“It is highly regrettable that the party’s Leader has stated his view publicly when the matter is subject to internal party investigation.”
Peter Herbert OBE
By the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy
Diane, the first Black woman elected to Parliament and a lifelong anti-racism cam- paigner, has been under investigation by the Party for more than five months over a letter that she promptly repudiated and apologised for.
A fair investigation does not appear possible. Although there is reportedly an on- going investigation, the Party leadership and some frontbenchers have jumped in and made very negative pronouncements. As retired Judge Peter Herbert OBE (Chair of the Society of Black Lawyers) said in May: “It is highly regrettable that the party’s Leader has stated his view publicly when the matter is subject to internal party investigation.
“The process risks contravening the recommendations of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, which … recommended that ‘…the Labour Party should … implement clear rules and guidance that prohibit and sanction political interference in the complaints process.’
“The investigation could give rise to suspicion of being specious or even disproportionate, especially in light of the Leader’s interventions.”
Has the party machine already made a decision? In 2022, Diane was re-selected as the Hackney North and Stoke Newington parliamentary candidate, with the support of all party units participating in the trigger ballot.
Prior to this Annual Conference, the London Party apparatus intervened in Diane’s CLP, removed its officers and Executive Committee and cut off access to “Organise” for all elected Branch and CLP officers. No meetings can be organised by elected officers. The CLP’s Chair, Secretary and Treasurer have been replaced by appointees of the apparatus.
The party machine appears to be intervening to overturn both the CLP’s elected officers and its chosen parliamentary candidate. Of course, procedures to organise what looks like a coup are not covered in the party Rule Book!
- This article is reproduced from CLPD’s daily bulletin – read all of the edition’s from this year’s Conference at www.clpd.org.uk
