Darren Williams [Image: BBC – I believe].

On the way home after meetings of the Labour NEC’s Disputes Panel and Organisation Committee. At the former, there was a fairly robust discussion about the mass suspensions carried out during the leadership election.

Several of us voiced our deep concerns about the process that had been followed and the heavy penalties awarded for what seemed in many cases, insignificant or even bizarre ‘offences’.

There was a general acknowledgement that the process needs to be reviewed and that much of it would be done very differently in the event that (heaven forbid) similar circumstances should recur in the future.

In the meantime, it is at least welcome news that everyone involved should have either a lifting of their suspension or a written warning or at least some news of their case by the beginning of next month.

This will not, of course, undo the wrong that has, in my view, been done to many innocent party members, who were denied a vote in the leadership election and have been excluded from party meetings.

The culture of the party badly needs to change to reflect the kind of open, inclusive and empowering politics advocated by Jeremy Corbyn.

It is immensely reassuring that there seems to be a move to accept that what was done to so many Labour members, supporters and applicants was wrong.

But I am concerned that people may get a written warning for offences that simply aren’t, well… offensive.

And I understand that some of these warnings may lie on these people’s files, to be counted against them in the future.

But the tone and the content of this message mark Mr Williams out as a man of integrity and conviction.

Let us all hope to hear more from him in the future.

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