Here’s why the Labour conference decision to stack the NEC with unelected, anti-Corbyn members was wrong

Last Updated: October 12, 2016By
[Image: Oli Scarff/Getty Images.]

[Image: Oli Scarff/Getty Images.]

What a lucky coincidence that Steve Walker’s Skwawkbox blog would explain this, days before I put a motion before my own Constituency Labour Party demanding that the rule change be annulled.

Steve reckons (and so do I) there was an orchestrated and concerted attempt to force through rule changes at Labour’s annual conference, that would allow them to stack the National Executive Committee (NEC) with anti-Corbyn members.

It wasn’t clear from reports of proceedings exactly which rules had been broken, though – so I, and others, asked Steve to seek clarification. Records of the conference mention NEC member Christine Shawcroft speaking from the podium to remind the chair, Paddy Lillis, that the rules mandate a properly-counted ‘card vote’ if a delegate asks for one.

He sought out an NEC member, who agreed to talk about the issue on condition of anonymity.

S is the SKWAWKBOX and N is the NEC member:

S: The debate about the vote on the NEC rule-change package extended across 3 mornings, starting on the first day of the Conference, and became especially heated on the morning (Tuesday 27/9/16) of the vote. A number of delegates stood to remind the Conference and the Chair that the packaging together of an anti-democratic rule change (allowing extra members to simply be appointed to the NEC) along with good changes that unions etc had been campaigning for was against democratic principles – basically a ‘dodge’ to get it passed. One of your colleagues on the NEC even stood to remind the Chair that the rules state that if a card vote is requested, there must be a card vote. But some readers have said they can’t find anything in the rules that says that. Can you enlighten us?

N: The Labour party rulebook, in the ‘Procedures for Party Conference’ section, part 3A, states this:

“Voting at party conference on resolutions, reports, amendments, proposals and references back shall be by show of hands or, when the conditions laid down by the CAC require it, by card.”

The CAC (Conference Arrangements Committee) delegates report (number 1 that was presented on Sunday morning) clearly stared that voting is by show of hands UNLESS delegates request a card vote. The rules say the CAC will decide before Conference what the procedures will be – and the CAC agreed that a card vote would take place if requested.

S: Is this normal procedure?

N: Absolutely! In the past, a call for a card vote was always treated as a procedural motion, similar to moving next business, or whatever. In other words, if a card vote was called, it was taken.

S: So this is definitely a break with normal practice as well as contravening the rules?

N: Definitely. Recently, they started saying that a card vote would only be taken if the mover specifically asked for one – but Manuel [Cortes, head of the TSSA union] certainly did – twice, in fact. So it’s certainly custom and practice, and part of the CAC regulations, that card votes should be taken.

Source: Exclusive: Labour NEC member talks about ‘silent coup’ attempt | The SKWAWKBOX Blog

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7 Comments

  1. Brian October 12, 2016 at 4:06 pm - Reply

    Desperate people seek desperate measures when the heat is on. Can we assume that disciplinary action will be taken for this blatant attempt to doctor results.

  2. Roland October 12, 2016 at 4:37 pm - Reply

    It was all an attempt to bend the rules to suit these people should be made to pay for what they have done

  3. Roy Beiley October 12, 2016 at 5:07 pm - Reply

    It is difficult to comprehend the bare faced cheek these people have in trying to thwart democraticly agreed procedures to get their own way. Bullyboy tactics.

  4. John Spencer-Davis October 12, 2016 at 10:21 pm - Reply

    I do not understand why there is not an enormous push to have this vote annulled. The case for it seems unarguable. J

    • Mike Sivier October 16, 2016 at 3:39 pm - Reply

      Brecon and Radnorshire CLP just passed a motion to that effect. Ann Black reckons the NEC can’t defy the will of conference but then, this vote was the will of Paddy Lillis.

  5. John Spencer-Davis October 12, 2016 at 10:24 pm - Reply

    I also fail to understand why Paddy Lillis is still the Chairman of the NEC and has not been sacked or suspended for blatant bias and cheating.

    • Mike Sivier October 16, 2016 at 3:36 pm - Reply

      He’s not chair anymore. Genius Willmott replaced him at the end of the Labour conference.

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