In the furore over Collins, there have been three main areas of concern. There is concern over the actual proposals and their implications – those have been addressed on this site by Jon Lansman. I would like to address the second and third of these areas of concern – the way the proposals are being […]
Posts Tagged ‘Ray Collins’
Collins Review: Miliband successfully digs himself out of hole. Labour remains in hole
Feb 5th, 2014 by Jon Lansman.When I read the email from Ed Miliband to all party members yesterday afternoon, I thought Left Futures should run a competition with a prize for the first person who could identify ‘Paul’, the possibly mythical figure who it is said has joined the Labour Party because of the ‘reforms’ now backed by Labour’s national executive: I […]
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With a 25% threshold, Labour would’ve had just 3 or 4 Leadership elections in 100 years
Jan 31st, 2014 by Jon Lansman.Mark Ferguson at Labour List reports today that “credible reports suggest that in future a leadership candidate will need to secure the support of 25% of MPs to get onto the ballot paper rather than the previous figure of 12.5%.” By my estimation (see below), had there always been a 25% threshold for valid nominations […]
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Party reform explained. Or why sack anyone who suggests a Clause IV moment
Jan 30th, 2014 by Jon Lansman.Labour’s national executive committee meet next Tuesday to consider the Collins review of the party structure. Time has therefore run out to decide what is to be done to get Ed off the hook for the ill-thought through and ill-advised speech he made last summer after he’d had a pasting at PMQs and wanted to avoid […]
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Labour at the crossroads: what the members think
Jan 23rd, 2014 by Ann Black.Consultation on Ray Collins’ interim report closed at Christmas. Since then, media stories suggest that any reforms will be negotiated between the leader and the unions, with members and their representatives sidelined – not exactly the new politics which Ed Miliband promised. Contributors were told by e-mail that the feedback which Lord Collins receives will […]
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Collins says “consensus is that change is necessary”. Prove it, publish the responses
Jan 21st, 2014 by Jon Lansman.Ray Collins, who is leading Labour’s inquiry into the relationship between the party and its affiliated trade unions, clearly takes criticism on board. Within hours of criticism from LabourList that party members were being left out of the consultation process, he circulated an email to party members thanking them for “hundreds of written submissions” which […]
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The battle for the soul of the Labour Party (part 47 – the unions are sold a dummy)
Jan 17th, 2014 by Jon Lansman.Sometimes, news stories simply distract the reader from what is really happening. Yesterdays ‘news’ on the Collins review of the Labour Party — trade union link is that Ed Miliband’s reform plans are faltering: there’s a hiccup in the negotiations between Paul Kenny on behalf of the affiliated unions and the Leader’s office, but it’s about […]
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Secret deal with Lib Dems may end Labour – union link whatever party decides
Dec 16th, 2013 by Jon Lansman.The Sunday Times (£ – but see also the related story at Exaro) yesterday revealed a secret deal between Labour, Lib Dems and the Tories to provide political parties with £40m in state funding and cap party donations (including from trade unions) at £5,000 which would effectively cut the Labour Party-trade union link whatever is decided […]
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The hidden agenda of the Collins review
Nov 4th, 2013 by Barry Gray and Peter Willsman.In his interim report on Labour’s union link (‘Building a One Nation Labour Party’), Ray Collins makes it clear that once a new affiliation system is in place, ‘we would address consequences for other structures in the party, such as the Conference’. At the moment the union and other affiliated organisations have 50 per cent […]
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The party, not its leader, must settle Labour’s future
Aug 8th, 2013 by Keith Ewing.So Ed Miliband is to have his Clause 4 moment. Last month’s announcement by the Labour leader of a special conference in the Spring to endorse Lord Collins’ as yet unwritten proposals to rewrite the Labour party constitution is a further provocation of the affiliated trade unions, which demands a strong response. The announcement compounds […]
