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Labour in battle with Momentum for its future, says Watson Labour in battle with Momentum for its future, says Watson
(35 minutes later)
An apparent plan by the leftwing Momentum organisation to take control of Labour amounts to “a battle for the future existence” of the party, Tom Watson has said, urging Labour members to combat the threat.An apparent plan by the leftwing Momentum organisation to take control of Labour amounts to “a battle for the future existence” of the party, Tom Watson has said, urging Labour members to combat the threat.
The party’s deputy leader said he was unaware of the extent of the plan before hearing comments by Momentum’s founder, Jon Lansman, who was secretly recorded addressing supporters at a meeting of a new branch in London this month.The party’s deputy leader said he was unaware of the extent of the plan before hearing comments by Momentum’s founder, Jon Lansman, who was secretly recorded addressing supporters at a meeting of a new branch in London this month.
In the recording, obtained by the Observer, Lansman calls for activists to ensure they are represented in key positions before Jeremy Corbyn steps down as Labour leader, and says Unite could formally affiliate to Momentum if Len McCluskey is re-elected as the union’s leader.In the recording, obtained by the Observer, Lansman calls for activists to ensure they are represented in key positions before Jeremy Corbyn steps down as Labour leader, and says Unite could formally affiliate to Momentum if Len McCluskey is re-elected as the union’s leader.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Watson said Lansman had “outlined a hard left plan to control the Labour party after Jeremy’s departure”.Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Watson said Lansman had “outlined a hard left plan to control the Labour party after Jeremy’s departure”.
“I regard this as a battle for the future existence of the Labour party. This is high stakes, and I hope my fellow members are going to understand that.”“I regard this as a battle for the future existence of the Labour party. This is high stakes, and I hope my fellow members are going to understand that.”
It was vital for Labour and Unite members who opposed Momentum’s ambition to take action, Watson said.It was vital for Labour and Unite members who opposed Momentum’s ambition to take action, Watson said.
“That’s why I decided to speak out. I think this is so serious, I think it’s vital that ordinary members of Unite are made aware of this plan, that they know what’s going on inside their union and they take action to block it.“That’s why I decided to speak out. I think this is so serious, I think it’s vital that ordinary members of Unite are made aware of this plan, that they know what’s going on inside their union and they take action to block it.
“But it’s also important for Labour party members to understand that there will be votes at our conference on this, this year, and they have to intervene as well.”“But it’s also important for Labour party members to understand that there will be votes at our conference on this, this year, and they have to intervene as well.”
At the meeting, Lansman says that while he hopes Corbyn remains as leader, Momentum should seek to boost the left’s representation in key Labour positions to secure rule changes that would help install a leftwing successor when he leaves.At the meeting, Lansman says that while he hopes Corbyn remains as leader, Momentum should seek to boost the left’s representation in key Labour positions to secure rule changes that would help install a leftwing successor when he leaves.
Watson said he was not sure if Corbyn was aware of the plans: “I’ll be raising it with him today.”Watson said he was not sure if Corbyn was aware of the plans: “I’ll be raising it with him today.”
He said he was “shocked” at the ideas outlined. “I thought that Momentum were changing, that they were becoming an organisation that were sort of sharing ideas, and trying to create a debate. What Jon Lansman has outlined is a plan with Len McCluskey, the leader of Unite, to take control of the Labour party.”He said he was “shocked” at the ideas outlined. “I thought that Momentum were changing, that they were becoming an organisation that were sort of sharing ideas, and trying to create a debate. What Jon Lansman has outlined is a plan with Len McCluskey, the leader of Unite, to take control of the Labour party.”
McCluskey had to show leadership over the issue, Watson said: “We could do with him trying to understand how important this is.”McCluskey had to show leadership over the issue, Watson said: “We could do with him trying to understand how important this is.”
Lansman’s concern that Momentum’s plan might be disrupted by an early general election also left Watson aghast, he said.Lansman’s concern that Momentum’s plan might be disrupted by an early general election also left Watson aghast, he said.
“Our sole focus has to be a general election. Enough is enough. This has got to to stop. I’m afraid there are some people who don’t have our electoral interests at heart, and we’ve got to deal with it.”“Our sole focus has to be a general election. Enough is enough. This has got to to stop. I’m afraid there are some people who don’t have our electoral interests at heart, and we’ve got to deal with it.”
Christine Shawcroft, a member of Labour’s national executive committee who is an ally of Lansman, described the recorded comments as “a non-story” which was primarily “a concerted attempt to interfere in the internal election in Unite for general secretary”. Christine Shawcroft, a member of Labour’s national executive committee and an ally of Lansman, said the recorded comments were “a non-story”, and were primarily “a concerted attempt to interfere in the internal election in Unite for general secretary”.
Speaking on Today, Shawcroft argued it was correct for Momentum to seek to change rules by which Labour leadership candidates need the backing of at least 15% of the party’s MPs and MEPs before they can stand. Speaking on Today, Shawcroft argued it was correct for Momentum to seek to change the rules under which Labour leadership candidates need the backing of at least 15% of the party’s MPs and MEPs before they can stand.
“I think there’s a democratic deficit in the Labour party, where the structures of the Labour party don’t reflect the support for Jeremy Corbyn that’s been shown by the mass of the membership,” she said. “I think there’s a democratic deficit in the Labour party, where the structures of the Labour party don’t reflect the support for Jeremy Corbyn that’s been shown by the mass of the membership.”
Shawcroft indicated that Watson and his allies were a bigger problem for the party. “I happen to think that Mr Watson is rather rightwing,” Shawcroft said. She indicated that Watson and his allies were a bigger problem for the party.
“These labels are quite nonsensical really. But he clearly wishes to go back to the days of command and control on a Blairite model. That is not what the Labour party is about. We have a mass membership now, and that mass membership wants its voice to be heard.” “I happen to think that Mr Watson is rather rightwing,” Shawcroft said. “These labels are quite nonsensical really. But he clearly wishes to go back to the days of command and control on a Blairite model. That is not what the Labour party is about. We have a mass membership now, and that mass membership wants its voice to be heard.”
It was important for Labour to continue to move to the left, she added: “It’s the only way we’re going to win the election. We lost the last two general elections, Was that Jeremy Corbyn’s fault.” It was important for Labour to continue to move to the left, she added: “It’s the only way we’re going to win the election. We lost the last two general elections. Was that Jeremy Corbyn’s fault?”