Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election

EllieReeves Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 02:27:59 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Dear Comrade 
 
I am writing to ask for your support to be re-elected to the Labour Party National Executive Committee. 



Two years ago I was the youngest person ever to be elected to the NEC by Labour Party members. And over the last two years I have always stood up for grassroots party members, and sent out regular reports after every meeting.

Nominations for the NEC elections closed in April and I was really grateful for the widespread support I received – 135 nominations from CLPs across the country.

Every member gets to vote the in the NEC election. The ballot will be sent out shortly and closes on 18th July.

Turnout for the NEC election is often low, and two years ago less than 20% of members voted. To have your say in how our party is run, I would encourage you to use your vote.

I attach a manifesto setting out my beliefs and explaining why I am standing for re-election. If you have any questions, if there is anything you would like me to raise on the NEC or if you would like me to come and speak to your GC please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please also feel free to circulate this to other colleagues in the party.

Best wishes Ellie Reeves Labour Party NEC



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Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election | 61 comments (61 topical)

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#1)

by e10rifles on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 03:26:57 PM GMT

But your last posting on here was over a year ago?

I'm voting for the CLGA 5.


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#2)

by alexhilton on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 04:21:17 PM GMT

I'll be voting for Ellie because she has worked hard - her rare posting here isn't particularly relevant to my choice.

I don't often vote with a single slate. At the moment, I'm thinking:

Reeves
Wheeler
Kenyon
Willsman

And of course, Mark McDonald for Treasurer.

But my last two I'm not sure about. Normally, I would put Black at the top of my list but I'm not sure this time.

I rather wish John Wiseman were still a candidate. I'd vote for him for the NEC, if only to shake up the old guard


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#3)

by lastword on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 04:25:52 PM GMT

I will not vote for any candidate associated with the shadowy "Labour First".  That outfit's the equivalent of Militant as far I'm concerned...


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#4)

by alexhilton on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 04:27:46 PM GMT

I'm not convinced CLGA is any less shadowy or democratic than Labour First


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#5)

by e10rifles on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 04:43:41 PM GMT

That's not exactly true. The CLGA hold regular meetings which anyone can attend. The constituent bodies of the CLGA also select their candidates by a semi-democratic procedure which is in the process of being overhauled to make it more democratic and transparent.

Labour First - who are they? How can I join? How do they choose candidates? Shadowy is just the start.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#6)

by lastword on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 08:24:15 PM GMT

Indeed.  Look at the way Mike Griffits was treated and one of Labour First's very own forced on he membership as our new "General Secretary".  Be afraid, comrades, be very afraid.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#7)

by Wiseman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 09:10:54 PM GMT

Ellie is a nice person, but I will have to vote with grassroots alliance (politics), but good look to all


John Wiseman


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#8)

by Wiseman on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 09:11:23 PM GMT

Ellie is a nice person, but I will have to vote with grassroots alliance (politics), but good look to all


John Wiseman


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#9)

by Free Radical on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 09:14:15 PM GMT

Ellie

Comrades say you are a member of / associated with Labour First. Can you explain what it is and what its policies are?


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#11)

by lastword on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 10:22:46 PM GMT

Everything you need to know:

http://lukeakehurst.blogspot.com/2008/05/nec-nominations-stats.html 


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#14)

by Free Radical on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:30:07 PM GMT

Lastword - thanks very much for this. The comments in Luke's blog are interesting, but I was also hoping that Ellie might be able to enlighten us about her involvement with Labour First, what it is, how it organises and what policies it believes in.

Ellie's manifesto does not tell me a great deal - it is remarkably uncontentious as far as I can see - anodyne might be another word for it...

Luke Akehurst's support for Labour First is a very good sign to me to vote for something else.

But I am finding it hard to find enthusiasm for this (vital) election. I will very likely vote for the five on the CLGA slate, but I think the CLGA's collaboration with the policy making changes of recent years have been a terrible mistake. We have seen our democratic structures dismantled around our ears and replaced with something that I think is opaque, manipulable and unlikely in the extreme to ever come up with something that the leadership does not like... What a shame.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#15)

by Free Radical on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:35:11 PM GMT

Well, perhaps "anodyne" is a little harsh. But I want to know precisely how members will be involved in decision making, not that someone thinks they should be. And I am deeply unimpressed by the OMOV policy "reform" of last year. Our democratic policy making has been eviscerated.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#10)

by David Boothroyd on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 09:19:55 PM GMT

I hate 'slates' for internal party elections and never vote for a full slate.


