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Losing candidate claims supporters were bullied during Labour NEC vote NEC bullying claims an attempt to damage Corbyn – Unite chief
(about 9 hours later)
A union-backed Labour candidate who lost a crucial election to the party’s ruling body by one vote has claimed that the contest was riddled with irregularities and influenced by bullying, intimidation and smear tactics. The fight to control Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after the head of Britain’s biggest union claimed that allegations of bullying against union activists were part of an attempt to undermine Jeremy Corbyn.
In a formal complaint to the party obtained by the Guardian, James Elliott, who was supported by Unite, says last weekend’s election to become the party’s youth representative on the national executive committee should be suspended. Len McCluskey, the head of Unite, launched the outspoken attack after Labour began an official investigation into Young Labour members.
Elliott, an Oxford University history graduate, was beaten by Jasmin Beckett, the Labour First-backed candidate, at a febrile Labour Youth conference in Scarborough. Beckett won with 49.55% of the vote, beating Elliott on 49.41%. The inquiry is being led by former Labour leader in the Lords, Jan Royall, who will look at the election of a youth representative for the NEC, won last weekend by the Labour First candidate Jasmin Beckett by a slender margin, amid accusations of intimidation from both sides.
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 party on Tuesday night decided not to rerun the election despite a formal request from James Elliott, the candidate who was supported by Unite.
Labour has launched an inquiry into the claims, led by Baroness Royall. 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. Both sides say that control of the party’s NEC is crucial to deciding policies and future parliamentary candidates.
But despite the inquiry, solicitors for Elliott have on Tuesday written to Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, claiming that Elliott’s supporters were stopped from voting by party officials, some of whom were supporters of Beckett. One of the allegations made is that Unite delegates at the Young Labour conference in Scarborough were bullied into supporting James Elliott, the losing candidate.
Related: Labour launches inquiry into smear allegations over youth rep election
McCluskey issued a statement on Tuesday that described the claims as “an organised assault” to “undermine the Labour leadership”.
“On behalf of Unite I want to put on record how proud I am of our young members, and the professional way that they have conducted themselves during the Young Labour elections and conference,” he said
“They put to shame those in our party whose conduct has been nothing short of disgraceful and confirm once again that some in our midst will stop at nothing, including destroying the reputation and hopes of our party’s young activists, in their quest to undermine the Labour leadership.”
Elliott, an Oxford University history graduate, was beaten by Beckett, a student at the University of Liverpool, at a febrile Labour Youth conference in Scarborough. Beckett won with 49.55% of the vote, beating Elliott on 49.41%.
In a formal complaint to the party obtained by the Guardian, Elliott said last weekend’s election to become the party’s youth representative on the national executive committee should be suspended.
Solicitors for Elliott wrote to Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, claiming that Elliott’s supporters were stopped from voting by party officials, some of whom were supporters of Beckett.
The letter claims:The letter claims:
• One supporter for Elliott was refused an opportunity to register due to being 20 minutes late to the conference because of an unexpected hospital visit. The delegate claims a party official told him he would only be eligible to cast his vote if had he been in “a train crash”. The letter also refers to an outstanding complaint sent to the party last week by a Scottish delegate that claimed that Beckett had wrongly smeared Elliott as antisemitic and encouraged her supporters to smear him on social media.
• Another delegate claimed he was “bullied and harassed” by Beckett’s supporters, forcing him to leave the conference venue. Related: Momentum sweeps board at Labour party youth elections
• Another eligible delegate who supported Elliott was denied a ballot paper without being given a valid reason.
• Six other Elliott-supporting delegates were ruled rejected by the returning officer, without a proper reason being given.
• Named Labour party staff members canvassed for Beckett before the election, in breach of party rules.
• Elliott’s demand for a recount was denied by a Labour official and “no valid reasons were offered for the denial” and there was no review of many spoilt ballot papers.
The letter also refers to an outstanding complaint sent to the party last week by a Scottish delegate which claimed that Beckett had wrongly smeared Elliott as antisemitic and encouraged her supporters to smear him on social media.
“In these circumstances, it is unthinkable that the winner of the election, Jasmin Beckett, should take up her seat on the NEC pending a full and comprehensive inquiry into the lead-up to and the circumstances of the election,” the letter concludes.“In these circumstances, it is unthinkable that the winner of the election, Jasmin Beckett, should take up her seat on the NEC pending a full and comprehensive inquiry into the lead-up to and the circumstances of the election,” the letter concludes.
Royall’s inquiry is also examining claims of antisemitism against Elliott – claims he vehemently denies.
Beckett has not responded to a request for a comment.Beckett has not responded to a request for a comment.
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. 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”.
“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.” 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. Wirral Young Labour taught me that the anger I felt at society could be channelled into fighting for social justice.”