Balance of power on conference floor
The elections for the CLP section of the National Constitutional Committee give a useful indication of the politics of the delegates being elected to conference by constituency parties. The results were:
Rose Burley (supported by Labour First) 93154 (elected)
Kevin Hepworth (supported by Labour First) 86497 (elected)
Theresa Pearce (supported by hard left) 39730
Rita Stephen 26141
The hard left Campaign Briefing newsletter reacted to the high vote amongst CLP delegates that Andy Furlong got for the Conference Arrangements Committee by describing him as "hard right", his supporters as "the forces of darkness" and insulting elected constituency delegates who voted for him by calling them a "rotten borough". This is the language being used by the laughably named "Campaign for Labour Party Democracy". Seems they don't like democracy if it elects delegates they don't agree with.
posted by Luke Akehurst at 11:01 am
7 Comments:
But how many members does this represent? Labour5 party membership is at an all time low, and if someone like me who is certainly not sympathetic to the hard left doesn't feel able to retain membership, then its hardly surprising that those further to the left of me have departed
11:59 am, September 24, 2008
Mike, my impression is that the declining membership of the Party, and our declining popularity, has left the grassroots tilted further to the Left than at any time since the mid 90s. That said, this is purely anecdotal - I'm not aware of any hard evidence either way.
1:53 pm, September 24, 2008
I fear, Luke, that the problem is that conference is now modelling itself on Labour Students' Conferences from when you were national secretary. Which, though I enjoyed myself immensely, didn't really have an awful lot to do with democracy.
6:24 pm, September 24, 2008
I've thrown Lukes words back at him in another thread.
It gives me much pleasure to do the same to the lunatic "left"
"Which, though I enjoyed myself immensely, didn't really have an awful lot to do with democracy."
Quite so Duncan.
By the way Luke, I see that rather unpleasant journalist S Press has given up stalking you. Could it be she has lesser things to do !
18% in the LRC/CLDP corner - What a bunch of loosers !
GW
12:03 am, September 25, 2008
Frankly Luke, I would go further than that. We all know who the people are who write the poisonous tripe on the yellow sheet and the piece that you quote absolutely disgusted me and I shall make sure that it gets circulated to as many CLPs in my Region as possible, just so ordinary decent membeers know what the CLPD is really about.
11:33 am, September 25, 2008
Come on Luke. You don't really think CLP delegates taken as a groups are much of a democratic refelection of the membership do you?? Really?
Looks like reps for about 65% of the total membership voted. Though not necessarily 65% of the CLPs as we have some whoppers and some tiddlers.
Those attending self select to an extent to the ones who don't mind the drift from debate to rally, who have funds enough to pay, and a very high proportion can be new at the game and easily persuaded to do things by helpful staffers, MPs and old hand delegates.
If 350 delegations attended and an average of 8 votes was needed to secure a nomination as delegate (i.e. average quorum 15) then we have delegates selected by a relatively small number of members. Say 5250 voting in GCs and a minimum of 2800 of votes counting.
Still as you say just a few posts on it really is time for unity and as like you though from a somethingly different perspective I have supported Brown throughout the last 12 months, since he was coronated in fact, I'd like to second your unity post and jeer mercilessly at your divisive sectarian post.
Is that OK?
Are the CLPD getting all the credit for what appears on the yellow pages? Is that fair considering who usually produces it and how they do so? It's a ginger thing Luke, chip wrappings, nothing to get worked up about.
Anyway. Hilarious to have this sectarian rancour and a call for unity hanging around together.
10:27 pm, September 25, 2008
Luke, I have no problem with your opinions you are entitled to hold them. But please spell my name correctly Teresa Pearce.
1:45 pm, September 26, 2008
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