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#12)

by bigpapi on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:11:50 PM GMT

Ellie may not post on here regularly, but she is one of only three CLP members of the NEC to send out monthly reports of the meetings; that's why I'll be voting for her, along with Peter Wheeler and Ann Black, who are the other two.

If Pete Willsman thinks sending out one page every few months when CLGA want something from CLPs constitutes regular reporting, he's not on the same page of the playbook as me.


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#16)

by e10rifles on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 09:37:48 AM GMT

You can get regular reports from Christine Shawcroft in Labour Briefing.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#13)

by bigpapi on Mon Jun 23, 2008 at 11:12:19 PM GMT

Correction: I should have said CLPD not CLGA.....


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#17)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 02:47:08 PM GMT

When will we in the party stand up for meritocracy, Ellie Reeves smacks of dynasty/nepotism politics, it's a family affair of power hunger/grabbing, even the Benn’s are at it, right down to 18 year old PPC granddaughter.

I'm sick of people asking for my vote who clearly are not left wing, they think that by starting an address 'comrade' they can appeal to me? well no. If Ellie Reeves was anymore middle of the road she'd have tire tracks right across her back.

For God sake, we can kill off the upper middle-class careerists if we just work together.

Does anyone know her background pre-politics? I have £5 on private, grammar, or single sex state education – inner city co-ed she ain't. Oxbridge? lawyer? come on people has she ever struggled like us over the years? has she ever had to work an 18 hour day to put food on the table?


This is the problem, in Crewe the bunch of halfwits running the anti-posh campaign, were themselves the sons and daughters of the select few. It's long time we started to fight back. Look what has happened under the entire NECs watch? we've been knocked out by David Cameron, you couldn't sell David Cameron to any normal person a year ago because of the silver shovel in his mouth, but people now argue we are the same with our apparatchiks.



Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#18)

by ppbarrett on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 03:25:57 PM GMT

I can understand your grievances over careerism and nepotism that plagues the party's executive and selection procedure, but I can't agree with your view of 'having the right background'.

If a candidate can genuinely prove that they hold Labour's best interests at heart and that they will work on behalf of, not against, the membership, then they are worthy of a vote regardless of how many 'silver shovels' in their mouth.

Whilst I can understand that a hard-working up bringing can foster some brilliant political politicians, hasn't a good fair few of Labour's 'legends' been privately educated? Attlee went to private school and Oxford, as did Blair (ok, maybe not a 'legend' in many eyes). The Webb's were both upper class, as is most the Fabian movement and Tony Benn was a viscount. If you have a burning desire for our party to be run exclusively by Arthur Scargill-types for working-class men with chips on their shoulders then I don't think you have quite grasped the concept of the Labour party. We are a broad tent, for people of all backgrounds who share left/centre-left political views to come together in aid of the poorest and the excluded of our society.

 What I find most offensive, on a personal level, is your tirade against anyone who went on to do anything beyond an inner city co-ed. What of those of us who have come from non-privileged backgrounds and have worked hard enough and, to an extent, been lucky enough to reach Oxbridge? Am I less worthy of my party membership because I didn't go straight into employment, but instead sought to further my education? Does the fact that you work 18-hours a day make you a better person than me? A better party member? No.

 Lastly, before I end this rant, I was in Crewe in the days leading up to the by-election, and the 'select few' who were running the campaign tended to be the normal people who you champion in your post. The reason we lost, among other things, is that our campaign was perhaps too unsubtle and consequently was attacking aspiration, in a similar vein that your post does. 

 


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#20)

by e10rifles on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 03:53:17 PM GMT

I would also disagree slightly with the previous poster but the essence of the question is a good one.

Individuals from wealthy backgrounds are fine. Some have been among the Labour heroes. But the alarm bells should be ringing about our processes and structures when there is such a concentration of them as exists at the top of New Labour.

Similarly, there is nothing wrong with being a male MP, but we would ask questions of a system in which every single MP was male.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#22)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 04:33:18 PM GMT

Accepted points; but we are not in the 19th and 20th century, we should expand the backgrounds of individuals who we selected to at least reflect elements of our core vote, just because Atlee was educated in a pre-war private school doesn't change the fact that I, and at least the people I talk to, are mightly pissed off with the cynical 'Dear Comrade when I need something' attitude of central HQ upper middle-class hacks/careerists.

