Union Futures: PRESS NOTICE** Labour’s National Executive Committee Accused of Fixing Leadership Election from Start

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

PRESS NOTICE** Labour’s National Executive Committee Accused of Fixing Leadership Election from Start

MarshaJane
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www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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From: Mary Partington <partingtonmary@yahoo.co.uk>

Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 15:01:10 +0000 (GMT)

To: Mary Partington<partingtonmary@yahoo.co.uk>

Subject: [londonlrc] *PRESS NOTICE**PRESS NOTICE***PRESS NOTICE**L abour's National Executive Committee Accuse d of Fixing Leadership Election from Start*PR ESS NOTICE**PRESS NOTICE**PRESS NOTICE**

*PRESS NOTICE**PRESS NOTICE***PRESS NOTICE**

Labour's National Executive Committee Accused of Fixing Leadership Election from Start

Labour MP, John McDonnell, has accused the Labour hierarchy of attempting to fix the election process for the leader of the Labour Party from the outset.

Although the NEC has decided on a longer option for the election process it has drastically curtailed the nomination period to 4 days, from Monday May 24^th to Thursday May 27^th.

Effectively this means that the whole process is biased towards the Labour hierarchy's favoured candidates, largely excluding the possibility of others coming forward to secure sufficient nominations.

It also prevents rank and file party members having any say over the process. Labour MPs will have no real opportunity to consult their local parties and constituency parties will have no time to meet.

John McDonnell said:

"We thought that New Labour had learnt its lesson from the coronation of Gordon Brown and wanted a genuinely democratic process this time round. By curtailing the nomination process so drastically in this way the whole process is being discredited from the start. Effectively excluding rank and file members of the party in this way will just alienate all those who are looking for a fresh start."

"I will seek to gain sufficient nominations to stand in the hope that Labour MPs will support an open and democratic election."