Hoey defeats deselection bid

lambethlife Thu May 29, 2008 at 11:41:29 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey tonight (29 May 2008) came under sustained criticism for her actions during the last week of the London Mayoral election when Boris Johnson's team gleefully announced that Hoey would be advising him on sport if he were elected. 



The meeting was attended by more than 45 people (including many who have very rarely if ever been seen at GCs normally.)

One notable attendee was Lee Jasper who lives in the constituency and is a member (although I have never seen him at any Vauxhall CLP meetings or events before)

The meeting started with the MP's report to CLP during which she attempted to justify her actions.

Apparently Johnson shares the same corridor with Kate in the Commons and mentioned a few months ago to her that he would like to have her as an adviser if he were elected to which she claims she gave no definite answer. This was discussed again towards the end of the campaign but again Hoey claims not to have agreed to anything.

The Johnson team however ran with the story in the last week of the election using the Evening Standard to claim that Hoey had signed up to the Johnson administration. Hoey then released a statement in conjunction with Chief Whip Geoff Hoon and Justice Secretary Jack Straw in which she stated that she would continue as a Labour MP and was supporting the local Labour candidate (but making no mention of Ken Livingstone).

At the meeting Hoey went on to describe the benefits her role will bring in shaping the legacy of the olympics and in particular her wish to increase the number of people doing sport and her desire to fight sports facilities closures.

The actions prior to the Mayoral elections were condemned as extremely naive by clp members who expressed the great hurt they felt and the difficulty it caused when campaigning on the streets of Lambeth. A notable comment came from Lee Jasper who condemned the move saying that she had undermined the London administration and that party members no longer had confidence in her.

She answered that by saying it was important that she identify fraud and maladminstration in public life.  She stated that she thought she was "too honest to be a politician" and would speak out on fraud rather than keep quiet for the benefit of the party as ultimately fraud would impact adversly on local Vauxhall young people. She also said that it was wrong to think that  100,000+ people had switched sides as a result of the  announcement.

Then the meeting moved on to the four motions that had been submitted from wards asking for an explanation of the actions and calling for a meeting to discuss the issues to come to an undestranding that Hoey would support all Labour candidates in future.

An amendment was proposed by an anti-Hoey informal grouping  that seems to have developed within the clp (the membership of which seems to consist of an ultra-Blairite clique which is always out to get Hoey) which in effect called for her to be deselected owing to her actions.

There then followed many more speeches - the bulk of which seemed to be along the lines of shes done wrong, should accept the criticism but we should not deselect her but move forward.

 
Councillors, party members and party officers gave more speeches saying how hurt and betrayed they felt by her actions and how this had undermined local campaigning. However most stressed the enormous respect there is in the constituency for her and commended the good work she has done since 1989.

And then the amendment calling for reselection was put to a  vote - it was resoundingly defeated.

The general motions calling for a specific meeting to discuss the matters around the Mayoral campaign were passed - this is to be arranged at a future date.

A tearful Hoey then spoke to the meeting saying that
she would take on board the views of the meeting and work better with the party in the future. She stated that it was helpful to have the discussion and would move forward from here.

 

So all in all a night of high politics and high drama.


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Hoey defeats deselection bid | 16 comments (16 topical)

Re: Hoey defeats deslection bid (#1)

by Just Labour on Fri May 30, 2008 at 08:16:22 AM GMT

Thanks for that comprehensive record of the meeting - am not sure we would have obtained that any other way.

The local party would appear to have spoken, and resoundingly so. Time for all in Vauxhall to get behind the MP and for her to get behind our Government, and work for a 4th term victory in two years.


Re: Hoey defeats deslection bid (#2)

by swatantra on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:22:59 AM GMT

How many lives has the woman got? I suppose you have to give her the benefit of the doubt, and believe that she is working for London and not just Johnson.


[ Parent ]

Re: Hoey defeats deslection bid (#3)

by Eskimo Nell on Fri May 30, 2008 at 10:07:17 AM GMT

"An amendment was proposed by an anti-Hoey informal grouping  that seems to have developed within the clp (the membership of which seems to consist of an ultra-Balirite clique which is always out to get Hoey) which in effect called for her to be deselected owing to her actions."

