Labour bosses in clamp down on local party

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NATIONAL Labour Party bosses have imposed tough restrictions on the party in Warrington following an investigation into a series of internal disputes and incidents said to have brought it into disrepute.
The NEC disputes panel has considered the findings of the investigation, carried out by Labour peer Lord Roy Kennedy, and has confirmed a number of recommendations.
These include bringing in a senior national officer to act as a single point of contact for all constitutional matters in Warrington and the immediate closure of the Warrington Labour Party website.
Labour has been plagued with internal disputes in recent times, with claims of computer hacking, bullying and intimidation.
Two councillors – executive board member Cllr Hitesh Patel and Cllr Chris Vobe, son of Warrington North MP Helen Jones – were for a time suspended from the Labour group on the borough council, although both have since been reinstated.
A third member, Cllr Kevin Bennett, is still currently suspended after voting against the party whip.
Among the recommendations confirmed by the NEC are:
*Eric Wilson, Labour’s senior constitutional officer, will act until further notice as the single point of contact for all constitutional matters arising in Warrington.
*Warrington North Constituency Labour Party (CLP) will immediately cease to be a delegated structure and from now on will only hold all-member meetings.
*The Warrington Labour Party website is to be closed immediately and separate websites set up for Warrington North, Warrington South and Warrington Young Labour.
*Local Government selections for seats elected from Warrington North and South (except by-elections) will, for the foreseeable future, subject to review, be held at a one day selection conference overseen by Eric Wilson. A regional panel will attend the conference and will join any ward selection meeting that is not quorate and make the selection if no ward members attend.
*For the foreseeable future, subject to regular review, the Warrington North CLP will no longer deal with any constitutional matters. The only business the CLP will be responsible for is campaigning and policy formulation. All matters relating to the selection of candidates for elections and the holding of future CLP AGMs and the operation of branches will be overseen by Eric Wilson, who will liaise directly with branches individually. Current CLP officers will remain in place until the 2014 CLP AGM, unless they resign and replacements are required.
*Audited accounts are to be filed with head office by each of the Warrington CLPs in accordance with Labour Party rules.
A spokesperson for the Warrington North Labour Party said: “It is not our policy to comment in detail on internal party matters. We do, however, note the recommendations made by Lord Kennedy and are pleased that he has included a number of the suggestions made by our members in their submissions.
“We are also pleased that he has recommended that responsibility for constitutional issues, including local government selections, across Warrington are to be overseen by one person.
“The focus of Warrington North Labour Party remains, as it always has, on campaigning for the best deal for our communities. We will continue to fight for Warrington North residents and deliver on our promises to local people.”
Pictured, right, from the top: Cllr Chris Vobe, Cllr Hitesh Patel, Cllr Kevin Bennett.


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13 Comments

  1. Any mention of not being capable of running a drinks party in a beer production facility?

    They are not capable of running their own little political group , but we are supposed to trust them with the council?

  2. See from these recommendations that they fall short in getting shut of the troublemakers or if I’m correct that’s coming next ? Maybe just gossip who knows .

  3. Sorry, where does it say anything about Helen Jones in the so-called “recommendations”? A more cynical person might say that you have just brought her name up because you have a particular axe to grind. There is quite clearly no problem with her. It looks to me like the focus is much more on the Labour councillors. Maybe this scheme to sort out the candidates is a good excuse to weed out some of the less capable amongst them and give us a better quality of representative at the Town Hall.

  4. Why can’t we see this report ? Is it so bad ? The NEC didn’t see the report over concerns that it’s damming contents would be leaked to the good people of Warrington .

    Online Petition is going to be started soon ??

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