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A new campaign to save Labour Party democracy
The recent blocking of Mish Rahman yet again showed contempt for Labour Party democracy — we need permanent campaigning for the right of members to decide, writes MATT WILLGRESS
Under Keir Starmer's leadership, Labour members have often been denied the option of selecting from a full range of candidates — meaning that many candidates like Mish Rahman, with significant support from trade unions and left-wing members have not reached the shortlist for dubious reasons.
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LOCAL Labour Party members in Wolverhampton West recently wrote an “obituary” marking the death of party democracy in their constituency.
It followed the recent exclusion of Labour NEC member Mish Rahman from the longlist in their parliamentary selection, and Michael Crick reporting that the “local Labour executive [is] in revolt over NEC bigwigs taking control of selection.”
Rahman’s blocking is yet another example of members and affiliates blatantly being denied the democratic right to choose candidates. And anyone who still doubts that trade unions’ views are not being taken seriously when it comes to candidates’ selection under the current regime should note that Rahman had the backing of seven trade unions and affiliates.
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