I take back the more personal angle of my post, I didn't mean it to be OTT on ER or the Benns, however we promote meritocracy, what are the chances/odds of what is happening to our party being the case if it isn't geared towards the select few London set? I suppose it was luck wasn't it?

You make the point that we misused the class card in Crewe, yet this contradicts the entire argument you just made about not using people's backgrounds? There was nothing about aspiration in walking around with a top hat on and calling him a poshboy was there? It really makes me angry that people like you don't understand the reaction to this, look what happend, how many pictures of our MPs houses did you see in the paper that week? I counted 5, how many dynasties did they lay into in the papers? I counted around 4.

Open you eyes, we were build on class politics and representing the working woman or man, we're called the bloody 'Labour' Party.  

Lastly, as aforementioned, I accept some of you criticisms, I was as much playing the troll as I was making a valid point. If you made it to Oxbridge off your own back good luck to you, if your a millionaire member who started from nothing good luck to you, if you're the son or daughter of a toff who is telling me about how to improve the conditions of people up and down the country who have nothing, I'm sorry at face value I don't buy it - you've never been in my shoes. Do I think we should reward hard working members from any background, yes of course, the problem is excuse merchants like you have been telling us for years it will get better and it never has.


We are in danger of completely ignoring a range of people who make up our core vote via our bad choice of representatives, the BNP are on the rise because everything is dandy for the select few in Islington.



[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#24)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:07:35 PM GMT

We are a broad tent, for people of all backgrounds who share left/centre-left political views to come together in aid of the poorest and the excluded of our society.

I never stated that we weren't; we could be a bit broader and reflect those poor people you so paternalistically want to help in a hobby like fashion. Let's bring in the former excluded people, we don't do it though do we?

What I find most offensive, on a personal level, is your tirade against anyone who went on to do anything beyond an inner city co-ed. What of those of us who have come from non-privileged backgrounds and have worked hard enough and, to an extent, been lucky enough to reach Oxbridge? Am I less worthy of my party membership because I didn't go straight into employment, but instead sought to further my education? Does the fact that you work 18-hours a day make you a better person than me? A better party member? No.

I never stated that once in my post. I referenced one individual and the Benns, both of whom do not match that background, you are fighting a argument that isn't going on my friend.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#31)

by ppbarrett on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:50:45 PM GMT

I never stated that once in my post. I referenced one individual and the Benns, both of whom do not match that background, you are fighting a argument that isn't going on my friend.

 

If it is anything to go by, your reference to,

 

“If Ellie Reeves was anymore middle of the road she'd have tire tracks right across her back.

For God sake, we can kill off the upper middle-class careerists if we just work together.

Does anyone know her background pre-politics? I have £5 on private, grammar, or single sex state education – inner city co-ed she ain't. Oxbridge? lawyer? come on people has she ever struggled like us over the years? has she ever had to work an 18 hour day to put food on the table?”

 

…you appear to be implying that a fulfilment of any of the aforementioned character traits makes a member, not just Ellie Reeves, less worthy to sit on the NEC/be a PPC/be an MP. Whilst I agree that ‘careerism’ amongst our representatives is an undesirable quality, just because they are upper-middle class doesn’t make them a careerist, nor is ‘careerism’ a trait exclusive to middle-class members – a working class member is just as capable of ‘saying the right things about the right people’. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#33)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 06:05:45 PM GMT

As I stated later in the comments section; it was a semi-joking/histrionic rant mixed with a healthy slice of tongue in cheek, I am sorry that you didn't get it.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#27)

by ppbarrett on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:36:20 PM GMT

“…are mightly pissed off with the cynical 'Dear Comrade when I need something' attitude of central HQ upper middle-class hacks/careerists.”

 Completely agree.

 
”You make the point that we misused the class card in Crewe, yet this contradicts the entire argument you just made about not using people's backgrounds?”

 How?! No part of my response was a ringing endorsement of the ‘class war’ campaign, in fact, my only mention of it was that it was perhaps too unsubtle.

 “There was nothing about aspiration in walking around with a top hat on and calling him a poshboy was there?

 No, walking around with a top hat and calling him a posh boy doesn’t attack aspiration directly. What it does do is belittle the intelligence of the voters of C&N, and means that we campaign on a negative basis. By extension, the ‘Tory Toff’ campaign led us open to attacks from our opponents and the media, who then (wrongly) transformed our campaign from an attack of one well-off Tory PPC to any person who aspires to become rich.

