MPs asked to confirm whether they wish to stand at next general election, with deadline 8 July
In spite of the usual doubts expressed by centrists and so-called ‘mainstream’ media, the SKWAWKBOX’s exclusive three and a half weeks ago, that Labour members were imminently to be given the opportunity to decide whom they want to represent them in the next general election (GE), has been proven correct.
The party has begun the first phase of the ‘trigger’ process today, by asking its MPs to indicate by 8 July whether they wish to stand again, as Labour continues to prepare for the general election that could be called any time from this summer.
An email sent to all MPs today states:
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) July meeting will take place shortly afterward, so it is likely that the 8 July deadline is to allow NEC members to agree a timetable for constituency parties (CLPs) to decide whether they wish to hold a selection process or retain incumbents unchallenged.
Under Labour’s new rules agreed last September, only one in three of a CLP’s member branches (or affiliate branches separately) needs to vote for a selection process for it to be ‘triggered’. Incumbent MPs who wish to continue to stand will automatically be included in the final shortlist of candidates for members to vote on, on an OMOV (one member, one vote) basis.
A Labour Party spokesperson said:
Ahead of a possible general election, Labour will begin a reselection process of MPs. We are preparing for a general election, whenever it comes.
Under longstanding Labour Party rules, reselection processes are held within every Labour-held constituency in between each general election. The process isn’t new.”
A definitive guide to the process for members can be found here.
SKWAWKBOX view:
Labour members who wish to change their MP should start organising now – as should those who wish to keep their current MP, as both left and right of the party will no doubt be working to increase their representation and remove candidates they consider unsatisfactory.
The ‘mainstream’ media will, of course, be doing everything they can to cast the process as disunity and in-fighting. Labour members and supporters should make sure that this process is seen for what it is: an expression of the democracy and member-empowerment that makes Labour the force it now is.
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