Lily M standing as women's officer again

[ScarletBegonias]

Gather LM is saying that they had to give up the previous post because they left the area (to go to Goldsmiths) but they're now standing for the women's officer post in Lewisham Deptford CLP. Voting is on Sunday, apparently.

Thank goodness.
This is still makes a mockery of the whole system.

Labour need to look at the bullying that went on here by momentum

I know this is mean but

A victory for common sense and for women,

YAY!!!!!😁😁😁😁😁 I'm so glad that Gill won and that total prick came nowhere.

There were 66 voters, I haven’t attended before so can’t comment in if that was higher than usual but people seemed to know each other so I wouldn’t imagine there were that many newbies.

There did seem to be a group sitting together that were supportive of Lily. When the chair role came up nobody stood against Gill and we voted her in. Afterwards a woman claimed it had been too rushed and she hadn’t had a chance to speak and say she wanted to stand (this was untrue and people said so), she was given the chance to speak though and gave a rather rambling speech that was clearly off the hoof and spoke about trans rights a fair bit, she was clearly emotional and I personally found it rather odd. There was then a vote and Gill won.

The woman who had decided to stand last minute (Sarah something) was later voted vice chair, but purely as no one else put themselves forward.

Gill went on to chair the rest of the meeting which included a motion about maternity services extremely well and was obviously incredibly capable and knowledgeable.

It wasn’t strained with the one exception I’ve described above and there was no debate around Lily or trans, just quiet, efficient voting.

The turnout was 65 women eligible to vote and one visitor from another CLP. Three candidates stood for GC delegate, of which two were selected. Each voter was permitted to vote for up to two of them. Lily, Ruby and Alice (candidates) each gave a one minute speech prior to the vote.

Lily's speech was read from a card, mainly focusing on previous roles she'd held. She began it by explaining she was only standing for delegate in order to stand for Women's Officer. The other candidates discussed previous work they'd done, campaigning etc, their connection to the area and most importantly to me, what areas they are most interested in focusing on (cost of child care, maternity care etc). It was clear that they were more qualified and the forum voted accordingly.

As a result, Gill was initially unopposed until a woman (Sarah something) nominated herself, stating that she was not prepared and only did so as she disagreed with the idea of someone running unopposed. Her speech was a bit strained and finished with stressing how much she believed in sex workers and trans rights, I assume as a signal to would-be Lily voters to vote for her. Gill won and then Sarah was nominated for vice chair (unopposed).

Gill then ran the rest of the meeting very well, I really think Lily would have struggled as Lily seems so ill at ease with public speaking etc.

X post there @whitershadeofpale - excellent description of the meeting

I worry that lil and pals will try to raise merry hell like petulant children refused a second helping of pudding (which will distract the grown ups from real work?).

I also wonder who lil will blame and what the momentum nitwits will say.

Totally agree with @Smeerf’s summing up.

I’m guessing LM’s former CLP is much smaller (Tory MP) and thus they have no official women’s forum for the WO to chair.

Certainly seems that the membership made considered choices and elected capable and clued in women to the roles.

I would love to know how Lewisham Momentum decided to back LM, seeing as Gill is also a member. My Mo group would’ve polled the local membership and if that wasn’t possible due to time restraints, we would’ve probably either issued a statement supporting both/neither and instead encouraged people to participate in the women’s forum to ensure the decision was made democratically (by as many CLP Women as possible).

If Momentum Lewisham members were polled prior to deciding who they would support, they should’ve issued a statement saying so.

Congratulations to Gill, I hope no one makes things difficult for her.

Betty thanks for explaining not all momentum operates like lewishams. Indeed maybe it's just their social media that's gone a bit totalitarian.

Like I said, we’re mostly oldies in my group!

I suspect that personally I would’ve advised a newcomer to the area to pipe down a bit and run for the uncontested vice chair instead (although they wouldn’t be obliged to take that advise, of course).

Congrats to Gill.

Hope LM was gracious and accepted defeat and offered her congratulations to the rightful winner.

I personally think we should be working towards political representation that is more reflective of modern Britain and that includes transpeople, but simply lumping Transwomen in with women isn’t the appropriate way to do it.

See, this is what I think too. It would mean trans people advocating for their own rights and needs alongside women advocating for theirs. Rather than pretending the issues for both groups are identical, one subsuming the other (guess which?) and helping nobody in the process. Surely a side-by-side approach would be better, accounting for both and encroaching on nobody else's rights?

I'd like to say "I don't understand why trans activists aren't pushing for this" but sadly, I can see exactly why, and it's clear it's not about trans rights at all. It's about dismantling women's.

Someone who replied something like “aren’t you going to congratulate Gill” got immediate blocked

Everything is a personal attack on on poor old “Lil” isn’t it? Not just a perfectly normal and democratic process. Big baby 👶 🍼

How could LM get "re-elected" in a completely new area?

This whole discussion has made me think that even I, as a biological woman, wouldn't feel I could be the best representative as a woman's officer as I don't have children. I simply wouldn't have an ounce of first hand experience to draw on to represent women well in this way and thus wouldn't feel best suited to the job. It's sheer -male- arrogance that a 20 year old student only recently moved to the area who only wants to talk about their own -male- issues would think they are a suitable candidate. It beggars belief that others can't see that.

Labour need to look at the bullying that went on here by momentum

Absolutely this. They won’t though, but that might be a mistake so big, that it may cost them the next election, at least if it comes soonish.

I think Labour is under estimating women’s feelings on this very badly.

(Not to say other women without children couldn't do the job btw).

So - of course - the implication is that Lily didn't win because Lily is trans. That others were elected because they spoke about local and women's (maternity !! - the bigots) issues for the main local LP women's organisation - the horror!

Someone really needs to take Lily to one side and have a quiet word. Lily is used to getting what Lily wants/people to say because they are manipulative and play the victim card. This won't end well.

I just read that Madigan didn't win this or a position in their student union. What they did win was women's officer for goldsmiths labour, which they stood for unopposed. I could be wrong but I can't imagine that goldsmiths labour have that many members?

Lewisham momentum have re tweeted lily's "Shame I didn't get it" post and not posted congratulations for Gill the momentum member who did .

Then Lily's post has this kind of comment about it being a shame an authentic woman wasn't elected.

Jackie Jackson needs re-education (or they are massively taking the piss - hard to tell these days).