Peter Kenyon

NEC blue/red/purple sky thinking - the interval

Yesterday, the Labour Party's national executive committee held a strategic review chaired by 'hush-hush, whisper who dares' Michael (the enforcer) Cashman MEP. Maybe I have not been scouring the internet conscientiously enough, but I haven't read a tweet let alone a blog about the outcomes.

Of course, we members are to be fleeced and not heard. From what I hear, Chairman Cashman did not waste a moment from the chair in reminding the hapless NEC that they were not to utter a word about their deliberations.

Fortunately there are some NEC members who are all too aware that they represent members, not vested interests in the European Parliamentary and (Westminster) Parliamentary Labour Parties hoping to hang on to their careers with voluntary help from hapless members and supporters. There are elections for the constituency section of the NEC in 2012.

So I'm looking forward to the accounts of what was discussed on Tuesday. Rumour has it that Chairman Cashman was particularly anxious that the Labour Party should provide support to sitting MPs that DON'T get reselected when the boundary changes proposed by the ConDems come into effect (if their turkeys vote for Christmas). Other gems included Chairman Hain (he of National Policy Forum and Refounding Labour infamy) trumpeting Labour Supporters as the next target in the 'dash for cash'. Excuse me, I thought that Refounding Labour, over which he had presided, had explicitly stated that it was not the Labour Party's aim to milk supporters for cash. But I digress, the priceless gem. I'm told, is that policy czar, sorry Chairman Liam Byrne has covertly produced another set of policy documents....err, did the National Policy Forum even get to discuss his last braindump? He makes astonishing claims in a video clip on the Labour Party website: go to Labour Vision Fresh Ideas

Some of you may recall proposing, voting for and winning majority support for a rule change to elect regional representatives to the National Policy Forum. Do you even know the names of those whom members in your region elected in 2010? Well, in the interval while we wait for our elected CLP representatives on the NEC to risk the wrath of Chairman Cashman by telling us what was discussed on Tuesday, why not ask your NPF reps how you can help shape Labour's future?

That's the offer being made to Labour supporters and they don't have to pay a penny. Makes you think especially when that Direct Debit notice drops on the doormat.

 

Your call, Ed. You want to show who's boss? Sack Byrne and Hain

Immediately on becoming leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband — in his acceptance speech — laid down the values and the principles that he felt must underpin Labour’s programme in rebuilding after one of the most party’s most serious election defeats. The speech acknowledged the need to take stock of policy and to deal with our failings in office as well as simply trumpeting our achievements. But the speech also began to set out the new Leader’s vision for a re-vitalised Labour Party one that was firmly rooted in community and based around an active membership.

Ed Miliband quickly instituted two reviews, the first on policy led by Liam Byrne MP, and the second on organisation — Refounding Labour  — led by Peter Hain, MP. In establishing these processes, Ed Miliband spoke eloquently and passionately about how vibrant local Labour Parties are key to competing with the Tories.

Nine months on both Byrne and Hain have been swallowed up by the Victoria Street machine and delivered more of the same top down command and control proposals that lost Labour five million votes, and quarter of a million members.

Members' elected representatives on the National Policy Forum were sent an agenda and a document entitled:  A better future for Britain 36 hours before the event in Wrexham on 25 June. If that isn't a sackable offence in its own right, I don't know what is.

As for Hain, he has had all the advice necessary to know the difference between an open and transparent consultation, and the black hole that is Victoria Street. Refounding Labour as set out in the private and confidential paper before the NEC on Tuesday means the end of members' rights in selections, no accountability of Labour Groups to local members and no point to being a fully paid up member of the Labour Party. Is that the new Leader's ambition? Is that what members said they wanted in their submissions?

What Ed Miliband's own staff think they are playing at, in advancing the case for continuity, is a mystery, other than to make sure they are on the right side of Victoria Street when it comes to looking after their future careers in the Labour Party. 

Ed may have played a blinder against Murdoch. But to date against the Labour Party machine, he has proved seemingly powerless. Maybe a way forward is for him to sack his nominees for failing to deliver in a manner consistent with reaching out and rebuilding an active membership. That at least would be consistent with the abolition of shadow cabinet elections.