“We need an urgent end to this nasty factionalism coming from the top of the Party where the views of Labour members and trade unionists are treated with contempt.”
A coalition of trade union leaders, over 25 Labour MPs and Labour Party organisations have launched a new call demanding an end to the factional agenda from those at the top of the Labour Party and for the restoration of members’ rights and democracy in the Party.
The Restore Labour Democracy statement warns that “a narrow, factional agenda is being imposed upon the Party” and that this approach “is increasingly unpopular with the public.”
It adds that the recent controversy around the selection of Labour’s candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, along with withdrawing the whip from MPs standing up for their constituents, and the mass barring of councillors ahead of the coming local elections “weakens Labour’s roots in our communities, alienates voters, and undermines Labour’s ability to win both people’s trust and elections”.
The signatories have committed to “work together to strengthen our democracy and reverse this damaging behaviour.”
The General Secretaries of Labour-affiliated unions including UNISON, Unite, the CWU, the FBU and ASLEF are amongst the signatories (Full list below).
Richard Burgon MP, one of the coordinators of the statement, said:
“Under Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, there has been a clampdown on the democratic rights of Labour members. This has led to a small clique making out-of-touch decisions that have left the Prime Minister and the government deeply unpopular – from the mess over Winter Fuel payments to the appalling decision to make Peter Mandelson the US Ambassador.
“We need an urgent end to this nasty factionalism coming from the top of the Party where the views of Labour members and trade unionists are treated with contempt. Restoring democracy in the Labour Party is essential if we are to reconnect with voters and prevent the election of a Trump-style Reform government.”
Andrea Egan, Unison General Secretary said:
“Labour’s greatest strengths are its membership and the affiliated trade unions, providing grounding in communities and a unique link to the working class. Shutting down Party democracy has contributed to the government’s unpopularity and its failure to improve living standards. Rebuilding the coalition necessary to stop Reform must start with a more open and democratic culture in the party.”
Steve Wright FBU General Secretary said:
“The Labour Party was founded by trade unions to represent working people. When power is centralised and internal democracy is pushed aside, that founding purpose is undermined. Firefighters know what happens when decisions are made without listening to those on the frontline. Restoring democracy in the Labour Party is essential if it is to reconnect with its members, its unions and the communities it exists to serve.”
On behalf of concerned MPs, trade unionists and members, Richard Burgon MP has written to the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Lucy Powell MP, requesting a meeting to discuss the issues raised in the statement and the steps required to restore Labour Party democracy.
Restore Labour Democracy
Statement and Signatories at the launch
We are deeply concerned by the undermining of democracy and the rights of members within the Labour Party.
Denying local members in Gorton and Denton the right to choose their candidate looks like part of a pattern, alongside the widespread barring of hard-working councillors and the withdrawal of the whip from MPs standing up for their constituents.
It’s increasingly clear that a narrow, factional agenda is being imposed upon the Party and that this is increasingly unpopular with the public.
This approach is wrong in principle and damaging in practice. When the Labour Party sidelines its members, it weakens Labour’s roots in our communities, alienates voters, and undermines Labour’s ability to win both people’s trust and elections.
We will work together to strengthen our democracy and reverse this damaging behaviour.
We call on all those in the Parliamentary Labour Party, affiliated trade unions, and the wider Party membership who value and respect the vitally important role played by Labour Party and trade union members to join us in these efforts.
SIGNED
Trade Union Leaders Including:
Dave Calfe, ASLEF General Secretary
Andrea Egan, Unison General Secretary
Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary
Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary
Steve Wright, FBU General Secretary
Labour Organisations Including:
Campaign for Labour Party Democracy
Momentum
Labour Muslim Network
Labour Assembly Against Austerity
Labour MPs including:
Diane Abbott MP
Tahir Ali MP
Lorraine Beavers MP
Apsana Begum MP
Olivia Blake MP
Richard Burgon MP
Ian Byrne MP
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP
Cat Eccles MP
Mary Kelly Foy MP
Imran Hussain MP
Kim Johnson MP
Ian Lavery MP
Brian Leishman MP
Clive Lewis MP
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP
Rachael Maskell MP
Andy McDonald MP
John McDonnell MP
Grahame Morris MP
Simon Opher MP
Kate Osborne MP
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Jon Trickett MP
Karl Turner MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Steve Witherden MP
- Sign the Restore Labour Democracy statement now.
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THE LIEBOUR COMMUNIST TORY PARTY ARE AS BAD AS THE LAVATORIES no bloody good at all as Labour betrayed what it beleaved it’s now a pointless waste of space led by WANKEIR as he must go and call a GENERAL ELECTION but we don’t REFUCK OFF UK AS FARAGE IS A NAZI