Cruddas shows true colours again in Iraq debate

Posts are few and far between at the moment - but i'm afraid you'll just have to put up with that for the foreseeable!

One thing I had to bring to your attention though was the way Cruddas voted yesterday in parliament - as you may be aware, there was a vote and debate yesterday in parliament on a motion (tabled by the opposition) to oppose Brown's proposal of holding the inquiry in to Iraq war in secret (although he conceded that they would 'try' to determine that 'some' of the inquiry 'may' be in public), without oaths and any form of possibility of repercussions in relation to the findings. Oh yeah and that the members of 'independent' inquiry were hand selected by the government.

George Galloway made a very good speech during the debate and quite aptly summed up the farcical nature of the inquiry:

'People have queued up to say they have nothing against the membership of the inquiry. Well, I do. The more the Foreign Secretary adumbrated their distinguished characteristics, the more I saw a parade of establishment flunkeys—Sir Humphrey This and Sir Humphrey That. Those who are not just grey blurs are in fact partisans. Freedman is one of the authors of the intellectual case for the war. He and his neo-con friends were the people who made the then Prime Minister’s bullets for the war. Gilbert hailed Bush and Blair—imagine, they are already two of the most discredited political figures in the world, and history has not even started on them yet—as akin to Roosevelt and Churchill. Yet both Freedman and Gilbert are among the very small group of people who will conduct the inquiry.'

John McDonnell MP, as usual, was there with a key intervention urging the government to finally allow the will of the people to prevail see here .

Jeremy Corbyn and Alan Simpson also spoke very well before the vote on the motion.

Being as the vote was probably the only chance that MPs will get to voice their opposition to Brown's proposal it was extremely depressing to see that only 19 Labour MPs rebelled.

After all this time, after each argument or supposed fact that was originally presented to the public to justify the war has been systematically discredited, after hundreds of thousands of deaths, after millions of people taking to the streets, after the intensification of anti-Muslim racism that has ripped our communities part, after most people across the political spectrum accept that the invasion of Iraq was at the very least a mistake or, as we on the left know, a wilful crime against humanity, only 19 Labour MP rebelled!

This is an inquiry about one of most important issues that has determined the political climate of our generation and still Labour MPs block any chance of there being any type of public accountability with regards to the people and the system that implemented this crime.

I would like to point out that Jon Cruddas MP and Michael Meacher MP were among those who voted AGAIN with the Government. Comrades, it is about time people stopped sowing (or allowing union bureaucracies / The Guardian /The New Statesman to sow) illusions in politicians who have repeatedly voted against the will of the people. Both Cruddas and Meacher voted for the war and complained since that they 'were misled' or that 'they made a mistake'.

Well the best way to remedy this would have been to vote against this shameful inquiry and allow for a proper examination of the facts! At the Compass Conference people spoke of change , what change when yet again the compass MPs voted with Government yesterday and defended the privilege of parliament against democracy.

For people's information the principled 19 were:

1. Corbyn, Jeremy
2. Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit
3. Drew, Mr. David
4. Farrelly, Paul
5. Field, rh Mr. Frank
6. Fisher, Mark
7. Flynn, Paul
8. Godsiff, Mr. Roger
9. Hoey, Kate
10. Hopkins, Kelvin
11. Jones, Lynne
12. Mackinlay, Andrew
13. Marshall-Andrews, Mr. Robert
14. McDonnell, John
15. Prentice, Mr. Gordon
16. Simpson, Alan
17. Soulsby, Sir Peter
18. Strang, rh Dr. Gavin
19. Wood, Mike

* NB. I just thought it was fair to point out that Katy Clark MP is on maternity leave.

Defend the Four Newsletter: Discip hearings postponed

UPDATE - the dates for the hearing have been postponed.

---

DEFEND THE FOUR

NEWSLETTER

8TH JUNE 2009

NEW DATES FOR

DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS

The next disciplinary hearings for Brian, Glenn, Kas and Suzanne will now take place on the 24th and 25th of June in London.

A lobby is being organised on Thursday the 25th June (details below.)

It is possible that these could be the last hearings before a decision is made as to whether charges are made against the four and if so what disciplinary action will be taken against them.

