“I am re-standing along with other left-wing colleagues to argue we must clearly oppose Tory austerity & attacks on our rights – & to support an increase in public ownership across the economy; a radical Green New Deal; a peace-oriented, independent foreign policy & fighting rising poverty & racism.”
By Gemma Bolton, Labour NEC & CLPD Co-Chair
In the context of the ever-deepening Tory offensive against working people and increasingly sharp cost-of-living crisis, it is shameful that the Labour leadership uses so much energy in attacking the Left rather than taking the fight to the Tories. And the response to the Forde report from the leadership shows they have learnt nothing.
That is why this year’s Labour NEC election matters so much in the fight for socialist policies and Party democracy. Ballots are being sent out from today so please keep an eye on your inbox!
The two candidates that have got through to the members’ ballot for Tory leader both offer nothing for the millions of people suffering in the crisis. Instead, they promise more years of pay misery and cuts to our vital services, whilst promoting the scapegoating of refugees, Muslims, trans people and others in order to divide-and-rule. And they are both committed to bringing forward massive attacks on our rights and civil liberties, including the abilities of trade unions to take action to protect working people and against our fundamental right to protest.
To win against this agenda, Labour must fight for a unifying and popular socialist policy agenda in opposition to Conservative attacks on our jobs, health, shared values and living standards.
I am re-standing along with other left-wing colleagues to argue we must clearly oppose Tory austerity and attacks on our rights – and to support an increase in public ownership across the economy; a radical Green New Deal; a peace-oriented, independent foreign policy and fighting rising poverty and racism.
And I pledge to stand with all workers taking industrial action against the ruling-class offensive. Those MPs who stood on the RMT picket line were on the right side of history – those who didn’t will be remembered as failing to stand with the rising tide of resistance against the Tories.
As an NEC member I have:
• Worked to create new democratic Student and BAME structures
• Produced detailed written reports of NEC meetings
• Voted to return the whip to Jeremy Corbyn
• Campaigned for the publication of the Forde Report
• Opposed unfair proscriptions and expulsions
• Opposed rule changes that weaken members’ rights
And hope you will give me your support to continue to this vital work.
Please vote for Gemma Bolton (myself,) Jess Barnard, Yasmine Dar, Mish Rahman and Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi as your CLP reps on the NEC. You can find an easy online tool on how to vote by postcode here.
All 5 of us are standing for election to Labour’s NEC to continue to fight for a socialist and democratic party which upholds democracy (including the rulebook and decisions of annual conference) and puts members and working people at its core. We will strongly fight for members’ rights, for party democracy and a greater voice for grassroots members at all levels of our party.
- Gemma Bolton is a the Co-Chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD) and a members’ representative on Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC). Support her campaign on Twitter here, and Facebook here.
- Use CLPD’s postcode tool to work out how best to use your vote in the NEC election here.
