The Labour Club in Whitstable, which was founded in 1978, has ceased to exist after its committee decided to dissociate itself entirely from the hollow shell that Keir Starmer has made of the ‘Labour’ party and become Whitstable Social Club – and socialist club. The new name has been painted on the front of the building.
The club’s new constitution, which will be ratified on Sunday, reaffirms its socialist values and its commitment to its community and to radical discourse – none of which, self-evidently, have any compatibility with Starmer:
The Club is a not-for-profit community organisation and as such all members are encouraged to support and assist in the activities, development and improvement of the Club. The Club fully acknowledges the values of the local founders of the Club and will therefore give priority to providing the people and voluntary organisations of Whitstable with an environment and facilities to promote the enjoyment of members and to enhance the Whitstable community in accordance with its status as a registered Asset of Community Value.
The Club is committed to treat everyone equally, regardless of gender, gender reassignment, ethnic origin, race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or political persuasion. The Club will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying, abuse, or victimisation based on any protected characteristic. The Club will ensure it treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for all members of the community to take part in and enjoy its activities.
To provide a meeting point and a means for the membership to make new friendships and generally enhance their social activities.
To provide a venue for progressive and left-wing meetings, events, music and films; and afford to its members a means of social enjoyment, mutual helpfulness, music events and recreation.
To strengthen the bonds between the Club and the local community.
To maintain and develop the Club premises so as to provide the best possible facilities for members and visitors.
To apply any profits of the Club in furthering the objects of the Club.
To apply for and operate a licence for the sale of alcohol drinks under the Licensing Act 2003.
The switch forms part of the ongoing phenomenon of councillors, groups and communities leaving behind the rotten shell and committing themselves to fighting for the local people of which they are part and which they represent.
The future of socialism, and of any hope for a better Britain, clearly does not lie in what now calls itself the Labour party. Instead it needs a surge of left-wing action groups with their (grass)roots deeply in their community, with national coordination and unity and an absolute refusal to bow to the pressure of an increasingly fascist establishment. Read more on the Whitstable decision here.
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Thanks 4 publicising this great news! Lets hope they themselves broadcast as WIDELY as possible their dynamic action and rational!! RADIO is best. Phone in!! Let the electorate know the intense disgust Sir Starmer (Keith) causes all decent people to feel🔴🔴🔴
That’d be a brilliant name for the ‘new’ party – “Disaffiliated Labour”. Thanks Whitstable.
Long may you flourish for the many, not the few.
Alan Davies
One of the bands who became a regular down the Club was the Jellybottys, who had a hit with their song Peter Cushing Lives in Whitstable.
Alan Davies, the comedian, mentioned it on QI.
He had his first gig in the Club.
One day he had a gig in the University and I approached him. I had just started writing my column in the Guardian. I said, “you had your first gig in the Whistable Labour Club. I probably put you on. Why don’t you come and play a memorial benefit for us?”
He gave me a superior looking side-long glance: “I’m going up in the world, not down,” he said.
Later he apologised. It was meant as a quip, he said, but it had come out wrong
Ah yes, the socialist (and dead funny, honest) ‘comedian’, Alan Davis…
…Who bites homeless people’s ears; who questions why liverpool aren’t forced to play on 15th april, while telling us Liverpool (as a city) would be his first-choice target for a nuclear attack.
Of course, Im guessing that those ‘quips’ also ‘came out wrong’ (although I’ve never heard or read any apology).
…Still, could be worse. Wee gobshite might once have been a patron. All the more reason to put clear distance from (smarmerite) labour.
Thanks for that Toffee. I took a strong dislike to him when he wrote a biography of his early years boasting of how well he reacted to his father’s sexual abuse of him. Nasty taste in my mouth too.