Party’s procedure for leader and NEC nomination meetings says no one not entitled to vote should attend – yet Barking MP, who lives outside boundary, was checking in members arriving to vote
The Labour Party’s rules for meetings to nominate candidates in the leader, deputy leader and NEC elections state that meetings have to be held separately from normal meetings of each constituency Labour party (CLP), in order to ensure that only those eligible to vote can be at the meeting:
Barking Labour members say that their MP Margaret Hodge lives outside the constituency boundary and is therefore not a member of the CLP. Yet she was not only present at the meeting, but taking names and allowing or barring entry to members arriving to vote – a role normally carried out by the elected officers of the CLP:
In the video, Hodge is seen telling one arrival:
You’re not here [on the list] so sit down there
It is unclear whether the member was eventually permitted to enter.
Ms Hodge was asked to comment on her attendance and participation, but did not respond by the time of publication.
A Labour Party source confirmed that attendance at nomination meetings is restricted to CLP members and that there is no exemption for MPs.
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 or here for a monthly donation via GoCardless. 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.