- Defend conference decisions!
- For Maximum Member Democracy!
- Support the Grassroots Left slate!
In an outrageous, anti-democratic manoeuvre, the returning officer for Your Party’s CEC elections has issued notice to several prospective candidates that they are banned from standing due to their alleged membership of other left parties or organisations. This is despite an overwhelming majority voting to allow dual membership at the party’s recent conference.
Candidates receiving the email have included Ian Spencer, who is part of the Grassroots Left slate which is supported by Zarah Sultana and Socialist Alternative. Only under significant pressure from below has HQ been forced to back down on Ian’s exclusion. Another notable recipient was Dave Nellist, a former MP and councillor in Coventry who is a member of the Socialist Party, among several others.
This move has rightly sparked outrage. The overwhelming mood of members, which was expressed as clearly as it possibly could be at the party’s conference and in the all-member votes, was a rejection of witch hunts, bans or proscriptions. These are the methods of the Labour right. They were weaponised heavily against Corbyn supporters in that party. Replicating that kind of culture in Your Party would be disastrous.
The fact that the unelected clique currently controlling YP HQ are resorting to these kinds of methods indicates clearly that they are losing the argument among members. It’s vital that YP now elects a leadership that will be committed to making the party truly democratic and member-led. For that reason, Socialist Alternative is supporting the Grassroots Left slate, which we think gives members the best chance at electing such a leadership.
It is ironic that the “The Many” slate for the leadership, which is backed by Jeremy Corbyn, has presented itself as seeking to unite the party. It is the Grassroots Left slate which has decided to endorse both the party’s most prominent MPs – Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana – to be part of the leadership. While “The Many” candidates tour the airwaves talking about ‘uniting the party’ the fledgling bureaucracy it bases itself on is carrying out a purge.
But the call for YP to unite and turn outwards needs to be more than a slogan. Branches are already organising all over the country. These must now be recognised formally and given the resources they need to campaign on issues that matter to working-class people, including in the lead up to May’s local elections.
If you agree, back the Grassroots Left slate, and join Socialist Alternative to keep fighting for YP to be a truly democratic party rooted in working-class struggle!