 It really makes me angry that people like you don't understand the reaction to this, look what happend, how many pictures of our MPs houses did you see in the paper that week?”

 I don’t know what you mean by ‘people like you’, I do understand what it means when Labour Toffs accuse Tories of being Toffs. I would have thought, however, that this was a reason not to employ negative class war tactics, or at least change the language we use when we do employ them, rather than culling our party of anyone who comes from a political family or owns a house worth more than £200,000.

Open you eyes, we were build on class politics and representing the working woman or man, we're called the bloody 'Labour' Party.  

 I agree, we should represent the working woman and the working man. We should also represent anyone who believes in tackling social inequality, anyone who believes in progressive taxation, anyone who believes in a pacifist, internationalist foreign policy agenda etc. The party should represent the working man, but it should also represent the progressive vote, and that can be any person, from any background.

 Do I think we should reward hard working members from any background, yes of course, the problem is excuse merchants like you have been telling us for years it will get better and it never has.

 What?! What have I said that makes me an ‘excuse merchant’?! If your point, as e10rifles extrapolated, is that we should have more working class representation amongst our MPs and PPCs, then I agree with you – this is where social background can be important. What I disagree with is the way you appear to be vilifying all people who are members of the Labour party who are not born-and-bred in the same way you are, which is what your original post implied (please correct me if I misunderstood).


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#28)

by ppbarrett on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:45:06 PM GMT

I appear to have italicized the wrong paragraphs. The last section should read,

  Do I think we should reward hard working members from any background, yes of course, the problem is excuse merchants like you have been telling us for years it will get better and it never has.

  What?! What have I said that makes me an ‘excuse merchant’?! If your point, as e10rifles extrapolated, is that we should have more working class representation amongst our MPs and PPCs, then I agree with you – this is where social background can be important. What I disagree with is the way you appear to be vilifying all people who are members of the Labour party who are not born-and-bred in the same way you are, which is what your original post implied (please correct me if I misunderstood).

 Apologies.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#29)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:46:15 PM GMT

Alex,

I think the overall point is we are in agreement if we take out personal references, I think we have both written in general terms and misunderstood the over sentiments of one another.

As your message shows, we are both in agreement on the central issue of increasing participation from certain sections of our core vote - that is my point. This latest message from you shows that we sit in the same area on this, even if we are both being facetious with each others points on purpose.  


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#30)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:49:28 PM GMT

I have called you Alex instread of ppbarrett, sorry you get my point.

Sorry!


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#37)

by ppbarrett on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 06:48:40 PM GMT

Actually, I don't think we do agree on much.

I don't agree that we should discriminate against candidates because of their background. Even if Ellie was from a single-sex country boarding school (which she isn't), she'd be no less worthy of my vote if she had the right ideas and put them across in the right way.

 I don't agree with your implication, joke or not, that people who did not go to inner-city co-ed schools are any less 'Labour' than those who did.

We may 'sit in the same area' on increasing participation amongst our core vote, but I'm not sure if there are many Labour members who would argue otherwise.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#43)

by gibbajibba on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 04:38:43 PM GMT

That is not my point; I want greater representation within our ranks for those who make up our core vote, something which electing the same members of certain families with similar backgrounds will never achieve.

You say we should not discriminate against candidates because of their background, well we already do in shortlistings for PPCs, AWS for example?!!!


Equally, if I am to believe what I read from the Fabians then it appears that they too agree with me that if we are to discriminate in the Party the most important area for the future (after the current wave for ethnic minority and female PPCs) with be based on class background. Not my words, theirs.


What you fail to appreciate is that my background is similar with the vast majority of our vote, I am one of the 85 per cent of this country that went to co-ed comp etc...but I feel that our candidates done represent me, if you take out grammar and public school educated Labour MPs the PLP wcould half. I am calling for a Labour Party that reflects the population at large, not London, not Oxbridge, not Lawyers; I know for you this is not important but for me it is. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#57)

by cloughie on Sun Jun 29, 2008 at 12:48:21 PM GMT

I go to Oxford and I´m an absolute legend. QED.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#19)

by otware on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 03:29:05 PM GMT

Too true. I would, however, argue that the Benns are generally in politics because they're good at it. No doubt the family is incredibly political, but I doubt Hilary Benn would have reached his position with New Labour off the back of father who is naturally the very definition of Bennite.