For the interests of clarity on this debate, I supported the amendment to the Stockwell resolution - however I have neither supported Tony Blair whilst he was PM nor the majority of his version of a progressive agenda for some considerable time.

Neither am I "out to get Hoey". My support for the amendment is out of concern for the system of automatic reselection not offering the opportunity for CLPs to respond to events like this. Whilst one could argue that members had the opportunity to express their opinions and (in a round about way) vote on the issue last night, you cannot describe last evenings GC as a the voice of the CLP. I would feel more comfortable endorsing Kate if she had stood infront of an open meeting (where all CLP members have the opportunity to speak and vote), apologised and then won their support.

Unfortunately last nights meeting resembled the typical faction-split Labour Party that we have come to know. No discussion about the issue, just high passion and cheap shots at each other.


Re: Hoey defeats deslection bid (#4)

by lambethlife on Fri May 30, 2008 at 11:29:04 AM GMT

Sorry if I have misrepresented you - on reflection this was a poor choice of words.

I was trying to convey my perception which is that Stockwell GC delegates turn up only when there is a chance of criticising Hoey. To me the atmosphere last night felt like a witch hunt.

(and I know there are perfectly valid reasons why people dont turn up every month to GC meetings - its just that some people only ever seem to come out of the woodwork when there is an anti-Hoey move afoot) 

And as regards the open meeting that is what essentially we had last night - yes  it could have been longer and yes we could have taken an open vote but realistically at an open meeting it would be the same people as who attended last night and if anything a general vote would have defeated the Stockwell motion by a greater margin.

Our Labour MP last night offered a heartfelt apology for her actions and so that should be the end of the matter. We need to now move on from here: our Labour MP, Labour Council and Labour GLA member working together to forward the interests of Vauxhall, one of the most deprived areas in the whole country.

Internal party arguments matter little to the Vauxhall constituents - what they want is an effective local representative who will get things done for the area.

Whenever I walk around my ward and within the constituency campaigning at election and other times I am always struck by the admiration and respect with which Kate is held, dare I say more so than the Labour Party, we would be foolish to think about risking that for the sake of internal party arguments.

The membership of Vauxhall CLP consists of at most 700-800 people - less than 1% of the constituency population. Lets move forward with the Labour Party working for the benefit of the remaining 99% of the constituency.



[ Parent ]

Re: Hoey defeats deslection bid (#5)

by Eskimo Nell on Fri May 30, 2008 at 11:54:10 AM GMT

Yes Kate is 'elected' by the residents of Vauxhall, but she is 'selected' by the membership. There is a reason why we don't have open primaries for candidates and there should be a right for the membership of a CLP to make a decision on who they want to represent them - at any time, not just when selection comes round every four or five years.

Whilst I accept that the job is to represent the best interests of the local population in Vauxhall, nobody could look at yesterdays meeting at say that it either represented a united local party or an opportunity for every member in the constituency to have their say.

A dedicated meeting, to discuss Kate's position (following consideration of her actions in taking up a post with the Mayor) has been approved. I would like it to have the power, if members wished, to deselect Kate if they do not want her to be their representative as a candidate at the next election. I do not believe that would happen, as I believe that the majority of Vauxhall members would vote to keep Kate, however we are eliminating opportunities for members to take direct responsibility for the individuals that represent us publicly if we deny them the right to attend a meeting and decide whether that public facing individual continues in their role.

As for the local party, I have serious concerns about how it is run. Notification of meetings is not dispatched to all members and when I moved branch recently it took five months for them to get in contact. Vauxhall remains a small coterie of individuals who retain tight control over what does and does not take place. Disagreement is condemend, alternative opinions shouted down (last night this was made clear by both sides of that debate). Typical of local politics one might say. But not the way we should be operating given the future problems we will face.


[ Parent ]

Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#6)

by abigham on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:59:47 PM GMT

It's nonsense to suggest that there is an ultra-Blairite clique who are out to get Hoey. On the other hand, a huge number of people are extremely angry with what Kate Hoey has done - which is why one third of the GC delegates supported a motion to deselect her as the candidate and a majority voted to have a special meeting to discuss a set of repercussions for Kate Hoey's actions.

Many of the people who are regular activists in the CLP are the ones who are most annoyed about her behavious - not just working for a Tory, but also failing to campaign for Labour in many wards like Stockwell and Ferndale. Many of the people that supported Kate tended to be the less active members who Kate had phoned up through her office to badger them to come to the meeting.