The amount of support that the four have received so far is tremendous and very much appreciated by the four. Many of you have attended all the lobbies and we are asking you to once again turn out on the 25th of June.

Protest letters to Dave Prentis are also important (please send copies to: info@stopthewitchhunt.org.uk)

GROUNDBREAKING COURT CASE

The Four are taking their case to court to test a European court ruling that states that people cannot be discriminated against on the grounds of "Philisophical Beliefs". The four are arguing that Unison is discriminating against them because they adhere to distinctive philosophical beliefs (i.e. those of the Socialist Party.)

More updates in future newsletters.

Donations to the campaign are also needed. Please make cheques payable to 'Stop the witchhunt', and send to: Defend the Four Campaign, PO Box 858 , London , E11 1YG .

LOBBY THE NEXT DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS

Thursday 25th June 2009

from 8.00 am

The Holiday Inn Regents Park , Carburton Street ,

London W1W 5EE

Please check the website stopthewitchhunt.org.uk

for any last minute changes!

PLEASE BRING PLACARDS AND BANNERS

UNISON Conference

A number of events you should know about for next weeks UNISON Conference.

 

The Tuesday night united left social will be held in remberence of Malcolm Campbell - Malc helped me organise the social and was vocal for the last few years on the need for the left to host socials and make an impact at conference - conference is what most members of the union outside london will remember Malcolm for  - so it is fitting that we hold it in his honour.

Conference Social Tuesday night 9.30-2am All are welcome tickets are £5 - Joogleberry bar with Live Band Robb Johnson and the Irregulars followed by Geoff Martin and the radio clash sound system - as an extra bonus - Geoff might bring his guitar and sing a few of Malcs favourite songs!

 

There are a couple of things on the tuesday before the social that you should also go to:

 

Firstly as always theres:

UNISON United Left Rally

Tuesday 16th June

7pm at Friends Meeting House

 

 

secondly ive organised an LRC meeting for Tuesday Lunchtime 

Is there a way out of the crisis?

12:30pm

Tuesday 16th June 2009

Holiday Inn, Kings Road, Brighton

Chair: Kate Ahrens (Unison NEC, pc)

Speakers include:

Kelvin Hopkins MP

(Chair, Unison Group of MPs & LEAP)

Katrina Murray

(Labour PPC for Dundee East)

Susan Press

(LRC vice chair)

 

Lastly it is very important that we all get to the Wednesday lunchtime fringe and make it the biggest fringe of conference as it has been in the last few years.

 

Fight the Far Right – not UNISON Activists!

Wednesday 17 June, 12.30pm

Arundel Suite Two, Holiday Inn Hotel

speakers including;

● Yunus Bakhsh

attacked by the BNP and

disciplined by UNISON

● Glenn Kelly

Still facing disciplinary

charges after two years!!

 

  

 

Solidarity with Tube workers strike

I've sent solidarity greetings to the tube workers who will be walking out later today.

Here's what Bob Crow has to say about the strike action.

Statement from RMT General Secretary, Bob Crow:

RMT doesn't resort to industrial action lightly, that's just a myth peddled by some sections of the media. The fact is that Tube workers have been driven into walking out today.
Tube bosses have deliberately provoked this confrontation and RMT wants the issues at the heart of the dispute to be resolved so that our members can get back to delivering a first class transport service.
On London Underground, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.
Up to 4000 jobs are at risk as part of a multi billion pound cuts package that can be traced directly back to the collapse of Metronet and the failure of the PPP.  

RMT have made it clear we expect managers to abide by agreements and we would simply not be doing our job as a union if we allowed the tube to treat our members as cannon fodder who can be hired at fired at will. On pay, we have asked for the usual single year agreement.
Tube chiefs attempted to impose a five year deal which would have meant real terms pay cuts into the next decade. We will not be bullied into accepting that our members should be forced to pay for an economic crisis that was cooked up by the bankers and the politicians.
 RMT has exposed the hypocrisy of senior tube managers on pay when 123 of the top TFL bosses are paid over £100,000 plus bonuses.
It is those same managers who are attacking, bullying and victimising RMT members over our campaign for job security and a living wage.
 RMT is committed to a modern and safe public transport system for Londoners.