But yes, I do agree with you. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#21)

by alexhilton on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 04:30:58 PM GMT

The class war only makes sense if it is a war against the class system. If it's a war on the middle class then we're destined for eternal defeat.

I was born working class and am usually now referred to as middle class, no matter how much it makes my skin crawl. Are you telling me I'm now supposed to change sides?

And I too came from a family of Labour activists - my great-grandfather was reputedly a friend of George Lansbury and every generation since has been active - are you telling me this should preclude my involvement or ambition within the party?

I know Emily Benn and despite her age, she is outstanding. And she has the capacity to outhink and outdebate most of the journeymen in politics today. And rather than her age being a drawback, is government only supposed to represent old people? Would young people be demonised less if 16 year olds could vote or if there were a few properly youthful MPs?

Emily's part black and a woman so don't tell me she has nothing standing against her in the political world, which is still a world dominated by white men. If she has advantages due to her family and her name, then good on her - and good for the people who I hope she will one day represent.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#23)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 04:49:50 PM GMT

Yet again the point is missed. I am not saying we should just appeal to the working-class, we clearly need the middle-class to win an election - my argument is simple and I shall spell it out for you;

A) The party has few representatives from core voting sectors, black and female being amongst that (by the way, it may come as a surprise that there a more notworthy black females than Benn Jnr Jnr who should be in British politics).

B) In any organisation there are going to be careerists, it is annoying but true, however if your only hope of getting anywhere in the party is juggling political views to match the audience I don't want you - I'd rather vote for someone I disagree with then someone who changes the tune to meet the audience.

C) The excuse for nepotism and careerism should not be, 'it has always been that way', we are suppose to be offering a future to people and breaking down barriers - well that's the reason why I joined.

D) I don't care how many middle-class londites are in the party as long as they are counterbalanced with a more reflective bunch or people from across the country, a few more regional accents, black and female faces wouldn't go amiss would it? how about getting more candidates who have some work experience outside of politics and the white collar sector?

E) I know it is a rant and a pipedream.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#25)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:25:29 PM GMT

p.s. I knew when I was writing the original message that I shouldn't mention ER or the Benns because it would dilute the argument into a defence of them.

I know that to play the game you are playing, namely I'm A Careerist III (Return of the Zombie) you have to defend your friends on blogs against postings that may well be critical of them - as I'm sure you can tell us being a PPC is all about talking the right way about the right people (and being seen to do so), this is not about the individuals as much as the structure and processes of the party, as someone earlier pointed out quite wisely.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#26)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:32:38 PM GMT

Alex, my friend, it is more telling that you forgot to defend ER whilst waxing about Benn...your Labour HQ share price has taken a hit!




[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#32)

by andycharlwood on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 05:53:15 PM GMT

Full disclosure - Ellie is a friend of mine.

I think the tenor of gibbajibba's original post is out of order. Fair enough if you want to make a point about the class composition of the leadership of the party, but that wasn't what the original post was about. It was a smear and innuendo based personal attack, all the worse because gibbajibba has decided to hide their identity behind a pseudonym. Legitimate policy differences, fair enough. Smears and hearsay attacks - uncomradely and out of order.

For the record, Ellie went to a comprehensive school in Bromley (a borough with the eleven plus and selective grammar schools) not a private school. What sort of school are you at gibbajibba? (I am being charitable and assuming that your uncomradely rudeness is a result of the fact that you are only about 14 and don't know any better.......)


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#34)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 06:07:59 PM GMT

but was it mixed? ha, it was a joke.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#35)

by andycharlwood on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 06:12:05 PM GMT

Really? In that case, the best advice I can give you is don't quit your day job (or stop going to school or whatever) for a career in comedy writing. You aren't very funny......


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#40)

by gibbajibba on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 11:06:16 PM GMT

Sarah Ena, aged 47, I work in a bakery.


p.s. great put down, most original.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#44)

by gibbajibba on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 05:02:15 PM GMT

This will be my very last message on the matter just to clear this up for you as you are a friend;

You state;

Legitimate policy differences, fair enough. Smears and hearsay attacks - uncomradely and out of order.

Where is the smear and hearsay in my original message?


I said she has an upper-middle class background - true (Oxbridge lawyer? what was wrong with that)

I said she is a careerist - my opinion, look where she will be in 10 years time and you will share it.