There was also a lot of criticism of Kate Hoey for her stance on gay issues. She voted for a homophobic amendment to the public order act on 9 January, and voted against equal rights for lesbian couples seeking IVF. She was roundly condemned for these actions.

Just for the record:

The Labour Party 2007 rule book states:

2A.4 (b) “A member of the party who joins and/or supports a political organisation other than an official Labour group or other unit of the party, or supports any candidate who stands against an official Labour candidate…shall automatically be ineligible to be or remain a party member.”

Kate Hoey – her record
·        Kate Hoey has agreed to join Boris Johnson’s Tory Administration in London. It was announced 2 days before the elections, damaging Labour’s campaign.

·        Kate Hoey didn’t campaign for any Labour candidates in Stockwell, Ferndale and other Vauxhall wards – the heart of her constituency during the 2008 Mayoral and London Assembly elections. She appeared to lie in her official statement, when she said “I have and shall continue actively to campaign for Labour in these elections”

·        Kate Hoey did not publicly endorse the Labour candidate for Mayor.

·        Kate Hoey didn’t endorse all the Labour candidates for the Lambeth council elections in 2006. In Clapham Town ward, she appeared on a Tory leaflet, endorsing the Conservative candidate, Bernard Gentry.

·        Kate Hoey was elected as a Labour MP. However, once she got into power she voted against Labour Party policy more than 230 times. Kate Hoey regularly votes with the Tories.

·        Kate Hoey voted on 9 January to weaken gay hate laws. She voted in Parliament in favour of a homophobic amendment to the Public Order Act (1986) which would have stopped the prohibition of “expressions of antipathy towards, conduct relating to a particular sexual orientation” The gay rights organisation, Stonewall has condemned her actions.

·        Kate Hoey is an active member of the “I want a referendum campaign” which targets pro-European Labour MPs with small majorities
·        Kate Hoey has only managed to turn up for 50% of votes in Parliament since 1 May 2005– well below average for MPs.
·        Kate Hoey earns £15-20,000 in addition to her MP’s salary as Chairman of the Countryside Alliance. The Countryside Alliance ran a campaign to defeat Labour MPs in the 2005 General Election - a breach of the Labour Party constitution.
·        Kate Hoey has also earned over £5,000 a year in addition to her MP’s salary for writing articles in the Conservative supporting Daily Telegraph and the extreme right wing, Labour-hating Mail on Sunday

·        Kate Hoey received an undeclared amount of cash from the giant tobacco firm BAT for making speeches and hospitality such as free trips from British American Racing, which is owned by BAT. Kate Hoey voted against a smoking ban in public places.

·        Kate Hoey wanted the Olympics to go to Paris, not London.

·        Kate Hoey endorsed a DUP candidate in 2005, in breach of Labour Party rules (see right). A DUP adviser called the pope an ‘anti-christ’
·        Kate Hoey opposed a ban on handguns after the Dunblane massacre
·        Kate Hoey wanted to re-introduce terraces in football grounds when she was Sports Minister, despite the Hillsborough tragedy

(I can source all of these if anyone is interested)

 


Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#16)

by spiderlounge on Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 02:39:28 AM GMT

I don't see the problem with a Labour politician writing in the Telegraph or the Mail. Is preaching to the converted all you want politicians to do?


[ Parent ]

Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#7)

by lara on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:52:37 PM GMT

Err I think if anything it was the anti-Hoey lynch mob who were the ones who had called in the GC delegates who didnt normally attend and contacted members before to get them to come along. I would love to see you all at every meeting but am not holding my breath - Stockwell delegates only seem to come when there is a chance to criticise Hoey. I can understand that you might have felt slighted in the past but for goodness sake get over it and move on - focus on the future and stop the witch hunt



Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#8)

by abigham on Fri May 30, 2008 at 04:21:53 PM GMT

That's not true at all. I'm a Stockwell delegate and have been to plenty of GC meetings where we do nothing but pander to the MP.

There has never been any kind of witch hunt, just a realisation that our MP works for the Tories, votes with the Tories and is active in Tory pressure groups!

At least I have the balls to use my own name on my login - unlike the rest of the pseudonyms people comment under.