That cannot be achieved by axing jobs, slashing rates of pay and imposing massive cutbacks on the Tube
MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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Well as promised here are the NEC results
The reclaim the union slate didn't do as well as I expected despite all the hard work we put in - but we held our own and did well in a few places.

Our SP comrades did very well winning 6 seats out of the 8 they stood in. 3 more sp nec members than last time.

Particularly impressive was that all of the 3 them topped the poll Vicky in yorkshire, Hannah in the Northern region (doubly impressive when you consider what's going on in that region and that she knocked off last years president Norma Stephenson) and April Ashley topped the poll in the female black members seats.

The other elected candidates who were supported by reclaim the union were Sue Gallagher, Gordon McKay and Tony Wilson, personally I'm very happy Gordon got elected as he's a good friend and top comrade :) he will be a huge asset to the NEC.

Disappointed with the health results where we didn't win any of the national health seats - which meant that our incumbents there Kate Ahrens and Karen Reissmann knocked off. :(

The left also lost Diana Leach and Helen Jenner all will be really missed by those that did get elected.

2 of the left nec members didn't stand again and the left failed to hold those seats (one female local gov and eastern male)

Shockingly John McDermott although he won the election is not the person who has been elected to that seat!

The results show that John withdrew which he certainly did not! John was eligible to be a candidate throughout the qualifying period and remains eligible to take up his post now - yet again the unison bureaucracy stoop to new lows and breaching of our own rules to ensure the outcomes they want. Rest assured there will be complaints and challenges to this and I'll keep you all posted.

(Apologies if I've missed anything off I'm sure we will have more details/post mortem to come! )

Here are the results of the contested elections.

BLACK FEMALE
April Ashley 31,410 ELECTED
Sofi Taylor 28,416 ELECTED
Elizabeth Cameron 27,724
Lorraine Mngadi 23,168
June Nelson 20,822

BLACK MALE
Mark Clifford 45,607 ELECTED
Hugo Pierre 31,290

YOUNG MEMBERS
Lisa Waldock 1,013 ELECTED
Chris Leary 724

EASTERN MALE
Kevin O'Grady 2,908 ELECTED
Martin Booth 2,723

EAST MIDLANDS FEMALE
Jean Thorpe 3,937 ELECTED
Moz Greenshields 2,895 ELECTED
Sharon Vasselin 2,524
Roz Norman 2,513

EAST MIDLANDS MALE
Chris Tansley 3,696 ELECTED
Richard Buckwell 3,012

EAST MIDLANDS RESERVED
Ann McMillan Wood 3,559 ELECTED
Karen Collins 2,951

GREATER LONDON FEMALE
Louise Cooling 4,122 ELECTED
Kim Silver 3,833 ELECTED
Sonya Howard 3,696
Mandy Berger 3,490

GREATER LONDON MALE
Jon Rogers 4,490 ELECTED
Conroy Lawrence 3,791

NORTHERN FEMALE
Hannah Walter 3,271 ELECTED
Josie Bird 3,263 ELECTED
Norma Stephenson 3,079

NORTHERN MALE
Paul Thompson 3,164 ELECTED
Alan Docherty 2,745

NORTH WEST GENERAL
Bob Oram 6,075 ELECTED
Alec McFadden 5,790

NORTH WEST FEMALE
Bernie Gallagher 5,981 ELECTED
Elaine Cotterell 5,067 ELECTED
Angela Bowen 5,052
Frances Kelly 3,989

NORTH WEST MALE
Roger Bannister 7,977 ELECTED
James Fallon 3,757

SCOTLAND MALE
Gordon McKay 6,143 ELECTED
Jim Burnett 4,450

SOUTH EAST FEMALE
Jessie Russell 3,754 ELECTED
Kathleen Symonds 3,688 ELECTED
Diana Leach 3,078
Linda Richards 2,815