I said she smacks of dynasty/nepotism - my opinion based on the odds of having two high flying politicians in one family.


I said she comes from either a private, grammar or single sex comp - true, her comp was single sex as someone stated on another blog yesterday.

I said she is a middle of the road candidate - well, again, that is an opinion based on other members of the NEC over the years and what they did and stood for compared, I know you don't share that opinion being a friend, but come on smears and hearsay attacks? - if your clique is so upset by what I wrote you really should not be in politics, it gets a lot worse then someone like me point out why I don't support someone.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#47)

by andycharlwood on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:52:13 PM GMT

I was going to leave it as Wiseman told me to, but as you have gone to the trouble of replying......

Going to Oxford and working as a trade union lawyer does not make you 'upper middle class' (those of us who know Ellie know that at best, she is 'lower middle class'!). Her old school, Cator Park, may be single sex, but its a comp in a part of london where the middle classes send their kids to the grammars, so I thought the tone of your post was deliberately misleading and a bit nasty - trying to portray her as an upper middle class, public school educated careerist, which she isn't. The political differences, fair enough, but the other stuff was, I though out of order. If that wasn't your intention, OK, but clearly I wasn't the only one to read it that way.




[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#38)

by donpaskini on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 09:28:14 PM GMT

I must have missed the previous generations of Reeves family politicians.

As Andy said, Ellie went to a comprehensive, and has been involved in the 'Comprehensive Champions' campaigning group for several years. In her day job she helps people who are injured at work by negligent employers get compensation, and helps trade unionists get legal representation.  Day to day experience of how things can be tough for working people, in other words.  She's also involved in the Justice for Columbia campaign.

The other thing is that standing for the NEC really really really isn't the sign of being a 'careerist'.  I don't think there is a single person who has been elected through the members' section in the past ten years who has gone on to become an MP, for example.  Being on the NEC is about going to boring meetings, reporting back to members and potentially being liable for the Labour Party's debts, it's not exactly a whole load of glory and glamour.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#41)

by alexhilton on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 06:18:53 AM GMT

Shahid Malik?


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#42)

by gibbajibba on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 11:17:33 AM GMT

Very true. The point is about perception of nepotism/dynasty in the media, using the example of what was said about some of our own politicians in Crewe, there doesn't need to be any truth behind it. I may be completely wrong, but that is my opinion, and from the look of a couple of the responses on here the opinion of at least a few others.

You purposefully conflate the argument by asking about the previous generations, knowing full well another member of the family will take Leeds West at the next GE. I apologise if a few people felt my original message was uncomradely harsh, but as a forum message I am expressing an opinion which regardless of whether you agree or not I am entitled to hold - just because you disagree doesn't mean you can shut down the mutterings of me and other grassroots members on this issue by calling it a smear. 

I am sure the family, brother, and sister teams (who can be found across the higher ranks of the party for years now) do a good job, I just don't buy that they all can be trusted not to pull strings for one another; it is human nature. May be I am being unfair, but I hate the idea of British politics following the American path on this, and in Britian one Royal family is enough.

   


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#36)

by Wiseman on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 06:24:41 PM GMT

andy leave it, it is personality politics.  Please talk policy

John


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#39)

by jkitleft on Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 09:36:39 PM GMT

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

seriously, I would much rather debate issues, rather than internal party politics.


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#45)

by Free Radical on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 06:31:30 PM GMT

Yes, but what are Ellie's issues? Her manifesto has a lot of very general statements that everyone could agree with. But how can she ensure that members views are represented? She supports the latest "reforms" which I have no confidence in whatsoever, unfortunately.

Where does she stand on: privatisation, PFIs etc, Trident, nuclear power, civil liberties, 42 days, and so on.

From my perspective her speaking up for the Trade Union link is a plus, but otherwise I don't see an awful lot and I don't like her support for the new policy making machinery. I am very unlikely to give her my vote.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#46)

by Free Radical on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 06:33:10 PM GMT

Also, in the interests of transparency, Ellie could tell us, here, what exactly is Labour First, how it is organised, how people join and what policies it is associated with. I would genuinely like to know.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#48)

by lastword on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:57:32 PM GMT

Wouldn't we all.  In the interests of the Labour party this murky outfit needs to be exposed and purged from within our ranks.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#49)

by andycharlwood on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:59:45 PM GMT

The first rule of labour first is never talk about labour first. I could tell you all about it, but John Spellar would probably put out a hit on me for breaking the code of omerta.....



