"Inquorate meetings, cynicism and disillusionment" - I wonder whose fault that is?
Interesting post from Susan Press of Labour Left Briefing:
http://grimmerupnorth.blogspot.com/2007/09/party-conference-in-balance.html
She blames Brown for "inquorate meetings, cynicism and disillusionment" in deepest Calderdale.
Of course, low attendance at Susan's branch meetings would have nothing to do with the other poor folk in her branch knowing that if they turn up they will be subjected to an endless round of whinging diatribes against the leadership, procedural resolutions, hymns of praise to John McDonnell, and model motions from the LRC.
Perhaps the other 131 members in Hebden Bridge joined the Labour Party because they wanted to offer their support to the Labour Government. Just a thought ...
posted by Luke Akehurst at 10:48 am
10 Comments:
Visiting Susan’s lovely blog is like time-travelling back to 1980. One of Militant's tactics was to bore other members of branches into non-attendance so that the true believers could take control.
It reminds me of what a huge debt we owe Neil Kinnock and his leadership team...
1:52 pm, September 12, 2007
Yeah. It's obviously just branches run by people on the left of the party that have trouble getting members involved.
To blame the leadership for everything is too simplistic, but then again so is blaming everything on left wing activists.
Members know that they have very little influence over policy, and unfortunately I can't see that changing.
2:14 pm, September 12, 2007
Actually, Luke, we increased our numbers of Labour councillors from 5 to 7 (out of 18) on the local Town Council at the May elections.On a left manifesto....written by me.
We had over 60 people at a leadership meeting earlier this year and there are MANY socialists in hebden Bridge.The problem is that most, understandably, do not equate socialism with the Labour Party.There is an active new CND Branch, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign - all of which you will no doubt find highly amusing.
You are absolutely entitled to disagree with my politics but it's rather sad and completely erroneous to blame the left for small attendance at meetings. Over 200,000 people left during the Blair years. Frankly, what is the point in going to Branch meetings when members are increasingly disenfranchised and when we have a leadership now intent on taking our last voting rights away at Conference.Which must be stopped... though no doubt you think it's a great idea.
PS: Last Thursday we got over 50 for a Labour Party quiz and curry night so maybe that's the way forward.....
5:29 pm, September 12, 2007
.... had not read your Progress article when I posted earlier. As usual, Luke, you demonise and distort.
CLPD's position on contemporay ( and emergency and rule change) motions ( which you suggest is diferent to Briefing's) is absolutely clear.They must all be retained so we still have "clear policy direction to our Parliamentary representatives on major issues of concern to members." CLPD also supported a joint meeting at the TUC fringe with the LRC and Save The Labour Party ( I am a member of all three...) Kelvin Hopkins, CLPD's Parliamnetary Liaison officer, writes in the latest newsletter of the "constant arm-twisting and control freakery" of New Labour. And why Brown's proposalsmust be opposed... I suggest you - and others - read it
6:13 pm, September 12, 2007
The question in my mind is why membership droped during the Blair years Was it disilusion with the process, or were they bored/driven out by Ms Grimmer up north and her allies.
Give my regards to your mother Luke, I am sure she can recall the days in Canterbury when the block votes of the Labour Clubs in Whitstable & Herne Bay were used to frustrate the ampaign for Labour Party Destruction.
PS I wonder if I go digging on "Make life Grimmer Up North" what we will find
9:34 pm, September 13, 2007
Gareth Williams said...
"The question in my mind is why membership droped during the Blair years Was it disilusion with the process, or were they bored/driven out by Ms Grimmer up north and her allies.
Give my regards to your mother Luke, I am sure she can recall the days in Canterbury when the block votes of the Labour Clubs in Whitstable & Herne Bay were used to frustrate the ampaign for Labour Party Destruction.
PS I wonder if I go digging on "Make life Grimmer Up North" what we will find"
I could not let this pass unchallenged.
The Labour Party now resembles the last chapter of Animal Farm. Boxer has gone to the slaughter house (we are in the process of abondoning the trade unions and ordinary workers who gave us unflinching support in the past). No one dares speak out, anyone who does is labelled a loony leftie and/or booted out the party. Some animals are more equal than others, i.e. conference being able to make policy stick and to top it all the ruling pigs are drinking with the old enemy, the humans. In truth they are indistinguishable.
Gareth you really are not a nice person are you?
4:28 pm, September 14, 2007
Yes, some of the right are seriously nasty pieces of work.I don't mind people having different views but have had personal abuse, (anonymous of course) and several comments i have had to delete.Luke at least is honest and upfront. If the nasty stuff goes on then so does comment moderation I'm afraid.....
7:06 pm, September 14, 2007
Clearly you have never been to Hebden Bridge, Luke!
I think its about time you actually started listening to those of us who left the Labour party. We are not all blazing left-wing hotheads. I still regard myself as on the right of the party.
But we don;t like your party's foreign policy, and I for one am reluctant to rejoin until I see a genuine change of direction.
12:18 am, September 15, 2007
It is a pity that the Troll under Hebden Bridge has to waste your blogging space to answer her critics, presumable very few Bloggers waste thier time on her space
PS when we look at "ANON" just who is Ravi - we have no back track or profile - Is Ravi an psudonym (sic) for S Press ? And just where does S Press earn her living ?
11:28 pm, September 16, 2007
Gareth said...
"PS when we look at "ANON" just who is Ravi - we have no back track or profile - Is Ravi an psudonym (sic) for S Press ? And just where does S Press earn her living ?"
My dear fellow why are you so angry? Were you not loved as a child or something? The reason I don't have a profile is because I don't have a blog (despite the party offering one on the website). My reasoning is a blog is very much like a diary, commitment is key. The only computer access I have is at work and commenting on other peoples blogs allows me to comment on issues people make.
If you disagree with me (which you obviously do) you can always respond to my comments.
I prefer to leave my name because I like to credit constructive comments to people, I also think it is polite. It is obvious to me you feel the same on the issue as you always credit your venom to you.
By the way I think Susan Press is, a woman, Labour councillor and a journalist, all of which I am not.
8:22 am, September 17, 2007
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