(Alex Bigham, Stockwell Secretary)


Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#9)

by Croslander on Fri May 30, 2008 at 05:08:17 PM GMT

I can't stand Hoey, but it takes a special kind of chutzpah for Lee Jasper to turn up and accuse someone else in the Party of sabotaging our Mayoral campaign in London. He is a self important idiot with a blind spot the size of City Hall.


[ Parent ]

Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#10)

by antibloodsports on Fri May 30, 2008 at 06:46:08 PM GMT

Hoey does indeed work for the Tories.

She is chair of the Countryside Alliance which has one objective, a Tory government which will repeal the Hunting Act. Evertyhing they do is designed for that end.

Im farid Vauxhall PLP dont seem to want to face up to what the vile Hoey represents and where her loyalties relally lie. 


Dog Bites Man [and Other Important News Items.] (#11)

by pbyrne on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:09:59 PM GMT


Did anyone really expect a different result? The majority of the delegates to Vauxhall's GC (like the majority of Vauxhall's voters) have dealt with this matter in the only sensible way.

Kate Hoey, like all of us, has her faults, but she works very hard on behalf of her constituents, and is generally respected and well-liked by the majority of them. Her continually increasing share of the vote since she was first elected in 1987 supports this.


I do not believe that it ever entered her head that Bojo's campaign manager would release news of her acceptance of the position as his adviser on sport before the election. Party campaign managers (Labour ones as well!) are a heartless, devious lot, and have no qualms about sacrificing anyone or anything to achieve their objectives, and it is always easy to be wise after the event. 

However, I suspect that the majority of Vauxhall Party members (as well as Vauxhall residents) are happy to have someone advising on sport in London who is so committed to developing sporting facilities for young people generally, and not just the privileged few.

MPs are elected as "Representatives", NOT "Delegates", and surely this means that once they have been swelected and elected they are entitled to a degree of latitude in how they act.

Would it really have been reasonable to expect her to have come back to consult the local party before taking up BoJo's offer?

Would GC members have foreseen the likelihood of Bojo's advisers leaking the information tactically before the election?

We came out rather worse in Nantwich - did the leak, in fact, have any effect whatsoever on the London results?

The Party is going through one of its periodic phases of unpopularity with voters. It won't help to publicly tear each other apart; and now the subject has been aired, and those who felt agrieved have had an opportunity to express their sense of hurt, the whole matter should be decently buried. We have a series of other elections to fight within the next two years. It won't help to have a further post mortem, and the idea should be dropped.


Hoey (#12)

by Curlew on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:52:53 PM GMT

"Would it really have been reasonable to expect her to have come back to consult the local party before taking up BoJo's offer?"

Of course

"...did the leak, in fact, have any effect whatsoever on the London results?"

That's not the point - she will be helping the Tory party in making a success, instead of scrutinising them.

If she gets away with this then it's the end of politics.  let's all work for one another and take the electorate for a ride!


[ Parent ]

Re: Hoey (#13)

by antibloodsports on Fri May 30, 2008 at 10:21:33 PM GMT

Agree with Curlew.

Do people seriously think that the chair of the Countryside Alliance (Chief Executive is Simon Hart a Tory PPC with close ties to Cameron and Vice Chair is Lord Mancroft who has written of them willing for the day the government falls, thats your Labour government Vauxhall  CLP" Hello!) has the best interests of the Labour party and Labour government at heart?

 
Errrrr no she doesnt. 

She is the enemy within.

 
Imagine how the CA will love having access to all the confidential internal Labour party information, campaign briefings etc that MPs have access to! 


[ Parent ]

Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#14)

by NB on Sat May 31, 2008 at 08:29:39 PM GMT

An MP's job is to represent their constitutents and to work for the good of the country. Their party loyalties come behind these (though ahead of any personal advancement of course).  Hoey has done the right thing.  And Johnson would have won with or without her quasi-support.


Re: Hoey defeats deselection bid (#15)

by antibloodsports on Sat May 31, 2008 at 09:46:29 PM GMT

just how is advancing the Tory cause and being chair of an organisation that is seeking the downfall of the Labour government "working for the good of the country excatly"?

 

 


[ Parent ]

Hoey defeats deselection bid | 16 comments (16 topical)