Labour Leadership Election
Here's an interesting letter - on the Labour leadership election - which appeared in the Herald newspaper at the weekend:
"Union membership secures election vote
I have received two ballot papers. One was from the Liberal Democrats for their west of Scotland list. The other was from the Labour Party for their leadership election.
I have been an active Liberal for 35 years. I am a member of a union but I have never paid the political levy. However, the Unite union has given me a vote in the election for leadership of the Labour Party, just as it did during the last election.
I wrote to them in 2007 to point out their mistake and their feeble response was that only those who could sign up to the Labour Party’s policies and principles and tick the appropriate box on the ballot paper should exercise their vote.
In other words, the validity and integrity of the Labour Party’s voters’ list is down to the honesty of Liberals, Conservatives, Nationalists and Greens and any others who happen to be members of unions.
The Labour Party seems unable to create a valid voters’ list for their own internal elections. Such incompetence falls far short of best practice. I have a spare ballot paper should anyone want it. No doubt there are plenty to be had around the country. All you’ve got to do is ask.
Bryan O, Glasgow."
Yes, it really is as crazy as it sounds.
Non-Labour supporters - who form the bulk of union members - are invited in their millions to help decide the next party leader.
Let's see how many actually take part.
"Union membership secures election vote
I have received two ballot papers. One was from the Liberal Democrats for their west of Scotland list. The other was from the Labour Party for their leadership election.
I have been an active Liberal for 35 years. I am a member of a union but I have never paid the political levy. However, the Unite union has given me a vote in the election for leadership of the Labour Party, just as it did during the last election.
I wrote to them in 2007 to point out their mistake and their feeble response was that only those who could sign up to the Labour Party’s policies and principles and tick the appropriate box on the ballot paper should exercise their vote.
In other words, the validity and integrity of the Labour Party’s voters’ list is down to the honesty of Liberals, Conservatives, Nationalists and Greens and any others who happen to be members of unions.
The Labour Party seems unable to create a valid voters’ list for their own internal elections. Such incompetence falls far short of best practice. I have a spare ballot paper should anyone want it. No doubt there are plenty to be had around the country. All you’ve got to do is ask.
Bryan O, Glasgow."
Yes, it really is as crazy as it sounds.
Non-Labour supporters - who form the bulk of union members - are invited in their millions to help decide the next party leader.
Let's see how many actually take part.
