Thanet

Motion from Ramsgate branch

January 29, 2019 by Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt

At the General Committee meeting of South Thanet Labour Party on 28 January 2019, a motion was presented by Ramsgate branch. It was overwhelmingly accepted by the delegates present as follows:

Ramsgate Branch notes and disagrees with the NEC regarding their decision not to endorse RGN as the PPC for South Thanet.

The NEC has a responsibility if not a duty to ensure that proper procedures are followed, especially in sensitive cases that have yet to be fully investigated by the NCC. It is unreasonable and unfair for the NEC or the endorsement panel to make a decision on selection based on an incomplete process that still has the status of an allegation. The panel is not the arbiter of the complaint and as such should have recommended a deferral of the endorsement decision until the NCC completed the process and the NEC should have endorsed such a view and secondly sought to ensure that the complaint process be rapidly completed.

For these reasons, Ramsgate branch asks the CLP to submit its grave concerns to the NEC about the process and insist that there should be no selection procedure instigated until this matter is properly resolved.

Motion from Folkestone and Hythe CLP

January 19, 2019 by Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt

This CLP is appalled at the decision of a three-person NEC panel not to endorse South Thanet Labour Party’s democratically elected parliamentary candidate, Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt. This decision is an affront to our democratic traditions and appears not to be accompanied by any supporting evidence nor any rationale detailing the decision-making process. This CLP asks the NEC to review its decision in a way which fully respects the integrity of the NEC and the democratic wishes of the membership.

Motion from South Thanet CLP

January 18, 2019 by Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt

On Friday 18 January 2018, an emergency meeting of the General Council of South Thanet Constituency Labour Party was convened. On a cold night at three days’ notice, more delegates than usual came to the meeting and several ordinary members joined in the discussion. The meeting considered the facts surrounding the NEC panel’s decision not to endorse me and discussed a resolution to send to the NEC in advance of meetings of its Disputes Panel and Organisation Committee on 22 January. The result was: 43 in favour, one against, no abstentions. The resolution was as follows.

South Thanet Constituency Labour Party (STCLP) notes the democratic decision taken by the membership in April 2018 to elect Rebecca Gordon Nesbitt as our Parliamentary Candidate. The selection process was carried out in accordance with the democratic principles of the Labour Party. The process was deemed fair and transparent at the time by paid officials of the Party and by a representative of the NEC.

The CLP further notes that, for the last eight months, Rebecca has shown herself to be an exemplary candidate and has been fully supported in funds and training by both the regional office and the national party despite party rules stating that the candidate should not be announced as such before being endorsed.

The CLP believes that the failure of a three-person panel of the NEC to endorse Rebecca without recourse to an appeal process is a contravention of the principles of natural justice which grant the right to a fair hearing. The CLP further believes that the manner in which the decision was taken by the three person panel and the subsequent lack of NEC communication with the membership in South Thanet risks being viewed by STCLP members as an act of contempt.

The CLP resolves to call upon the Labour Party National Executive Committee to endorse our democratically elected candidate immediately.

Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt: The latest victim of the witch-hunt

January 17, 2019 by Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt

http://labourpartymarxists.org.uk/rebecca-gordon-nesbitt-another-victim-of-the-witch-hunt/

Unite Community Kent Branch

January 16, 2019 by Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt

This branch supports Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt as South Thanet CLP’s democratically selected parliamentary candidate, and note she is a member of this Unite Community branch.

Rebecca has been refused endorsement by an NEC panel eight months after her selection.

The claim that she could bring the party into disrepute is spurious and based upon an attack upon her by a well-known right-wing blogger.

We request South Thanet CLP to ask the NEC to reverse its decision and endorse this dedicated and hard-working candidate for South Thanet.

Model motions: Support the reinstatement of Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt as parliamentary candidate for Thanet South

January 15, 2019 by Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt

http://www.labouragainstthewitchhunt.org/our-positions/model-motion-support-the-reinstatement-of-rebecca-gordon-nesbitt-as-parliamentary-candidate-for-thanet-south/