NEC says No to Democracy

JR Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 05:26:48 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

I cannot believe that today, the NEC has decided that if Brown is unopposed in his bid to become leader of the party then we, the ordinary members, will not even get to vote on whether we want him or not. Does this party actually even believe in democracy any more?



So basically, if no big names challenge Brown, then he gets the leadership and becomes Prime Minister with no mandate, no democratic vote and no opposition. The Tories will have a field day over this.

The NEC say this is being done to save costs? Well I never realised that cost cutting was an appropriate reason for denying Labour members their democratic rights. If they can pay for Brown to attend the hustings and can pay for the deputy leadership vote, then it won't cost more just to allow us members to give our mandate to Brown.

I'm now left in the unenviable position of actually wanting McDonnell to get 45 nominations just so we can actually have a vote at all (not that it will make any difference).


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NEC says No to Democracy | 13 comments (13 topical)

Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#1)

by grimupnorth on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 05:32:29 PM GMT

JR, if YOU want McDonnell to get the 45 names  then the NEC has played a  blinder. The affirmative  ballot idea was rubbish anyway.


Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#2)

by JR on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 05:34:41 PM GMT

Well saying that, I'm not going to shed any tears when he doesn't get the 45.

But I think a vote is very important and shouldn't be denied from us. If only to stop Tory attacks on an unelected Brown, it's worth doing.


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Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#6)

by Algypalgy on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 01:56:51 AM GMT

What stupidity. Sometimes I really wonder about this site.

Surely its downright daft to hold an election for one candidate? and an affirmative one, at the cost of about £1million, is bloody stupid.

Did anyone who POSTS to this site every actual read anything about MEDIA MANIPULATION????

Don't let the buggers scare you so much, GB is the best thing since sliced bread, and our only chance of winning the next General Election, assuming you silly buggers don't self-distruct via media hype.

Together, united, we will never be defeated!!!

Algypalgy.


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Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#7)

by swatantra on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 10:47:18 AM GMT

Well I never! I'm glad you got that off your chest! There has to be an election for the next PM, even though we have to contrive one with a stalking horse. And don't forget, there is also a DPM/DL contest going on at the same time. Two for the price of one.


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Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#8)

by JR on Thu Mar 22, 2007 at 01:07:16 AM GMT

GB is the best thing since sliced bread

Hi Gordon, how nice of you to pay a visit to the forum!

You had a good budget today, but don't get too cocky! We still don't want you as leader!


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Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#3)

by stevie1969 on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 05:37:37 PM GMT

Maybe if McD gets the nominations it might tempt a big name to enter the game. John Denham perhaps?


Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#4)

by grimupnorth on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 05:58:05 PM GMT

Doesn't work like that.You can't decide to enter the race once  someone's already got the nominations, Denham  would have no chance.


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Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#5)

by bornin84 on Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 10:56:47 PM GMT

What difference would an affirmative ballot make?

Did Labour ever complain that prior to 1998 all Tory leaders were elected purely by the parliamentary party.

If anyone is so incensed by this decision, I would urge them to set up a campaign to change the nomination system so that all members had a say and try and pursuade the whole party that this was necessary. It might not have an effect this time round but may impact upon a future election if the party was that bothered by this.

I think my general opinion is that if the PLP are happy to be led by Gordon Brown and don't want anyone else to be leader then so am I.


Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#9)

by doctordunc on Thu Mar 22, 2007 at 06:44:29 PM GMT

We didn't complain because we were happy for them to look as elitist, anacrhonistic and absurd as possible, all the better to attack them.  We don't want that for the Labour Party.


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Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#10)

by Curlew on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 12:18:41 PM GMT

"The NEC say this is being done to save costs?"

That's probably what Stalin said when he didn't want to find out how little support he had from the Russian people.

If Brown has no mandate he can then do as he pleases - turn into the iron man? I believe he started out with good intentions but he is now a classic example of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 


Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#12)

by JR on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 04:11:53 PM GMT

With regards to your post on the Budget thread:

Please note that it was someone from the right who started this thread - not a leftie.


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Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#11)

by davidfloyd on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 02:18:16 PM GMT

I'm not overly fussed about whether or not an affirmative ballot would be held - if McDonnell doesn't get the nominations - but I'm highly dubious that it would cost £1million.

This sounds like a curiously round figure.

If all members with valid email address got to vote online and the rest got sent postal ballots, I'd guess it could be done for less than that.

I'm sure the other elements of the electoral college could also find more cost effective ways of voting, if they wanted to.

Also, if there's going to be a ballot paper for deputy leader, how difficult would be it be to add the question - 'Gordon Brown, yes or no?' to the same ballot?


Re: NEC says No to Democracy (#13)

by doctordunc on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 06:33:32 PM GMT

I agree with you on both points actually: the chance to vote 'No' to 'Brown: Yes/No' is not the choice I'm after; but the idea that it adds anything significant to the cost of running the deputy ballot is nothing more than a big, fat fib!

Anyway, it's looking increasingly like the poor old NEC will be stuck with having proper elections for both posts.


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NEC says No to Democracy | 13 comments (13 topical)