It’s in all the mainstream media that Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) – or, more correctly, a sub-committee named the Disputes Panel, has upheld Labour MP Angela Eagle’s allegation against her own CLP (Wallasey) that she was subjected to ‘homophobic abuse’. Wallasey CLP’s suspension, already in force for some months, has been extended indefinitely.
Ms Eagle has been quoted in all the major media today saying
It is now clear and accepted by the NEC that homophobic abuse was perpetrated by some members of the local party; I will simply not tolerate it, and I know I have the backing of both Jeremy and union leaders when I say that there is no place for it in the Labour movement either.
The SKWAWKBOX has spoken to a number of members of the CLP who are outraged at both the egregious nature of the slur, which amounts to an allegation of hate crimes, and at the implication that officers – who include members with gay children – failed to deal with, or even encouraged, ‘abuse’.
This writer understands that a number of CLP members are taking legal advice with a view to an action against Labour’s Disputes Panel and against Ms Eagle personally for defamation concerning the latter’s allegations of ‘homophobic abuse’ and will be seeking crowdfunding for the legal action in view of the huge financial support shown by Labour members and others for the court case brought by members disenfranchised during the recent leadership election.
One long-standing and well-regarded member told this blog,
Angela appears to have forgotten that Parliamentary privilege [protection from legal action for MPs under certain circumstances for things said during parliamentary proceedings) does not extend to party hearings or to things said outside official proceedings at Westminster. She is therefore liable for defamation of character if she makes untrue accusations and not simply free to make things up for whatever purposes she has in mind. We’ve been slurred as a group, but also as individuals, as the expulsion and other sanctions threatened by Angela against members clearly show.
We’re fuming – she’s claiming she suffered homophobic abuse at a CLP meeting chaired by a woman with a gay daughter and whose CLP secretary has a gay son, both of whom they fully support.
What’s more, she wasn’t even at the bloody meeting – and there were absolutely no complaints about homophobic comments in her absence. She was at a meeting later that she described as ‘bullying and intimidating, but I was at that meeting and everybody was completely civil throughout.
As for that brick allegation, there’s no proof there even was a brick, let alone that it was thrown by a Labour member and nobody has been arrested, so the NEC’s opinion that it was targeting her office is just that, an opinion.
She has personally made accusations, including again today in the news, that have seriously damaged our collective and individual reputations, painting us as hateful bigots. But her claims just don’t stand up to scrutiny – how can they, when anyone who knows us knows they’re nonsense and the room was packed with witnesses who can confirm that.
We can’t let her get away with slander in front of the whole country just to get herself off the hook. If you look at what they’ve done to Brighton and Hove[1] as well when the evidence shows clearly that there was no misbehaviour, it’s as plain as day that it’s all about silencing people and shoring up their own positions. It’s a stitch-up by the old party Establishment.
Reblogged this on Declaration Of Opinion .
The slander was repeated by James Benette of Wavertree CLP, in an interview on a local news station last night. A quick scan of the content of his Twitter feed reveals that he is a member of Progress.
Here’s a link to a factual timeline of events sourced from Wallasey CLP, covering these issues:
https://wirralinittogether.wordpress.com/2016/08/03/wallasey-branch-of-constituency-labour-party-timeline-to-wallasey-clp-suspension/
Brilliant, thank you – I’ll reblog shortly to make sure people see it
You can rely on my support for funds, in clearing their names.
I will chip in. Democracy demands I do.
Eagle has not been truthful. Would be good to know the names of this ‘Disputes Committee ‘.
The Establishment always close ranks. I will be happy to help crowdfund this good cause.
It would, but I can’t find it anywhere. It’s chaired by the deeply disappointing Ann Black, but that’s all that appears to be on the public record
Tom Watson and Ian McNichol are both members of the committee.
No surprise – nor the result, then.
Momentum has killed the Labour Party. I hope you’re all happy to be ruled by Tories.
Quite
The lying, slandering, undermining MPs and party functionaries killed Labour as a real alternative to the Tories years ago. Momentum – for whom I don’t speak, btw – and Corbyn are trying to resuscitate it.
well said giselle97
Reblogged this on The Greater Fool.
Let me know the moment that crowdfunding page is up.
Will do. Shouldn’t be long..
We stand together! Wallasey CLP End the suspension now!!
You really are a disgraceful, sad bunch.
Grow up and stop playing stupid, student trot games
Happy to approve this comment, as it says more about you and those like you than about the real left.
Reblogged this on MAL's MURMURINGS.
The police could not establish what happened about the vandalism, so how on earth could the disputes committee.
Lower standard of evidence, I guess. Below-zero low, apparently.
It is the onus of any prosecution to provide hard evidence. Where there is none, the NEC could be acting illegally in terms of the human rights act at least, in preventing the freedom of people to engage in political life and assembly. It must be pursued. I would be prepared to donate to a secure site.
I would love to know how many people who throw out the word ‘Trot’ as some sort of insult, actually know anything about Leon Trotsky or Karl Marx for that matter? Or do they just repeat what their masters tell them to?
More than happy to contribute to this. It’s not for the first time true Socialists have had to part with a few bob to ensure Democracy in recent history
I`ll support this