In the interests of accountability to the thousands of Labour members who elected me, I feel I must share the following information to demonstrate the bullying atmosphere which currently prevails in the Labour Party.
On Saturday, following a vote of the Young Labour National Committee (YLNC), a decision was reached to publish a statement in opposition to the removal of the whip from Jeremy Corbyn MP.
Earlier today, I received an e-mail from Labour’s head office ordering me to remove this statement “immediately” and alleging that Young Labour had “misused” Labour “branding” to provide “commentary on factional disputes.”
As chair of YLNC, it is my role to facilitate the democratic voting process when members of the committee propose statements. During the recent elections, I was elected as chair with 71% of the vote on an unambiguously socialist platform in a result that was repeated across the Young Labour elections. This mandate means that I am obliged to uphold democracy, including the right of the committee to release a statement in solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn to address the demands of young members.
Rather than trying to silence young people, unelected officials in the Leader’s Office should consider the massive sense of betrayal that many young voters and Labour members feel about this decision.
This is a far bigger issue than interference from the Leader’s Office or individual political stances. The actions we have seen in recent weeks undermine members’ democratic rights and free expression, and are a threat to the fabric of our party. It’s time for the Labour leadership to listen to young people. This generation is weighed down by low wages, insecure work, high rents and student debts – we did not get involved in politics to stay quiet and allow the status quo to continue.Young people have supported Labour at unprecedented levels in the past five years, but it would be a mistake to take their support for granted. I will continue to stand with the elected leadership of our youth movement, and uphold their democratic rights.
John McDonnell:”Closing down democratic discussion by our young members is hardly the example any democratic party should be setting the new generation of our members.”
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