will allegedly back her in a no-confidence vote tonight. Where is the equity in this? Last I heard the final say would be down to the NEC. Why is there one rule for ex Ministers and another for those who can more easily be dealt with. In the interests of fairness, Blears should be referred to the panel and the last shout, as Peter says, should not go to the CLP. Especially as in the case of Ian Gibson his CLP did NOT want to de-select him. But of course the NEC has a long track-record in imposing one set of rules for New Labour - and sweepng their misdemeanours under the carpet.

NOT ENOUGH- IS MESSAGE TO NEC

Had my reservations re yesterday's NEC- confirmed by e-mail ( see below) from the original instigators of the letter which I signed in personal capacity.And Hazel Blears's breathtaking dismissal of the PM's view what she had done was "totally unacceptable." Quite frankly, we need to keep the pressure up.........add your voice at necletter@hotmail.co.uk
Dear Friends,

We just wanted to write to thank you for taking the time to sign our letter submitted to today's NEC meeting. It took a lot of courage to sign a letter that would inevitably fall into the public domain and be discussed by the Party leadership.

Particular Thanks
We would particularly like to thank members of Labour Party Staff who stood with us in this effort, understandably they were unable to join us as signatories, but showed their support in the form of texts and private emails.

We sincerely thank the leading political blogs, Labourlist (http://www.labourlist.org/), Labourhome (http://www.labourhome.org/) and Liberal Conspiracy (http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/) for their enthusiastic coverage and by encouraging our Party members to sign up. We would urge you to regularly read these blogs and add your voices to the debates that will undoubtedly continue to take place.

Where we are now
As of this evening, more than 200 Parliamentary Candidates, Party Officers, Councillors, former staff and other loyal activists from across the UK, have jointly signed today’s letter to the NEC, calling for our leadership to put the reputation and wellbeing of the Labour Party before the interests of a minority of MPs, who have let our movement down.

While undoubtedly well-meaning, we feel that the proposals stated today by our Prime Minister, and agreed by our NEC, lack the necessary teeth to help restore our Party's credibility with hard working members of the public.

In particular we are concerned that:

An MP will not face sanction by the Party if they remained within Parliamentary rules - no matter how publicly damaging their expense claims may have been.

Constituency Labour Parties remain unable to take action to challenge those MPs who have brought the Party into disrepute, without a system of approvals first from the leadership

We therefore reiterate our call to the NEC to:

Organise a thorough review of suspected excessive and abusive claims - regardless of whether they were eventually signed off by an over-worked Fees Office.

Support the immediate removal of the whip from individual MPs who have brought the party into disrepute over this issue and allow CLPs to trigger reselection ballots against them.

We therefore also ask that you encourage fellow activists to add their signatures to our letter, which will remain open until the situation has fundamentally changed.

Labour Party activists have once again come together to take a principled stance on one of the most important issues in modern politics. We are proud to be part of the Labour movement and all fellow signatories clearly remain loyal servants and inspiring champions of our Party.

Thank you for terrific support and we will keep you updated.

In solidarity,

Cllr. Richard Bingley
(Former Labour Party Press Officer)

Fred Grindrod
(National Policy Forum and Former Parliamentary Candidate)

Beryl Milnes
(Former Chair of Hemel Hempstead CLP)

Tom Flynn
(Labour Parliamentary Candidate)

RESTORING ORDER

My silence re yesterday's events was down to the fact I was in London for a meeting of the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance, which discussed the developments on de-selection of MPs.
The Special Endorsement Panel will, in the interests of sorting this almighty mess out, now review all cases where MPs have behaved badly and broken the rules, or the spirit of the rules. The remit is rather vague and possibly strewn with difficulties but it is a start - though I would have preferred the NEC to take up the call for trigger ballots and allowing CLPs to make their own decisions. I understand the first two casualties are likely to be David Chaytor and Elliott Morley. How many more will follow is anyone's guess but if there is justice then cases like Margaret Moran and Hazel Blears must surely be looked at. I have my doubts whether a sub-group of the NEC is sufficiently independent to make the right decisions but broadly speaking, the tough line which has already seen the departure of the Speaker must be welcomed. But he should not be the sole scapegoat for others' misdemeanours......

BAD CALL BY THE NEC

As a mere ordinary Party member, I'm witnessing the current shenanigans over the leadership with a growing sense of disbelief. Because it seems the NEC is living in a parallel universe from the rest of us. They seriously think they can get away with not issuing nomination papers - on the basis they have got away with it for 11 years. In the short-term, they have won. In the long-term, a seriously bad call.

