#Democracy is under attack
Just reflecting on the past week as a Labour Party member.
The media as we know do not want to report anything positive about anyone supporting Jeremy Corbyn.
The disloyal PLP are given daily access to national media which hardly ever puts them under serious scrutiny.
The events surrounding the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC) beggared belief. The erosion of democracy by the instigation of a secret ballot was an indicator of what was to come. I am clear that if you are elected to a position then how you vote on issues needs to be transparent for members. After all we can see how MPs voted on the war in Iraq, or bombing Syria.
But the secret ballot was just the beginning, the attack on democracy within the Labour Party took an even more sinister turn when over 150 thousand new members lost their right to vote. But is got worse, confusion as to how you could still vote began to emerge. The confusion was clear to see from posts on social media. Increasingly requests for clarity were being sought and even now it is not clear. "Job well done" for those who are responsible for this attack on democracy. For a party that should be fighting inequality it was with great shame I read they were going to offer a last minute deal of £25 to vote in the leadership election.
Better people than me , FBU leader Matt Wrack for instance have condemned this decision which will exclude the low paid, disabled, students and pensioners.
Why are they doing this? Lots of reasons, the first is to dishearten new members into leaving the Labour Party. Their actions feed into the negative perceptions the public have of politicians. This is very very dangerous for democracy. Be clear their policy is to shrink the membership. Their coup demonstrated their contempt for the membership.
The Trade Unions have been told to get into line with the decision to close the door on getting a vote via joining a union. This is after Unite tried to secure a opportunity for their members to vote.
But the attacks on democracy didnt stop.
Their next move was to issue a diktat to in effect close down the Labour Party until after the Leadership elections.
For those new members to the Labour Party, please note, this decision is without precedent. It is an outrageous attempt to prevent Labour Party members to carry out legitimate business in their communities. There are some caveats which allow meetings to be convened. But be very clear this act, in my opinion as a member is bullying and intimidating.
But, it still isn't over there is more.
Rumours are circulating (I would be happy to hear I've they are not true) that there are members of the Labour Party trawling through social media looking for evidence to deny a member from voting. If this is true, who are they and who appointed them? What procedure are they following? How can it be challenged? I have seen elected members leaving unpleasant comments on social media, have they been prevented from voting?
Brighton & Hove Labour Party, apparently the biggest in the country. They have been suspended and they will not be allowed to nominate any of the candidates for the leadership elections. Their crime? They democratically elected a new executive to run the branch. Democracy apparently is not a good thing, the new executive members voted in have been turfed out and those voted out have been brought back in. What for is not clear since the branch is closed down. I think you can all guess which of the leadership candidates the majority of this branch support.
I maybe wrong but the public reasons given for in effect closing down grassroots Labour Party branches is that there is a serious risk to safety of members.
Let's get this out of the way. No abusive bullying intimidating behaviour should be tolerated in the Labour Party. Each case should be investigated thoroughly and transparently.
So back to the blanket ban, as I write these words I still find it difficult that this has happened.
The ban has been fuelled by actions attributed to Jeremy Corbyn supporters even if there is no evidence of these claims. As I have said the press are not subjecting any anti Jeremy stories to any scrutiny. To the effect that it must appear to the public there are mass brawls in Labour Party meetings across the country.
We know this is not the case , what we know if that Labour Party meetings are being held and publicity support for Jeremy and condemning the actions of the PLP.
There have been a couple of high profile acts of intimidation that I believe have been used to close down the Labour Party.
The first is the brick through the window of Angela Eagles office. I may be wrong but this story broke at the same time as she launched her campaign.
Like many others I saw the window heard the word brick and just shook my head in anger. Who did this, why, what did they think they would achieve by this unacceptable behaviour.
The national media turned on Jeremy, even though there had been no evidence that it was carried out by person who supported Jeremy. Jeremy condemned the act as he had always done. But the damage was done, a link to Corbyn supporters had been established without any evidence.
The second big story was another Angela Eagle story that she had to cancel a meeting in a Luton due to threats to the Hotel.
Another big story were allegations of intimidation and homophobia at Angela Eagles constituency Labour Party meeting.
All three stories have subsequently been put under scrutiny, but not by national media.
1. There are reports that the hotel are saying they did not receive any threats which contradicts what was reported in the national media.
2. Angela Eagles CLP: It has now been reported that Angela was not at the meeting and that the allegations of abusive behaviour at the meeting were completely unfounded.
3. Brick through the window. This I think was the most quoted story and perhaps fuelled the confidence that a decision to close down the Labour Party would be understood. Yesterday I watched a video produced allegedly outside Angela Eagles office. What it reveals is deeply worrying
http://youtu.be/ppnKHmuVA1s
http://youtu.be/ppnKHmuVA1s
I have never been to this office, if this video is not of the office in the building then the CLP needs to challenge this video. But if this video is true, then the public have been misled.
I thought a brick had been thrown through the office in a room where staff could have been working. But the broken window with the placard that has been all over national media is according to this video no where near the Labour Party office and the evidence looks like someone trying to gain access to the building. The video claims Police are no longer investigating this crime. I have not read any evidence that connected the broken window to the Labour Party.
I am sure many members watching this video will like me be shocked and concerned about this and other allegations which have been made and no doubt contributed to closing down our party.
Democracy within our party is a fundamental issue and gat is why I would like a statement from all potential leadership candidates
" Will you call on the NEC to rescind the decision to close down the Labour Party & the decision to disenfranchise new members from voting in the leadership elections from immediate effect."
John Burgess
