As the BBC and Harry’s Place blog report, the Labour party rules are quite clear:
Chapter 2, Rule A(4)(b) of the Labour Party Rules state:
“A member of the party who joins and/or supports a political organisation other than an official Labour group or other unit of the party, or supports any candidate who stands against an official Labour candidate, or publicly declares their intent to stand against a Labour candidate, shall automatically be ineligible to be or remain a party member….”
Under those rules, eight councillors in Tower Hamlets were expelled from Labour after they were seen campaigning for Lutfur Rahman. When I revealed last week that Lord Nazir Ahmed had also appeared on a pro-Lutfur platform, Labour HQ declined to take such swift action and instead said it would investigate it after the election.
No doubt, it will be the same double-standards with the far bigger fish Ken Livingstone. However, Oona King’s campaign team are once again readying for action stations. Oona, who many believe would have a wider appeal than Ken in taking on Boris Johnson, is understood to be playing down that excitement.
It all depends on the party’s NEC which has yet to have its first full meeting since Ed Miliband became leader. It has 31 members:
| Leader | Ed Miliband |
| Deputy Leader | Harriet Harman |
| Treasurer | Diana Holland |
| Government | Pat McFadden |
| Government | Angela Eagle |
| Government | Tom Watson |
| EPLP Leader | Glenis Willmott MEP |
| Young Labour | Stephanie Peacock |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Keith Birch |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Jim Kennedy |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Harriet Yeo |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Paddy Lillis |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Norma Stephenson (Chair) |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Andy Kerr |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Cath Speight |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Mary Turner |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Chris Weldon |
| Div. I – Trade Unions | Andy Worth |
| Div. II – Socialist Societies | Simon Wright |
| Div. II – Socialist Societies | Keith Vaz MP |
| Div. III – CLPs | Ken Livingstone |
| Div. III – CLPs | Oona King |
| Div. III – CLPs | Ann Black |
| Div. III – CLPs | Ellie Reeves |
| Div. III – CLPs | Christine Shawcroft |
| Div. III – CLPs | Luke Akehurst |
| Div. IV – Labour Councillors | Jeremy Beecham |
| Div. IV – Labour Councillors | Ann Lucas |
| Div. V – PLP/EPLP | Angela Smith MP |
| Div. V – PLP/EPLP | Dennis Skinner |
| Div. V – PLP/EPLP | Michael Cashman MEP (Vice Chair) |
How many of those do you think would be pro-Ken? Help needed, please….
Shawcroft without a doubt.
I was wandering what took you so long in reporting this. I guess everyone BIG is endorsing Lutfur. If you cant beat them, JOIN THEM
You may therefore be pleased to hear that Lutfur is also attracting BNP support then…
http://thevoiceofreason-ann.blogspot.com/2010/10/which-tower-hamlets-mayoral-candidate.html
If Lutfur wins, no-one will be expelled. Even if Lutfur doesn’t win, the unions will, on the whole back Ken as will various others. Ken’s action today was brave but not stupid!
I wonder how the poplar hard left sleeps at night I really do.
Ted when will you be investigating the secret meetings that Helal Abbas Uddin the Labour mayoral candidate has had with the IFE or is your journalism selective? http://www.islamicforumeurope.com/live/ife.php?doc=articleitem&itemId=479
Yes, very good point. One minute he is saying IFE is a fundamentalist organisation. Next minute he is kissing their feet for votes!
Ted what is your view on Dave Hill’s recent article?http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davehillblog/2010/oct/18/tower-hamlets-mayoral-election-islamic-forum-europe-labour-fears
Ted, by the way we are still waiting for your promised article on the scandal of Labours wasting £26 million on the Rich Mix Centre, before the day of the election would be nice.
This is just a cheap attempt to try and present some kind of momentum behind a campaign to get Ken expelled.
… In the shocking event that Ken is expelled, then Ed will have to redefine “Labour unity”.
The problem the NEC have is that they don’t want to select another candidate if Ken is going to run against Labour and split the vote. What makes him powerful is that he’s shown in the past that being a rebel makes him more, not less, electable. The problem Ken has is that he didn’t exactly dazzle in the selection contest; Oona made him look like an old geezer. So is the magic real or an illusion?
In the 2009 London Mayor election, LBTH delivered Ken’s largest vote in London. This is why it’s so bizarre that he wants to antagonise the Labour Party here. He has an arrogant belief that by being independent of a political party, a candidate becomes automatically loved by the people. This premise will be tested on Thursday when LBTH goes to the polls for another independent. If Lutfur does badly, after Ken’s endorsement, then the “magic” of Ken Livingstone will be dulled even more.
Come on Ted, you and Mr Gilligan have had a scathing campaign against Lutfur for his alleged links with the IFE, well the same IFE have now said that its had long established links with Helal Abbas for many many years and even until a few months ago when he was seeking their support. Are you both going to investigate these links of a Labour candidate with an (alleged) Islamic fundamentalist organisation. Come on show us that you have some spine and are able to take on helal abbas.
Taj Miah sounds desperate…
Desperate? Weird comment. If you havent opened your eyes there is nothing you will find that exposes the negative side of Helal Abbas in Ted’s articles!
Despite all the negative campaign from Lutfur and his cronies, Helal Abbas camp kept the campaign positive. You only need to look at last few issues of London Bangla to see how poisonous it has been. Allegedly, Lutfur’s latest leaflet was delivered door to door with London Bangla.
And thuggish behaviour of discredited politician like Oliur Rahamn, (First Respect, then Labour, now expelled Labour) on hopefully would not win them any vote. In fact, people like Oli should do the honourable thing and resign and try to get re-elected as Independent and see how voters loves them.
End of the voters have the power to give their judgement on Thursday. Whether go for desperate Lutfur who wanted to be a Labour candidate even though he brought the Party into disrepute by taking legal actions several times. Or go for Helal Abbas who always been loyal to Labour Party.
Remember, this election is not about ‘Islam’ or ‘Mecca,’ this is about OUR TOWER HAMLETS. This is about our everyday council services, schools and jobs. Don’t waste your vote on the people who are campaigning on issues otherwise. Look at the way, Ted been harassed by Lutfur’s supporters to dig more dirt on Abbas. Have they not done enough negative campaign?
Wake up Tower Hamlets! Reject them on Thursday.
Maybe you haven’t opened your eyes. People will stand up against injustice and dictatorship and politically motivated deselections!
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
“…comments about section 106 money being diverted to Rich Mix and away from Bancroft [Library]…if that is indeed the case, it is a scandal and I will look into it.” Ted Jeory, October 8, 2010.
All of the background to this “scandal” is now on the updated Save Bancroft website:
http://www.savebancroftlibrary.org.uk/
Ted, as a joint campaigner (during your time on the East London Advertiser in 2008) you will also now find on the Save Bancroft website the full details of the proposed disposal of Bancroft Library to Queen Mary University – started in 2007. These details are Minutes of QMUL Meetings and were published by QMUL on the web.
Save your breath. Sorry to say, but I doubt journalists like Ted will ever investigate these corruptions. It might mean exposing some people they are friends with! lol… just a joke… we all love Ted!
Just noticed this… I am sure Ted is very dissapointed more and more people are coming out to stand up against the false accusations and injustice that has been done to Lutfur.