There were strange scenes were happened in Enfield CLP meeting last night. Yesterday 8th of December 2016 CLP convened to discuss year end statement from sitting Labour MP for Enfield North Joan Ryan and also to discuss 2 motions forwarded by mark French (See it here) and Lorraine Wilson. (See it here).
As we did expect chair Mr Peter gave enough time to first reports of the day and to the speech of Joan Ryan. Joan Ryan did a good speech. She asked our support for the next general election and underlined the importance of winning Enfield North. She claimed Jeremy Corbyn would not walk into Number 10 or labour will not be in power if we were to loose Enfield North. None of disagree with her.
Mark French contributed with good response to Joan Ryan requesting everyone to support battle to save the NHS.
Chair gave extra time to question and answer session fro Joan Ryan's statement. It seems chair was trying to drag on time to limit the time for motions. When the motions taken into discuss chair Peter Lamb said we need a quorum. Total number of members are 980 and there should be 10% of members present in the hall. We had only 66. This 10% rule adopted by the CLP few months ago claimed Chair. He also said they did pass certain motions without these numbers before. He admitted to that. He claimed that in this occasion issue we are discussing is suspension of two members. He does not want it to discuss unless we have enough people.
Maria Maccaul questioned that stand as well as Mark French, Ron Reader and others. They wanted motion to be-discussed at the meeting. Chair wanted to discuss it in another meeting. A councillor then got up, sternly addressed Mark French and said he should have knocked the doors of the people, and get them to come to the meeting in order to pass such a motion. He forgot that it is Secretary Gina and EC should have informed the members not Mark French.
Then Mark French got up and put forward a no confidence motion on chair. All hell broke loose. Joan Ryan was visibly angry. According to her, this is unprecedented and wrong. However, chair seem to work according to the rules and appointed vice chair to arrange the no confidence motion. Vice chair flatly refused. He accused mark French and others as nasty people who ignored Peter Lamb's work as a chair. He directly and arrogantly attacked members who put forward the motions. He insulted everyone who disagreed with him. He got up again and again to ridicule and humiliate Mark French and other members who facing this adverse situation kept calm and dignity.
After his refusal chair moved a motion, which no one can hear, some people in the front row voted for something we have no idea what for. Chair moved to do deliver the raffle ticket results.
Charles then spoke and condemn the behaviour of Vice Chair and he got a big applause.
People left the room.
This is undeniably nasty piece of work by Joan Ryan and her trusted lieutenant Siddo. They should apologise to CLP and Labour members for this appalling behaviour. Siddo should step down from his position immediately.
