Early reports from the National Policy Forum meeting in Birmingham at the weekend are encouraging not only about the review of policy itself, but also about the reform of the process. We shall bring you fuller reports by tomorrow, but in the meantime there seem to be grounds for thinking things are really getting better. […]
Posts Tagged ‘Labour Democracy’
The campaign against Progress is serious
Jun 11th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.The campaign against Progress operating as a party within a party stepped up a gear today as the GMB Congress passed without dissent a motion highly critical of Progress which it compared with the Militant tendency, and calling for “the national political officer should monitor the factional activity of Progress, and report to the CEC […]
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“Putting members first” – the easy empty rhetoric of Labour internal elections
Jun 1st, 2012 by Jon Lansman.What exactly does “putting members first” mean? Sure, it gives the impression of warmth towards your voters in elections to Labour’s national executive and national policy forum. But first before whom? Before the public? Who thinks that? We’re not here for ourselves but to bring about social and economic change which will, in our view […]
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Centre-Left candidates for Labour councillor elections
May 28th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Labour councillors will receive additional ballot papers to elect their representatives on Labour’s national executive and policy forum. In the election for two NEC representatives, Jay Kramer of Hastings Borough Council will contest with Dave Sparks, leader of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, and Ann Lucas of Coventry. For the four national policy forum places, Steve […]
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Swansea Shenanigans: never mind fascists and incompetents, stop the socialists
Apr 2nd, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Regaining control of Swansea City Council after 8 years in opposition is Labour’s prime target in Wales, and one of its key targets across the UK. In a ward with a history of far right political activity (including entrism within the Labour Party), and less than a week before close of nominations, Wales General Secretary, David […]
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“Spring Revolt” sweeps Labour conference hall
Sep 28th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.After days of frustration at continuing manipulation of the conference agenda by party managers, a “spring revolt” broke out in Labour’s conference this morning. As a number of rule changes were proposed by constituency delegates, speaker after speaker spoke to loud applause and cheers in favour of the need for fairness and justice for constituency members […]
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Labour conference: resentment at manipulation grows
Sep 27th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.This morning, Labour’s conference gave another indication that its patience with party managers’ manipulation is running out. We reported the noisy dissatisfaction on Sunday with the railroading of Refounding Labour. This morning, they clearly resented the further gagging of those constituencies who proposed a rule change 18 months ago designed to prevent the “parachuting‟ of […]
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Proposed ban on parachuting candidates into safe seats blocked by sharp practice
Sep 27th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.First we had the stitch-up. Then the farce. But today, Labour’s party managers have excelled themselves in their cynical manipulation of Labour’s conference agenda. The Conference Arrangements Committee, in its interpretation of the rulebook, has added new dimensions to the elasticity of meaning. Delegates from six constituency parties (Amber Valley, Blackpool South, Caerphilly, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newport West, […]
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Refounding Labour – from stitch up to farce
Sep 26th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Giving registered supporters a vote in the leadership election is not popular with constituency parties who are concerned about devaluing party membership. And it’s not popular with trade unions, whose levy payers do pay a great deal of money to the party and who now, potentially, could have less influence. The precise way in which […]
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Conference opening marred by stitch-up
Sep 25th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.The opening of Labour’s conference in Liverpool was marred by the attempt to stitch up the debate on conference voting — inadequate time for debate and voting on the whole package, take it or leave it. Speaker after speaker rose to criticise it. The elderly delegate from Richmond Park was particularly loudly applauded (together with […]