In various guises over the years, I have tried and campaigned for Party democracy to be restored. Groups like CLPD and Save The Labour Party have tried unsuccessfully to get this rule over nomination papers implemented. Now the Blairites are discovering just how undemocratic and unjust the Great Clunking Fist of the Brownite machine can be. Last year, they were a party to us not having a leadership election. Now they realise they were wrong - but are discovering just how determined Gordon Brown is to stamp out any opposition. To say it doesn't look good is an understatement. Stalinism at its best.

The faction-fighting between the two New Labour camps ( because that is what it is) does not interest me. It makes no difference whether Brown, Miliband or any other neo-liberal is Leader.

The tragedy is that while they scrap the Labour Party is almost certainly going to hell in a handcart. Had the NEC done as it should, at least we could have used that opportunity for an honest and open debate.Instead, it will be backstabbbing and off-record briefing on a grand scale around the Manchester conference centre.

ORWELLIAN WORLD.....

The NEC has just issued the following missive on the leadership issue. Quelle surprise. Those MPs requesting nomination papers are being blocked .Much as I think little of any of the plotters, surely this is against all notion of democracy ? Nothing new there, then as far as Labour Conference goes......



16 September 2008
Internal procedural debates will not divert the Labour Party from building a fairer Britain -
Dianne Hayter, Chair of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) and speaking on their behalf, said:"The Labour Party National Executive Committee is in agreement that internal procedural debates will not divert the Labour Party from our mission of building a fairer Britain and helping people through these challenging times."The NEC fully endorses the view of the Labour Party's General Secretary and the party's independent legal advisors. A Leadership election when in Government can only be held if requested by a majority of party conference on a card vote, only Labour MPs can trigger the process and the NEC is confident that most MPs know their responsibilities under the rules."The Labour Party has followed this procedure for 11 years, as long as we have been in government under these present rules, and it has not required the issue of nomination forms at any time."The NEC has a responsibility to ensure the party follows these long-standing procedures and we will do so. The Labour Party will not waver from its historic responsibilities to our country and to those in greatest need."

FROM OUR NEW GENERAL SECRETARY.....

Do I hear the collective sound of Keir Hardie, Nye Bevan, Clem Attlee spinning in their graves? This "manifesto" is written by David Pitt Watson - author of "The New Capitalists" It could have been penned by a Tory. Well done NEC.....


THE CAPITALIST MANIFESTO
1. Be profitable and create value.
2. Only grow where you can create value.
3. Pay people fairly to do the right things.
4. Do not waste capital.
5. Focus where your skills are strongest.
6. Renew your organisation.
7. Treat customers, suppliers, workers and communities fairly.
8. Seek regulations to ensure your operations do not cause collateral damage and your competitors gain advantage.
9. Stay clear of partisan politics.
10.Communicate what you are doing and be accountable for

NEC WRANGLE

Spent most of yesterday holed up in the Stubbing Wharf pub in Hebden for our CLP's AGM. I won't go into the details of the bitter wrangling over the NEC nominations. You would lose the will to live.........I don't mind people putting up alternative candidates but when they seemingly prefer to nominate no-one from their wing of the Party then try and stop lefties being nominated for the NEC well, you have to despair. In the end, after much haranguing and unnecessary debate, we nominated Christine Shawcroft, Mohammed Azam Fran Griffiths and Ann Black. It should not have taken over an hour to do so......can't wait for the Parliamentary election which is coming up soon

WISEMAN FOR NEC 2010 !

LRC member John Wiseman has now withdrawn his bid to stand for the NEC. But along the way some important concessions have been made which will hopefully ensure that an accountable and properly elected left of centre slate is de rigeur in the future. That must include proper hustings and representation from groups including the LRC, COMPASS Campaign for Socialism and others.
No longer must smoke-filled rooms and over-sized egos hold sway over democratic process.
It's five months since I argued for slate elections ( and lost) at an exec meeting of the Campaign For Labour Party Democracy. I think I have since been proved right. And I also think that John's candidature, however much it was opposed by some, has done much to bring some fresh air and accountability to things in the future.
John was never a "spoiler" or kami-kaze candidate. He is a decent honest bloke who simply wanted to stand on a left platform - the principles of which I and many others entirely agreed with. But, having weighed up the options and thought about the long game, he's perhaps wisely decided to stand down.I very much hope he continues to fight for the values he believes in. We need more John Wisemans in this Party - not less.

