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Original poster

Labour members - discussion thread?

39 replies

Cwenthryth · 22/01/2020 11:17

Thought I’d start a thread as I think there are a few of us around here, to discuss Labour Party stuff/leadership election just from the point of view of those of us that are supporting the party and have a vote. I joined Labour the day after the election and left WEP to do so.

Have other new joiners heard much from them? I have two emails from Jennie Formby: one on 15/12 welcoming me to the party but with little other info, and one on 10/01 with some basic info about the leadership election. I’ve not heard anything else, nothing from my CLP on when/where they meet, how to get involved, how to attend hustings etc. Anyone got any clues?

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Original poster
Cwenthryth · 06/02/2020 21:27

RLB got this nomination on first round with >50% of the vote in the room. I’ll report more later :-)

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Original poster
Cwenthryth · 06/02/2020 19:31

Heading off to CLP leader nomination meeting. Excited and apprehensive all at the same time!

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wellbehavedwomen · 30/01/2020 22:09

I am so hoping. We've been solid Labour in this house all our lives. Can't vote for them now - how can we? If they just allow that this is a conversation that needs to be had, and women can't be threatened and silenced in this manner simply for wanting our rights protected, then we can start to find a way forward.

UpperLowercaseSymbolNumber · 30/01/2020 22:04

For those of you in or near London the LWN are having leadership hustings on 4 March followed by an international women’s day party.

I’ve bought a ticket and will go for the hustings not.

UpperLowercaseSymbolNumber · 30/01/2020 13:11

Rejoined member signing in.

JustTurtlesAllTheWayDown · 30/01/2020 12:58

Wow. Fabulous news. Very pleased to see it

ProbablyShouldntbut · 30/01/2020 10:50

Tottenham CLP passed this motion ( by , its reported, a large majority)

"Free speech for women
This CLP notes:

The debate around proposed reforms to the Gender Recognition Act requires sensitivity and respect for different opinions within the Labour Party.

This branch/CLP believes:
There are legitimate concerns to be addressed when balancing the need for
support and dignity for trans people with the need to maintain protection
for women’s sex-based rights, as enshrined in the Equality Act 2010;
The reaction by many party members to the activities of organisations such
as Woman’s Place UK, including denouncements from this year’s Labour Party
conference and aggressive demonstrations outside its fringe meeting, is
very concerning.
This branch/CLP resolves:
To encourage constituency parties across the country to follow good practice established by Hornsey & Wood Green and Tottenham CLPs’ Women’s Forums in creating spaces for women and LGBT activists to come together to discuss the issues in a spirit of respect and comradeship;
To make clear it supports the right of women to self-organise and freely campaign and advocate for women’s sex-based rights;
To make clear its support for Woman’s Place UK *and those campaigning for trans rights ** to organise and campaign, free from intimidation, at Labour Party events and among Labour Party members."

ProbablyShouldntbut · 30/01/2020 10:16

to be frank all of the leadership candidates will be in support of self ID. In part at least because its an issue that they haven't given much thought to, engaged with - or think they understand So years of (usually reasonably until fairly recently) assuming Stonewall are on the side of decency encourage a tick box attitude. I'm not saying there won't be some cowardice as well, but we shouldn't underestimate how little the vast bulk of ppl know about this nonsense. That said there is at least one distinction to be made.

The 2019 manifesto was a fudge... in that it supported self ID but also contained a commitment to defending sex based protections. How that circle was going to be squared is above my pay grade but....

The commitment to defending same sex protections was new...and wasn't there by accident - it was the result of significant work by feminists (and a few pro feminist men) in the party. It was argued hard at the Clause v meeting that settles the wording of the manifesto

Dawn Butler went out of her way to rubbish that Equalities Act commitment as soon as the manifesto was published. It's not good for any Labour politician to be criticising either the party and more specifically the manifesto during an election. For a front bencher to do it was a disgrace. She won't be getting a vote from me - not even as a fifth preference.

FlippinFumin · 30/01/2020 07:49

Oh my, that is massive if true. Perhaps that is the start of sanity returning, we can only hope.

RicketyLangClegety · 30/01/2020 07:36

According to Twitter, Tottenham CLP has passed a motion in support of A Woman's Place UK.

