The LRC (Labour Representation Committee) is one of the most venerable left-wing Labour organisations and plays an important role in composing the ‘grassroots left’ slates of candidates for important Labour elections.
Today it has endorsed Unite’s Jennie Formby for the position – and urged Momentum’s Jon Lansman to withdraw:
The LRC endorses the candidature of Jennie Formby to become the next General Secretary of the Labour Party. We have already publicised her statement, which makes it clear that she is fully supportive of the present Corbyn leadership. She is believed to be the favoured candidate of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell and has the support of at least 17 NEC members and 15 Labour MPs so far.
The LRC is perturbed to hear of a bid by Jon Lansman to be a candidate for the same post. This would be a huge mistake on his part and we urge him to withdraw. Most obviously it would be seen as a contest between two left wing candidates, which could allow the right to gain the post by default and damage the leftward move within the Labour party since Jeremy became leader.
Jon has only just been elected as a member of our NEC. If selected as Gen Sec he would have to resign his place, threatening the fragile left wing majority on that body. By the rules of the NEC election process, his place would be taken by the right wing runner up, Eddie izzard.
In his statement Jon claims, “I would especially encourage more women to apply.” This is bizarre. Has he not noticed that Jennie qualifies in this respect, and he does not?
Jon is seen as the head of Momentum, a powerful force for the left within the Labour Party. However his leadership of Momentum has also raised questions about his belief in the very democratic structures that members are hoping will be increasingly democratised under a new General Secretary.
The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.
Dear Skwawkbox – you used a draft version of our statement. The final version is below:
Jennie Formby for General Secretary
The LRC endorses the candidature of Jennie Formby to become the next General Secretary of the Labour Party. We have already publicised her statement, which makes it clear that she is fully supportive of the present Corbyn leadership. She is believed to be the favoured candidate of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell and has the support of at least 17 NEC members and 15 Labour MPs so far.
The LRC is perturbed to hear of a bid by Jon Lansman to be a candidate for the same post. This would be a huge mistake on his part and we urge him to withdraw. Most obviously it would be seen as a contest between two left wing candidates, which could allow the right to gain the post by default and damage the leftward move within the Labour party since Jeremy became leader.
Jon has only just been elected as a member of our NEC. If selected as Gen Sec he would have to resign his place, threatening the fragile left wing majority on that body. By the rules of the NEC election process, his place would be taken by the right wing runner up, Eddie izzard.
In his statement Jon claims, “I would especially encourage more women to apply.” This is bizarre. Has he not noticed that Jennie qualifies in this respect, and he does not?
Jon is seen as the head of Momentum, a powerful force for the left within the Labour Party. However his leadership of Momentum has also raised questions about his belief in the very democratic structures that members are hoping will be increasingly democratised under a new General Secretary.
Take the rather large hint Jon and duck out.
If you split the left you will never be forgiven.
” Jon himself was leader of the coup in January 2017 which abolished all democratic structures and imposed a new constitution on Momentum, riding roughshod over the organisation’s members.”
Taken at face value and not knowing the details, this is a very revealing statement indeed, especially considering those supporting Lansman in the name of more democracy and empowering members.
After reading from both sides on appointed or elected GS, I have reversed my position and think the GS position, which appears to be largely administrative, should remain an appointment at least until LP is further democratized and less at risk from elements wishing to turn back the clock to top down neoliberal hegemony.
I came across this account of the “coup” during my own search about this time in Momentum.
ttps://theclarionmag.org/2018/01/10/the-momentum-coup-one-year-on/
Great news. However I am affraid that Lansman is tacticly more clever then we would him to be. JC and JMD tried to convince him not to stand, he did it anyway, he probably wouldn’t if he wasn’t sure of his 2nd coup… Now his only path is to convince the right wing NEC members not to send their candidate and vote for him. That won’t be for free obviously…
Jon Lansman should withdraw his candidacy