Wolfgang for the NEC

archbold Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 10:30:33 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Thought I would let everyone know that Walter Wolfgang is standing for the NEC. I hope that he gets all our support.





tags: , (all tags)

Display: Sort:
Wolfgang for the NEC | 16 comments (16 topical)

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#1)

by alexhilton on Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 11:19:40 PM GMT

I don't believe you should vote for someone just because they are a celebrity.

:)


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#2)

by John Miles on Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 11:22:44 PM GMT

Oh for Christ's sake...


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#3)

by markmcdonald on Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 11:51:36 PM GMT

ok I sugest you google him - you may be suprised!! I am not that shallow.


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#4)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 12:58:51 AM GMT

I've knoene him for 10 years....He's rubbish!


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#5)

by archbold on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 01:21:05 AM GMT

I can see that I need to say a little more in support for Walter. I had presumed (clearly wrongly) that he did not need any help from me and that support was almost guaranteed. There are four reasons why Walter would get my support:

i.    He has consistently maintained a position against the war. His views are frank, intellectually sound and his warnings on the outcome of the invasion of Iraq have been proven correct.

ii.    Even though he bitterly maintained a stance against war he remained a member of the labour party. More than many who hightailed it as soon as the going got tough.

iii.    He is old. I accept that not all old people get it right but he has a depth of experience that goes back 80 years and has seen youngsters like the Prime Minister (and Brown) come and go.

iv.    He is brave. He is a founding member of Britain's anti-nuclear movement and a veteran of five decades of anti-war protests, including a Sixties demonstration outside the American embassy in London when he was arrested and as a Jewish teenager returned twice to Nazi Germany from the safety of Britain


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#6)

by John Miles on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 02:41:46 AM GMT

Ok, I was wasn't happy with the way he was dealt with last year but being against the war, not leaving the party, not dieing, going to a lot of protests and getting screwed by a British government does not, in itself, make you a prime candidate for the NEC.


[ Parent ]

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#7)

by gordonbrown4pm on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 08:04:08 PM GMT

The only person worth voting for on the GA is Ann Black.


[ Parent ]

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#8)

by markmcdonald on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 11:10:41 PM GMT

I agree but think she is stepping down - she recomends Walter!


[ Parent ]

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#9)

by Andrea on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 11:20:45 PM GMT

No, Ann Black is up again.
The Grassroots Alliance candidates are:
Mohammed AZAM
Membership no. A602666
Oldham West and Royton CLP

Ann BLACK
Membership no. A353890
Oxford East CLP

Gaye JOHNSTON
Membership no. A391964
Hyndburn CLP

Christine SHAWCROFT
Membership no. A490373
Nottingham South CLP

Pete WILLSMAN
Membership no. A071448
Erith and Thamesmead CLP

Walter WOLFGANG
Membership no. A522284
Richmond Park CLP


[ Parent ]

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#13)

by TimSwift on Sat Jul 01, 2006 at 12:28:31 AM GMT

Firstly, I am unhappy about the ability of 'slates' to dominate this election. I don't see much in the agenda of the 'grassroots alliance' candidates, of which WW is one, which resonate with the campaigning work I need to do on the ground to get more Labour councillors re-elected and work towards holding the two marginal Labour seats in Calderdale. And whilst I will vote for Ann Black, because she does at least work to inform members about issues on the NEC, there are others on this slate tihs time, or who have been on it in the past, who are much too willing to write columns in the Guardian attacking the Labour Government during the run up to elections - including before 2005. As NEC members, they are already in a priviledged position to influence the national leadership; they should show more self-discipline and frankly a bit of loyalty to us poor sods who slog away on the ground.

Secondly, WW's views on Iraq appear to me to go well beyond the mainstream of those with doubts. And his anti-war views during the cold war seemed to me again to move well beyond the mainstream towards associating with groups that one could only describe as pro-soviet. So I am not inclined to vote for him.

On the positive side, I hope readers of this site will look at supporting those candidates who stand as individuals, and especially give one of your six votes to Lousse Baldock. Louise has been a strong and effective campaigner in West Yorkshire over a number of years; 18 months ago she moved to Liverpool, and this May took a Lib Dem seat on the Council.

Her web log is at http://louisebaldock.blogspot.com/


[ Parent ]

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#10)

by markmcdonald on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 11:37:35 PM GMT

sorry re read email she sent and had missread it!
Thanks mark


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#11)

by gordonbrown4pm on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 04:26:42 AM GMT

The labour people candidates are

Peter Wheeler, the chair of Salford CLP and political officer of AMICUS.

Ellie Reeves, ex chair of NOLS and active in London Young Labour. Works for UCATT and the T&G.

Philomena Muggins, Scottish AMICUS executive.

Azhar Ali, national policy forum and an ex leader of Pendle borough council.

Bill Thomas, leader of Sandwell council.


[ Parent ]

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#12)

by Andrea on Fri Jun 30, 2006 at 05:02:39 PM GMT

Talking about NEC elections, Dennis Skinner, Angela Eagle and Michael Cashman have been re-elected in the MPs/MEPs section.
Janet Anderson was the 4th (and defeated) candidate.


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#14)

by alexhilton on Sun Jul 02, 2006 at 12:10:16 AM GMT

I have met all of the above a number of times and Janet Anderson is the only one of the four that was less than pleasant to meet. Goven the opportunity, I would have supported all of the other three against her.


[ Parent ]

Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#15)

by tribunite on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 10:05:36 PM GMT


I have nothing against Mr Wolfgang, but surely he would just be getting elected because of the party conference incident.  It is as ludicrous as Adam Ricketts becoming an MP because he was once on Coronation Street.

Ann Black and Pete Willsman thoroughly deserve re-election.  But I refuse to back a 'slate' in internal party elections, so perhaps surprisingly I will vote for Lorna Fitszimmons - I have met her on a few occasions and always been really impressed with her.  On paper she looks like a hack, NUS etc, but she is actually a really sound, genuine Labour Party person (if you know what I mean, maybe not!?)


Re: Wolfgang for the NEC (#16)

by pipesmoke on Sun Jul 30, 2006 at 02:04:30 PM GMT

Lot's of factors enter into the choices for the NEC. Perhaps surprisingly so given that apart from one or two, we don't get to hear from them. I can't vote for Wolfgang because his candidacy is largely based not on what he did, but on the heavy handed reaction by stewards at conference.
I would have liked to have voted for Peter Wheeler as he is far more active at a grassroots level than any in the GA. The trouble is that Peter is Hazel Blears's clp chair and I have to ask can Peter be as independent? So Peter loses out because of Hazel's promotion. It's not his fault, but these things can be unfair at times.


Wolfgang for the NEC | 16 comments (16 topical)