Female Labour MP candidate blocked by NEC

[Hornets]

Does anyone have any more information on this story in the Guardian?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/06/labour-accused-of-student-union-politics-in-candidate-row

Sally Gimson had been selected by local members in the constituency to stand for the seat vacated by John Mann, but she has told by the NEC that they would not be endorsing her. Apparently there were 'complaints' made about her in her local constituency party of Holborn and St Pancras.

The Guardian have only said that the complaints "related to behaviour in respect of a person with a protected characteristic. These include age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity".

Pretty weird way of describing what the complaints were about. Does anyone have any insider knowledge about this or something on twitter (I'm not on twitter). Thanks

Oh let me guess. I could be wrong though.

From labour list.org:

"It is understood that the basis for not endorsing Gimson is partly that complaints have been made about her behaviour, including an allegation that she shouted at a disabled party member at a Holborn and St Pancras Labour branch meeting."

labourlist.org/2019/11/labour-nec-refuses-to-endorse-williamson-hepburn-and-godsiff/

Thanks DurtySarf

I don't understand why the Guardian couldn't indicate this in their story. They could have just said "allegedly" or something.

She's the wife of a Conservative journalist who is also Johnson's biographer- I think that may have more to do with it. I was pleased the people of Bolsover had nominated a Remainer, looks as if some party aparatchik will be parachuted in that no one will vote for.

"I was pleased the people of Bolsover had nominated a Remainer"

If that is right then I suggest they make a suit out of asbestos for them to wear, because they will get more than a warm welcome there. Bolsover's result in the EU Referendum was:

Leave - 29,730
Remain - 12,242

I am really surprised that Gimson, a pro Remain activist was ever considered for Bassetlaw in the first place, this is how they voted in the EU Referendum:

Leave - 43,392
Remain - 20,575

My mistake, it was Bassetlaw that Gimson had been selected for. Still strongly pro-Leave though, but also a place in which the CLP thought a pro-Remain candidate stood the best chance .

You can read her solicitor's letter on her twitter it references the allegations mobile.twitter.com/sallygimson

Sorry, just saw you're not on twitter! One of the allegations that she says is untrue, is that she shouted at a disabled person. Another is that she limited entry to a procedural meeting.

VortexofBloggery

Those twitter feeds are absolutely toxic and really reflects the divisions in the Labour Party. Just a month away from the election and they are hell bent on self destruction.
Sad to see, but they do not represent ordinary people any more.

It seems that some people are learning-phobic:

twitter.com/FCH00LE/status/1192843639757647872

Bah. Wrong thread.

Irrespective of what is meant to have happened at the Holborn & St Pancras meeting, I agree with andyoldlabour that it is surprising the local CLP selected a councillor from Camden as their prospective parliamentary candidate.

Ah this blog from Nick Cohen gives a bit more context:

She was originally thought to be a ‘paper‘ candidate but was selected by members over a local man and supporter of Len McCluskey:
blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/11/sally-gimsons-deselection-and-the-battle-for-labours-soul/

The feminist angle on this seems to be that a Momentum candidate who speaks offensively about a brave survivor of the Rotherham abuse is fine but a middle aged woman with mainstream views is not.

Thanks to all who have offered up some more info on this story.

I actually heard Sally Gimson speak this morning on Emma Barnet show on radio 5 Live (think it came on about 11.15am so will be about 75 mins in when available later).

Whatever the truth about these allegations is seems that there have been some very murky dealings by the Labour Party/NEC. She claimed that no one complained at the time that the allegations were supposed to have taken place and that nothing had come up during the selection process for the role. When she was told on Friday that she would have to have a meeting about it this morning, she was still not given any details of what the allegations were or who was going to interview her.

The one thing that stands out for me is her own conclusion that she wasn't wanted as the candidate because some deemed her to be an "aggressive woman" (which I took to mean that she had been assertive and wasn't being 'nice').

Being an ex Labour member I was feeling lukewarm about voting for Labour anyway, but the way this has been carried out (whether or not the allegations are true) has killed any residue of loyalty I might have had playing on my conscience.

I agree withandyoldlabourthat it is surprising the local CLP selected a councillor from Camden as their prospective parliamentary candidate

The CLP chose her over the favoured Momentum drone.

The CLP chose her over the favoured Momentum drone.

I feel a bit silly now Shona for not immediately realising there must be something more to an outside candidate being chosen over a local one. It was all explained in Nick Cohen’s article. I didn’t hear the programme Hornets mentioned but I do feel Sally Gimson was badly treated. For instance, her own CLP denied being asked for any info over the alleged interchange.