This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/feb/29/labour-youth-rep-accused-of-smearing-leftwing-rival

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Labour youth rep accused of smearing leftwing rival Labour launches inquiry into smear allegations over youth rep election
(about 2 hours later)
Labour’s newly elected youth representative on the party’s ruling body has been accused in a formal complaint of smearing her leftwing rival for the post. Labour has launched an inquiry into allegations of antisemitism, intimidation and bullying following the close and fractious election of a youth representative to the party’s ruling body.
Jasmin Beckett, a psychology student at Liverpool University, became Young Labour’s representative on the national executive committee this weekend following a close and fractious battle with James Elliott, an Oxford University history student. It follows claims that Labour’s newly elected youth representative on the national executive committee denigrated her leftwing rival for the post.
The Labour First-backed candidate won with 49.55% of the vote, beating James Elliott, who had the backing of the Unite union, on 49.41% of the vote. A student has also claimed he was pressured by a Unite representative to show his completed ballot paper – a claim the union denies.
Lady Royall, a former opposition leader of the House of Lords, will lead the inquiry, a spokeswoman said, adding: “The Labour party takes all allegations of antisemitism, racism, bullying, intimidation and candidate misconduct very seriously.”
Jasmin Beckett, a psychology student at Liverpool University, became Young Labour’s representative on the NEC over the weekend following a battle with James Elliott, an Oxford University history student.
The Labour First-backed candidate won with 49.55% of the vote, beating Elliott, who had the backing of the Unite union, on 49.41%.
About 1% of voters spoiled their ballots, and supporters of Elliott said he lost by a margin that amounted to a single vote.About 1% of voters spoiled their ballots, and supporters of Elliott said he lost by a margin that amounted to a single vote.
Related: Union demands inquiry into Labour youth election lost 'by one vote'Related: Union demands inquiry into Labour youth election lost 'by one vote'
A complaint sent to the party last week and seen by the Guardian alleged that Beckett broke two rules. It claimed she told a group of young members that Elliott was antisemitic and that she encouraged her supporters to smear him on social media.A complaint sent to the party last week and seen by the Guardian alleged that Beckett broke two rules. It claimed she told a group of young members that Elliott was antisemitic and that she encouraged her supporters to smear him on social media.
“It is clear from the evidence presented below that Jasmin Beckett has: a) disparaged another candidate, labelling him as antisemitic to a large group of young members. b) encouraged her supporters to disparage another candidate, using their access to publicity via Facebook and Twitter, to label them as antisemitic,” the complaint says. “It is clear from the evidence presented below that Jasmin Beckett has a) disparaged another candidate, labelling him as antisemitic to a large group of young members, and b) encouraged her supporters to disparage another candidate, using their access to publicity via Facebook and Twitter, to label them as antisemitic,” the complaint says.
“Beckett has therefore violated the rule that ‘under no circumstances should any candidate disparage any other candidate’ and that ‘no candidate or persons acting on behalf of a candidate will use their own material or access to publicity to disparage any other candidate’.”“Beckett has therefore violated the rule that ‘under no circumstances should any candidate disparage any other candidate’ and that ‘no candidate or persons acting on behalf of a candidate will use their own material or access to publicity to disparage any other candidate’.”
The complaint includes claims that in a Facebook group for her campaign Beckett suggested her associates could use their Twitter accounts to suggest that Elliott was antisemitic.The complaint includes claims that in a Facebook group for her campaign Beckett suggested her associates could use their Twitter accounts to suggest that Elliott was antisemitic.
“Get a few people tweeting saying ‘shocked my union GMB are supporting James Elliott who is antisemitic’?” she allegedly wrote.“Get a few people tweeting saying ‘shocked my union GMB are supporting James Elliott who is antisemitic’?” she allegedly wrote.
The claims have not been substantiated and have yet to be adjudicated over.The claims have not been substantiated and have yet to be adjudicated over.
It has also emerged that another Young Labour activist has complained he was pressured by a Unite representative to show his completed ballot paper to prove that he had backed Elliott.It has also emerged that another Young Labour activist has complained he was pressured by a Unite representative to show his completed ballot paper to prove that he had backed Elliott.