Original poster
Cwenthryth · 30/01/2020 00:01

What conference is that midclegs?

Has anyone joined Labour Women’s Network? It does say it’s open to “individuals who self-define as women” so I hope I’d still be welcome, as an individual who accepts I am a woman by virtue of my biology, rather than believing it’s something that is possible to self-define as. But wondering if that’s where we should be, as Labour Women, even if it’s not by our own self-definition. I’m still a woman.

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midclegs · 28/01/2020 09:25

Isn't there a conference on Sunday? I'd go but I can't take 2 days out of my weekend (I am so excited about Sat!).

Original poster
Cwenthryth · 28/01/2020 07:55

Well the local contact replied, she sounds friendly, she forwarded some emails about meetings for the leadership nomination (which I won’t be able to participate/vote in, as less than 8 weeks membership) and then an AGM later in Feb (which I will have 8 weeks membership for....so even eligible to stand for positions on the committee should I so desire! Hmm! I wonder how a quietly gender critical woman’s officer would go down!).

Anyone already been to leadership nomination meetings? How’s it going out there?

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FlippinFumin · 27/01/2020 07:45

I was involved locally for years, and it really can take up a heck of a lot of your time. I lapsed for a few years after moving to a different CLP, but joined again a few years ago. I haven't been a to a CLP meeting for this consituency, but I now believe the only way for our voices to be heard is by getting involved locally. I intend to start going to local meetings. Although I have made my views known about meeting in pubs, this will mean some women will not feel comfortable going on their own. I know spaces can be expensive and pubs usually l let groups have rooms for free if it brings in the punters /drinkers, so might have to get over myself!

This lot are not the Labour Party I know and love. But the only way to get your voice heard is to bloody shout! This TWAW is derailing what Labour is about. It is nothing, it will not win them elections. And the more female voices they hear telling them that, perhaps they may listen.

Original poster
Cwenthryth · 27/01/2020 07:19

Emailed my local contact today so will see if can find any info about local meetings and events (I put the card in a trouser pocket and then forgot which pocket for a few days....doh!). Also in the introductory leaflet is info about labour ‘membersnet’ which I’ve now logged onto, but can’t find anything from my CLP on there either Confused

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Original poster
Cwenthryth · 24/01/2020 19:11

Thing is, they all are, at least out loud/officially.

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RicketyLangClegety · 24/01/2020 18:24

This is from a while ago, but pretty unequivocal. Lisa Nandy is a TWAWer.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3803997-Lisa-Nandy-Trans-women-are-women

isthispuddinoramalang · 24/01/2020 12:42

I struggled to find a political home at the General Election and ended up voting Yorkshire Party, for want of owt better. Dithered about joining Labour but was so cross after Monday's webchat that I submitted my application literally three minutes before the deadline. Hope it'll give me a vote, though as yet I've no preferred candidate. Felt I should do something politically though, before disillusionment got the better of me.

Original poster
Cwenthryth · 24/01/2020 06:59

As an update I found an introduction thingy in the post (DP had put it somewhere odd and I hadn’t seen it) that has my membership card with a local contact on it, so I’ll get in touch with her and see what the local branch is up to.

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Original poster
Cwenthryth · 24/01/2020 06:51

Childrenofthestones as stated in the OP, I am hoping for this thread to be for labour members, those of us that have made a decision to support the party, to discuss things. I respectfully suggest if you want to talk about why women wish to be members of the Labour Party that you start a separate thread about it rather than attempt to derail this one?
I shall likely not respond to you further in an effort to not support your derailing, Thankyou for hopefully understanding why this is.

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JustTurtlesAllTheWayDown · 24/01/2020 05:32

Why join a club that hates you?
Because it's not their club. They're just a bunch of bullies trying to take it over.

Childrenofthestones · 24/01/2020 02:28

Why join a club that hates you?

RicketyClickety · 23/01/2020 21:36

Dawn Butler (nominated for Labour Deputy Leader) still pushing for GRA amendments. I shan't be supporting her then.

twitter.com/DawnButlerBrent/status/1220328589482176512

RicketyClickety · 22/01/2020 21:07

Thanks Taswama. I will have to find out if my constituency has one too.

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