SOUTH EAST MALE
Mike Tucker 4,320 ELECTED
Mark Fysh 3,262

SOUTH WEST FEMALE
Lesley Discombe 3,907 ELECTED
Tina Baker 2,806

SOUTH WEST MALE
Stephen Warwick 3,767 ELECTED
Nigel Behan 3,014

WEST MIDLANDS FEMALE
Eleanor Smith 3,937 ELECTED
Susan Gallagher 3,830 ELECTED
Annette Mansell-Green 3,130

WEST MIDLANDS MALE
James Anthony 3,409 ELECTED
Clive Shakespeare 3,330

WEST MIDLANDS RESERVED
Mary Locke 3,702 ELECTED
Claudia Campbell 2,815

YORKS & HUMBER FEMALE
Vicky Perrin 5,216 ELECTED
Sue Highton 4,793 ELECTED
Helen Jenner 4,297

YORKS & HUMBER MALE
John McDermott 4,670 WITHDRAWN
John Campbell 4,577 ELECTED

YORKS & HUMBER GENERAL
Wendy Nichols 5,717 ELECTED
Brian Steele 3,741

LOCAL GOVT FEMALE
Lynn Poulton 27,158 ELECTED
Julie Robinson 22,976 ELECTED
Phoebe Watkins 22,615
Marsha-Jane Thompson 14,968

LOCAL GOVT MALE
Glenn Kelly 28,182 ELECTED
Glen Williams 23,902

LOCAL GOVT GENERAL
Paul Holmes 28,838 ELECTED
Carol Lukey 24,005

HEALTH FEMALE
Ann Moses 11,191 ELECTED
Christine Sullivan 10,586 ELECTED
Kate Ahrens 9.880
Karen Reissman 9,788

HEALTH MALE
Eric Roberts 13,668 ELECTED
Roger Davey 9,686

HEALTH GENERAL
Clare Williams 12,188 ELECTED
Stephen Lintott 11,372

HIGHER ED GENERAL
Gillian Brown 1,065 ELECTED
Barry Blinko 686
Davena Rankin 653

WATER & ENVIRO GENERAL
John Jones 919 ELECTED
Rosemary Pickard 486

TRANSPORT GENERAL
Anthony Wilson 156 ELECTED
Kevin Naylor 126

POLICE FEMALE
Maureen Le Marinel 1,747 ELECTED
Rachel Hemingway 1,364

ENERGY GENERAL
Paul Glover 856 ELECTED
Simon Woods 459

MarshaJane

xx

www.unionfutures.blogspot.com



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UNISON NEC results

Well hopefully the candidates for the NEC will know whether or not we've been elected Monday with the full results online on Tuesday here


I'll let you know how the reclaim the union slate did ASAP :)

John McDonnell calls for end to faction fighting.

Press release.

McDonnell calls for end to faction-fighting to focus on radical policy change
 
The expected disastrous election results for the Labour Party are now emerging, Ministers are resigning in personal faction-fights, and a Cabinet reshuffle is taking place.
 
John McDonnell MP argues that it is not the faces, but the policies that need to change - and urgently - if the Party is to survive.
 
John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, said:
 
"The Labour Party was founded to transform our society. Undoubtedly disputes broke out in each era and were often bitterly fought but they centred on the basic policies and political direction of the party."
 
"Party members have looked on aghast, in disgust and anger, at the self interested, self serving political faction fighting amongst Ministers and MPs over the last week."
 
"It says it all that as Ministers has announced their resignations to the media not a single policy difference has been mentioned. Bouncing through a cabinet reshuffle simply to tie down potential rivals or plotters can only be a short term temporary fix."
 
"The message of the emerging election results continue to demonstrate the need for policy change if this Government is to survive. People have been alienated by the policies of illegal and immoral wars, privatisation of public services, attacks on civil liberties, unfettered greed in the finance sector and amongst the political class."
 
MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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The mystery of the missing list of MPs

UNISON members who want to check which members of the UNISON group of MPs are - like Kelvin Hopkins - decent honest people who do not abuse their ability to claim allowances and expenses (and which are not) might want to look on the UNISON website for details of who is in the group.

They won't find the list on the website just now though!

However, I do have a recent list (taken from the website at the time) on my blog here. ;)

Let's hope UNISON Labour Link update the list on the official website quickly...