Zac Harvey, a student, posted on Twitter a copy of a mobile phone message exchange as evidence that he was pressurised by a Unite activist into showing his ballot paper. Zac Harvey, a student, tweeted a copy of a mobile phone message exchange as evidence that he was pressurised by a Unite activist into showing his ballot paper.
The position on the NEC has become highly sought after because of the internal struggle between the party’s right and left to control its ruling council.The position on the NEC has become highly sought after because of the internal struggle between the party’s right and left to control its ruling council.
Elliott was the preferred candidate of Unite and Momentum, the group established to support Jeremy Corbyn within the Labour movement. He worked as Corbyn’s youth policy adviser during the leadership campaign in September last year. Elliott was the preferred candidate of Unite and Momentum, the group established to support Jeremy Corbyn within the Labour movement. He worked as Corbyn’s youth policy adviser during the leadership campaign ast year.
Labour’s leadership team is keen to give the NEC – the 33-strong chief administrative body of the party – more power over policymaking. Corbyn currently enjoys a slim majority of backers on the committee, drawing more attention than usual to the election of the youth representative. Labour’s leadership team is keen to give the NEC – the 33-strong chief administrative body of the party – more power over policymaking. Corbyn enjoys a slim majority of backers on the committee, drawing more attention than usual to the election of the youth representative.
A Unite spokesman insisted its representative had “acted with propriety at all times” in dealing with Harvey and that allegations were “deliberately misleading and malicious, intended for no other reason than to bring this union into disrepute”.A Unite spokesman insisted its representative had “acted with propriety at all times” in dealing with Harvey and that allegations were “deliberately misleading and malicious, intended for no other reason than to bring this union into disrepute”.
“The Labour party is due to examine the Young Labour elections including some concerning allegations of a smear campaign organised by one candidate against a rival,” a Unite spokesman said. The spokesman said: “The Labour party is due to examine the Young Labour elections including some concerning allegations of a smear campaign organised by one candidate against a rival.
“Unite urges that a full and independent look at these elections is agreed, and we will happily cooperate fully in this process.”“Unite urges that a full and independent look at these elections is agreed, and we will happily cooperate fully in this process.”
Beckett did not respond to a request for a comment.Beckett did not respond to a request for a comment.
However writing for the Labour List website, Beckett said that complaints needed to be investigated and that the weekend’s conference was not “our movement at its best”. “Factionalism, grievance and outside interference from people who were neither young nor delegates made it difficult for too many. This has got to stop,” she said. However, writing for the Labour List website, Beckett said the complaints needed to be investigated and that the weekend’s conference was not “our movement at its best”. She continued: “Factionalism, grievance and outside interference from people who were neither young nor delegates made it difficult for too many. This has got to stop.
“I am a working class woman from Liverpool … Growing up, life did not seem fair. I got angry. I got into fights. And eventually I was expelled from school. I ran away from home and was taken back to my Mum by the police,” Beckett said. “Wirral Young Labour taught me that the anger I felt at society could be channelled into fighting for social justice.” “I am a working-class woman from Liverpool … Growing up, life did not seem fair. I got angry. I got into fights. And eventually I was expelled from school. I ran away from home and was taken back to my mum by the police. Wirral Young Labour taught me that the anger I felt at society could be channelled into fighting for social justice.”
Her friend said: “She’s worked incredibly hard on this campaign and she just wants to do her very best for everyone across the party. She’s not interested in any of this left or right stuff that always seems to rear its ugly head.” A friend said: “She’s worked incredibly hard on this campaign and she just wants to do her very best for everyone across the party. She’s not interested in any of this left or right stuff that always seems to rear its ugly head.
The friend added: “She’s an ordinary young woman from Liverpool who’s been through a lot in her life. We need more women like her in politics who have had difficult lives but are prepared to stand up and fight for what we believe in.” “She’s an ordinary young woman from Liverpool who’s been through a lot in her life. We need more women like her in politics who have had difficult lives but are prepared to stand up and fight for what we believe in.”