A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left. Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.
Following the Centre Left Grassoots Alliance's (sic) failure to get one of their candidates (Fran Griffiths) validly nominated, they - or at least their main component, CLPD, have decided to urge their supporters to use their sixth vote for Ellie Reeves.
posted by Luke Akehurst at 10:19 am
Labour MP for North Durham since 2024. Labour Party activist since 1988 - firmly on the moderate wing of the party. Member of Labour’s NEC 2010-2012 and since 2020. National Secretary of Labour Students 1995-6. Parliamentary candidate for Aldershot (2001) and Castle Point (2005). Hackney Councillor (Chatham Ward) 2002-2014, Labour Group Chief Whip 2002-09, Chair of Health Scrutiny 2010-2014. Dad. Unite and GMB union member. All views expressed in a personal capacity. The rest will become evident from reading the blog.
18 Comments:
Dear Luke
As a stickler for detail, I'm sure you won't mind if I correct the record.
I seem to recall that Fran Griffith's CLP secretary (distracted by family illness) sent her nomination in too late.
It was not a failing on the part of the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance. A better description would be an 'occupational hazard' of any internal collaboration to improve party democracy in an organisation where member service is a dream yet to be realised.
The only part of the left opposed to the strategy initially proposed by CLPD to encourage support for Ellie Reeves is to the best of my knowledge isolated on a bridge in West Yorkshire - home of that more celebrated political eccentric, Bernard Ingram.
10:38 am, May 28, 2008
I find it regrettable that you adopt such a spiteful tone, Peter. As you are quite aware, this measure was opposed both by myself and another LRC member plus the Briefing rep at last week's meeting of the Grassroots Alliance. at which you were present.
I think you will also find that the LRC will NOT be supporting Ellie Reeves. Labour Briefing is also against this - and recommending a vote for 5 of the six. Your comments are hardly in the spirit of rapprochement which the LRC officers have actively been seeking with the CLGA -and will continue to in the interests of a left-of-centre slate.I am neither "eccentric" nor "isolated" My constituency nominated Fran Griffiths and it is reprehensible that her nomination did not go through.
5:31 pm, May 28, 2008
Ah, the Left. Don't you just luv 'em.
6:14 pm, May 28, 2008
Under the current voting system, if you want to get your entire slate elected it is better to use all your votes for whichever slate you support and not use the other vote, because whoever you support from the other slate might end up competing with someone from your own slate for the last place.
If you simply want the best 6 candidates, or you want to stop a particular candidate that you're not voting for, then it is a different matter. But I am surprised to see someone from one slate suggesting that people vote in a way that could stop someone from their own slate (perhaps even themselves) from getting elected. That seems to destroy the point of having slates.
6:38 pm, May 28, 2008
I'm supporting Ellie Reeves because she's done an impressive job. She is accountable and approachable, her politics are grounded and representative of where many members are at. I don't care what slate she's on, her and Peter Wheeler will get my first two preferences.
7:51 pm, May 28, 2008
Personally I can't think of any reason why the CLGA would make a recommendation for the sixth vote.
One of a few random decisions this year.
However, I also can't see the value of debating this on Luke Akehursts blog. So shall we stop?
7:56 pm, May 28, 2008
Dear Duncan
Why not continue the discussion over on my blog here;
http://petergkenyon.typepad.com/peterkenyon/
10:06 pm, May 28, 2008
ha ha - brilliant.
Susan calls someone spiteful, amazing stuff from the most sectarian blogger in the labour movement.
11:31 pm, May 28, 2008
It is perhaps a measure of my increasing hits in the blogosphere that I get an increasing number of insults from anonymous posters.........who are utterly contemptible.Fair play to Luke - we know who he is and where he is coming from
11:47 pm, May 28, 2008
Given today's report in the Guardian on Party finance we may find opposing factions supporting each others candidates so they can risk their meagre assets to pay off the debts funding the Blair’s airborne cavalcade from the last election and Lord Gould’s pointless poster sites. Perhaps candidates could set out the risks they are prepared to volunteer to pay for if elected – Christine could offer to pay off Cherie’s hairdresser bill and Ellie could perhaps stump up for the C and N by-election leaflets ( I am sure she supports ID cards for foreigners).
9:55 am, May 29, 2008
Isn't this just great peter, we all starting working as one and then you have to back ellie. I think she is a pleasant person and has done good work for my union, but she is no left winger.
John Wiseman
Unite
10:21 am, May 29, 2008
Given the story in today's Guardian about the diabolical state of Labour's finances, it's tempting to vote the people I LEAST like onto the NEC!
It seems that Tony Blair's true legacy for the Labour Party is bankruptcy. I just hope it's the Labour First NEC members who have to stump up...
10:27 am, May 29, 2008
Isn't it just tactical? I'll be voting for Ellie because she's good and nice and so on, probably vote more GRA than LF overall, but I'll think about it when I get a ballot paper and manifestos.
But won't she come near the top anyway? In which case doesn't it make sense for an alternative slate to campaign for her if they only have five candidates, than risk some of their supporters' sixth votes going elsewhere.
Thought experiment - Labour Party Membership falls to 20 people, equally split between the factions, and there are two places on the NEC. LF nominate Jim and Mary. GRA mess up and only nominate Louise.
Jim is really popular, Mary less so. 10 LF voters vote for Jim and 8 vote for Mary. 10 GRA voters vote for Louise. Now if they all vote for Jim with their second preference it's
Jim 20
Louise 10
Mary 8
Jim and Louise get on.
If the GRA don't endorse, and their voters don't know what to do, they might split 7-3 Jim-Mary. Then it's
Jim 17
Mary 11
Louise 10
And they lose their seat.
11:21 am, May 29, 2008
I agree John it is a good tactical decision, which is why CLPD are going for it who are nothing if not wily.
However this ain't about tactics this is about personal animosity and all the more entertaining for it.
12:37 pm, May 29, 2008
John Wiseman
You are a teacher.
Why are you active in Unite rather than one of the teaching unions?
There you could influence workers with collective power to change things.
Rather than with collective votes to manipulate meaningless slates.
9:09 pm, May 29, 2008
Well done jdc for expressing some sanity
"But won't she come near the top anyway? In which case doesn't it make sense for an alternative slate to campaign for her if they only have five candidates, than risk some of their supporters' sixth votes going elsewhere."
Exactly.
9:20 pm, May 29, 2008
Just to answer I am active in the NUT, (a wing rep in a big comrephensive) but to a lesser degree.
You have to be active in one union politically. I have been in Unite for many years before I became a teacher.
I am glad to hear the NUT has a political fund.
There was talk at that the NUT maybe willing to support some MPS across the parties that took into account teachers interests, but has seemed to die a death!
John
9:53 pm, May 29, 2008
Wiseman is a teacher?! I hope he doesn't teach politics or economics......
1:04 am, May 30, 2008
Post a Comment
<< Home