NO MORE FRIENDS OF BIG BUSINESS......

Tribune is rallying support for AMICUS senior official Mike Griffiths as new General Secretary and, as far as I can see, he's a far better bet than the opposition. I am not , to use the Mandelson phrase "intensely relaxed" about rich City businessmen having key roles in this Party and I would hope that would be the view of a majority of grassroots activists. Including those who represent the "grassroots" on the NEC.

AN ATTEMPT by Gordon Brown to impose a City whiz-kid as Labour’s new general secretary has opened a battle of wills between the unions and Downing Street.
Support is rallying behind the former party chair and Amicus/Unite senior official Mike Griffiths in a bid to ensure the job goes to an experienced Labour insider.
Mr Brown’s favoured candidate was Paul Myners, a London businessman and chair of the Guardian Media Group and the Low Pay Commission. Mr Myners, whose career has included top jobs at Marks and Spencer and PowerGen and who also chairs the Tate Gallery, donated £9,700 to Mr Brown’s uncontested leadership campaign.
But Mr Myners is understood to have turned down the offer and Mr Brown has turned to another City figure, David Pitt-Watson, the former assistant general secretary of the Labour Party from 1997-99. Mr Pitt-Watson is the founder and chair of Hermes Equity Ownership and previous chief executive of its asset management team.

BALDRICK STRIKES BACK.......

Interesting article by ex NEC member Tony Robinson in this week's New Statesman. Tony, aka Baldrick from Blackadder, was once one of Tony Blair's most enthusiastic cheerleaders but his years on the NEC and first-hand knowledge of the leadership's control freakery have made him critical of the "top down" aproach which is destroying this Party and which continues to do so under Brown. Don't agree with all of it but overall view generally sound......

http://www.newstatesman.com/200712070008

DEATH OF LABOUR CONFERENCE?

My mole earlier today was right, then. The union representatives on the NEC ( for it must be they) have agreed to let Gordon Brown's proposals to scrap contemporary motions through.
Breaking news just in from the BBC says this was accepted by 23 votes to four ( presumably oposed by the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance) . Apparently, the "big concession " is that the process will be reviewed after two years. And then, no doubt, rubber-stamped again after a few late-night sessions in smoke-filled rooms. Will someone please therefpre explain what was the point of Gordon Brown's "consultation" and will they be publishing the results of it? I submitted my thoughts, so did many hundreds of other ondividuals and dozens of CLPs. To what end ? We've been stitched up like kippers . Again. There only remain the formalities.Unless of course there is a last-minute rebellion.I will stil be going to my CLP on Thursday and fighting this tooth and nail.Odd, isn't it, how Gordon hates the union vote when it conspires against him. But we have a situation where four out of 6 CLP reps ( I'm assuming here) vote against these profoundly anti-democratic proposals and it counts for diddly squat......

FIGHTING FOR OUR PARTY

Gordon Brown plans to destroy the last pitiful shreds of meaningful debate at Labour Party Conference. Under proposals now out for consultation ( which completely by-passed the NEC by the way) members are being asked to consider plans to end our ability to move contemporary and emergency resolutions at annual Conference. Instead, Brown is calling for generalised debates on contemporary ISSUES - with no vote. The ability of trade unions and CLPs to have their say and take policy positions will be history if these proposals become a reality. Let me put this in contex.
The last few years have seen contemporary motions on all the following issues: Iraq, Council housing, the right to secondary picketing, Gate Gourmet workers, NHS privatisation, re-nationalisation of the railways. On all these issues, the leadership was defeated. And Gordon doesn't want any more dissent. I have e-mailed NEC rep Ann Black on this and her advice is to flood the Labour Party website with your views. We have to make it clear the grassroots are strongly opposed to this blindingly obvious bid to put the last nail in the coffin of Party democracy.

NO "AFFIRMATIVE BALLOT" FOR BROWN

Labour's NEC has just agreed not to stage an affirmative ballot in the event of a "coronation" for Brown. No get-out now. The reason, though, was apparently because they could not afford it! However, the whole thing would have been a charade anyway. Now the PM programme is liningup Gordon's pals on PM to say what a great guy he is. One thing I'm sure of. If there is NOT a contest many of us will be very, very angry. That simply does not reflect the feeling within the Party.