[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#50)

by andycharlwood on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 11:01:16 PM GMT

Seriously, on what basis do you think labour first should be purged? What rules does it break? If Labour First should be purged, then presumably the supporters of other internal pressure groups/factions, like the CLPD etc. should also be purged?


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#51)

by grayee on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 12:48:32 AM GMT

Ellie at UNISON conference fringe last week on civil liberties http://grayee.blogspot.com/2008/06/civil-liberties-london-region-ndc.html

I thought she gave an excellent speech. Nuf said?


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#52)

by Stuart King on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:15:29 AM GMT

She also spoke out at the NEC after Kim Howell's controversial remarks about Justice for Columbia campaign.

http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/?link=newsPage&story=216

Ellie has my support and will be getting my vote.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#53)

by wgm on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 08:13:18 PM GMT

Ellie has my vote too. I'm tired of people in the Party looking for things to divide us, setting up groups to defend the true faith and then condemning other alliances - the history of the left is littered with splits and now is not the time for factions.

I thought Ellie was bridging the divide between the two slates, but it's sad that people are still looking out for class/education/employment proof that someone who is committing their time and energies to the Labour Party is somehow not "one of us".

I don't care if someone collects bins or is a company director, if they support Labour, vote Labour, give their time or their money to Labour, then we shouldn't be turning them away.


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#54)

by lastword on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 09:22:04 AM GMT

With the whipping operation I've just viewed to get her mates (Grayee, Kin and WGM) posting loud and vocal testimonies of her greatness - all within hours of each other  -Lady Labour First clearly wants this and wants it bad!


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#55)

by gibbajibba on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 03:27:53 PM GMT

Surely not, it does look a bit obvious doesn't it.

I am a bit upset that this article has been dropped so suddenly from the front of labourhome today only to be replaced with an older, clearly less popular, article.

"Labour should not be afraid to reform its structures or scared of disagreement. There will be times when we argue, but that is part of being in a democratic party".

Ellie Reeves Tribune article Sept. 2007


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#56)

by alexhilton on Sun Jun 29, 2008 at 02:17:12 AM GMT

gibbajibba

I'm the editor of this site, no-one else.

this piece was voted onto a prominent position by the readers and the onto a less prominent position on the basis of some more votes.

this piece has not been moved for any nefarious purpose - neither has it been "Whipped" into existence - I asked Ellie to post it here after i received her email.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#58)

by rupahuq on Sun Jun 29, 2008 at 05:33:05 PM GMT

Is Ellie likely to be returning to this site at all to bat back any of these comments?


Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#59)

by bigpapi on Mon Jun 30, 2008 at 10:31:22 PM GMT

Not if she's got any sense - she'll leave you all to your navel-gazing.

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned that Ellie had the backing of the Ann Black slate and the Peter Wheeler slate - which tends to suggest she's doing something right!

Well, she's got two votes from my house anyway.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#60)

by e10rifles on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 09:50:27 AM GMT

Not quite sure how she got the backing of the Grassroots Alliance. It certainly wasn't democratically decided.


[ Parent ]

Re: Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election (#61)

by oldsocialist on Mon Jul 07, 2008 at 01:47:11 PM GMT

I have known Ellie, and her sister who has also been mentioned in these posts, since they were both children.  I know their family background and can assure you that Ellie knows all about what it means to be working-class and to have to work to achieve something.  Ellie's paternal grandfather spent his most of his life working at a machine in a shoe factory in Northamptonshire, subsidising his income by taking on an additional part-time job in the evenings as a delivery-man.  Her grandmother also went out to work in order to help support their two children.  Ellie's father went to teacher's training college on the minimum requrement of 5 O-levels and worked hard as a primary school teacher (hardly upper-middle class) to provide for his own children.  Ellie's parents were separated and so she knew the difficulties of one-parent homes.  To describe her as privileged is, quite frankly, a load of b******s.

But this issue shouldn't be about a person's background, it should be about their ability to do the job and their dedication to that position. It shouldn't matter if you are male or female, black, white or green, or if you live in a council house or a  suburban detached home.

There is much that bothers me about today's Labour Party and the childish ignorance and damaging sniping that has been shown in these comments is very much part of that and does nothing to further the Labour cause.


Ellie Reeves seeks NEC re-election | 61 comments (61 topical)