Labour lose 3 points - ALL women leaving the party

Might be worth trying to organise a mass spoiling by anyone gender critical with the hash tag #sexnotgender to get our point across

Thanks, Where. I always say that a spoiled ballot carries weight of its own- more in hope than expectation. This suggests I'm right. There were apparently loads of spoiled ballots in the French Presidential election- enough for commentators to remark on it.

I will be writing #SexNotGender on my spoiled ballot if no better options present themselves

That's good to know Where, thanks

TerfyMcTerface Sun 11-Feb-18 12:52:44
Do we know if anyone actually notes the specifics of what is written on spoiled ballot papers?

Depends what you mean by 'note'.

Many moons ago, I used to be a vote-counter at local and general elections. To ensure no rigging by the counters, everything is actively scrutinised by candidates, party agents, whoever. I was on one side of the table and they were prowling the other side, eagle-eyed for anything untowards. As a lowly counter, any ballot paper that was not one cross in one box I put to one side, to be looked at by the supervisor, who would determine if it was a valid vote. Mostly it was blindingly obvious who the vote was for - the cross was beside their name rather than in the box, or it was a tick or some other mark in the box. Regardless, if it wasn't one cross in one box, it had to be confirmed by someone higher than me. The parties are desperate for those ballot papers to be valid and to be voting for them, so they paid a lot of attention to those papers, practically hanging over the supervisor as they adjudicated.

So, very close attention was paid to spoiled papers by the politicians and the parties during the actual count. I find it hard to believe that what is written would be forgotten the instant they left the count. And if a number of votes were spoiled in a way to indicate that the voter had done so over the issue of Self-ID, I do believe that the local parties and the candidates would take note, even if informally (and with a solid agreement never to mention it to the press).

However hard they try not to listen, they will hear a spoiled vote. And unless there's a real turnaround between now and the next election, I will be spoiling my ballot paper and making it clear that I do so because all candidates are pro self-ID, and therefore unacceptable to me.

I mentioned up thread that I had received an email inviting me to become a full member of labour. I sent a detailed reply explaining why I would not and that labour risked losing my vote completely. I said that I was appalled by the treatment I have seen of labour women trying to discuss concerns, including what appeared to be data protection breaches.

I got a reply from the local councillor saying she was "moved" by the issues I raised and was getting someone from the regional team to contact me to "reassure me". It will be interesting to see what they have say about it...

Bea Jaspert, bless her, is a study in #peaktrans. I've been watching her shock levels rise and rise in her utter disbelief as she realises what's been going on.

*Bea not Bra!

Bra Jaspert has tweeted this:

I'm seeking clear, evidenced information re @UKLabour stance on the row over definitions of woman and how these impact on womens rights, AW shortlists, DV shelters etc.
Please share evidence ONLY (not opinions/hearsay) using #WomenAskLabour

Plea -Labour MPs please talk to us?

People at the top of Momentum have penises.

The females are doing all the donkey work - trying to keep us all on whatever message it has been decreed that we should believe.

I do think it's a fight worth having against Self-ID within the parties. Whether it's won or not, it builds awareness of issues. And who knows what's possible? Trump and Brexit happened - maybe it's time for a good news surprise for a change.

There are plenty of Momentum members in my CLP against self id. Women need to stay in the party and make the argument within each CLP.

I believe you. I campaigned with Momentum in the last GE and the people were lovely - mostly women, mostly public sector employees, with the main impulse being anti-austerity.

The problem with Labour structures is that democratic centralism doesn't advantage those people. It advantages the obsessive ideologues - as you can see with what happened in the two CLPs where SargeSalute and Lily Madigan were involved. Most Labour members don't have time to live and breathe CLP manoeuvring. The people at the top of Momentum support self-ID and will make recommendations about how to vote on hundreds and hundreds of motions at conference.

I wish you well in the fight in your CLP and I'll keep doing my best in mine. But I don't think it will work. Sorry.

I sent an email asking for their position on the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act. The email response I had was that they had referred the question to their Policy committee. I'll let you know how they respond

Bet you it's that "trans women are women" and that they support self-ID.

There are plenty of Momentum members in my CLP against self id. Women need to stay in the party and make the argument within each CLP. Though now we’ve had the anti-Momentum misogyny and anti-semitism stuff I suspect for some people this is about more than self id. I’m not in momentum btw, but neither are my CLP’s worst misogynists.

Has anyone else heard about this new political party? An old school friend posted on FB about them, and another old friend has applied to be a candidate for them:

renewbritain.org

I sent an email asking for their position on the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act. The email response I had was that they had referred the question to their Policy committee. I'll let you know how they respond.

Cooroo popchyk

I got the labour 100 year merchandise tat email.
Never been in labour -except child birth-
Haven't yet donated to the fund either.

They must have bought a list. No pun intended.

Agree with Ytho

Ytho have you seen the latest news regarding UC and school dinners.

Big yes to that Horridemma. So many Union members in the Labour against questioning trans ideology transphobia group.

Maybe we need women friendly unions as well

LangCleg I love your posts.

I am a former member and am sad. It's finished. A new party for the women, Jews, soft left and centrists will emerge. Someone has to create it.

Please God, somebody invent this party so I can vote for if.

Piglet, of course bullying and abuse is not ok. What I'm happy about is that the locals had a voice and they seemed to have achieved the outcome that they wanted regarding their homes. They considered the development plans as social cleansing.

Labour has a democratic policy making structure.

Yes, based on democratic centralism, which makes it susceptible to particular cadres within the party. Hence all the kerfuffle about Momentum. Whichever cadre is best organised at conference will get its motions passed. Momentum will be the best organised and Momentum will support self-ID, as do some of the biggest unions already.

My CLP is not happy about self-ID but the committee is terrified of regional.

Labour is a big ship. It is not going to turn on self-ID this electoral cycle.

the Haringey council thing was locals opposing a housing development decision. Quite rightly so imo.

So you think the bullying and abuse that has allegedly gone on is ok?

Ibiscuit, the way I look at it is that it's a good thing the locals were able to have their voice heard and it made a difference. It doesn't seem to happen very often in this world.

Assigned, I hope you're right. In the meantime we're all just going to have to do what we think is right.