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| Labour party's tensions between left and right in focus in Brighton | Labour party's tensions between left and right in focus in Brighton |
| (4 months later) | |
| New-found dominance of the left marks huge turnaround for a constituency party long dominated by the right in city hosting conference | |
| Ewen MacAskill | |
| Thu 21 Sep 2017 14.31 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 16.38 GMT | |
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| Greg Hadfield is as well placed as anyone to offer up a judgment on the upheaval in the Brighton Labour party over the past year, having been in the thick of it. He was overwhelmingly elected secretary of the constituency party in July last year, but the election was declared void five days later and he found himself suspended five months after that. | Greg Hadfield is as well placed as anyone to offer up a judgment on the upheaval in the Brighton Labour party over the past year, having been in the thick of it. He was overwhelmingly elected secretary of the constituency party in July last year, but the election was declared void five days later and he found himself suspended five months after that. |
| But that was then. The left has since regrouped in the local party in the city where this year’s Labour conference is being held. In February and March, candidates supported by the left were elected to 29 of the 30 executive positions; a near clean sweep for supporters of Jeremy Corbyn. | But that was then. The left has since regrouped in the local party in the city where this year’s Labour conference is being held. In February and March, candidates supported by the left were elected to 29 of the 30 executive positions; a near clean sweep for supporters of Jeremy Corbyn. |
| The ramifications are broader too. Last year, mainly because of suspension, the local party sent only one delegate to the annual conference in Liverpool. This year, reflecting the political shift, 30 are going to the conference being held in Brighton, and almost all of them were backed by the left. | The ramifications are broader too. Last year, mainly because of suspension, the local party sent only one delegate to the annual conference in Liverpool. This year, reflecting the political shift, 30 are going to the conference being held in Brighton, and almost all of them were backed by the left. |
| Libby Barnes, who is in Momentum and is vice-chair of campaigns for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said of the 30 delegates that “pretty much all of them are Jeremy Corbyn supporters”. | Libby Barnes, who is in Momentum and is vice-chair of campaigns for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said of the 30 delegates that “pretty much all of them are Jeremy Corbyn supporters”. |
| The left has been fighting battles with the right across the country for control of the constituency Labour parties since Corbyn became leader two years ago. But few have been as fractious as in Brighton and none have matched it for the sheer numbers involved. | The left has been fighting battles with the right across the country for control of the constituency Labour parties since Corbyn became leader two years ago. But few have been as fractious as in Brighton and none have matched it for the sheer numbers involved. |
| The Brighton Hove and District Labour party, before it was disbanded, had well over 6,000 members, making it the biggest in the country. In October, Labour headquarters, in response to the turmoil, disbanded the constituency party and set up three new ones: Hove, Brighton Pavilion and Brighton Kemptown. | The Brighton Hove and District Labour party, before it was disbanded, had well over 6,000 members, making it the biggest in the country. In October, Labour headquarters, in response to the turmoil, disbanded the constituency party and set up three new ones: Hove, Brighton Pavilion and Brighton Kemptown. |
| Even after being broken up, the three new constituencies have continued to grow and can claim to be among the biggest in the country. The Kemptown constituency party has 2,007 members, of whom 365 have joined since 1 November. | Even after being broken up, the three new constituencies have continued to grow and can claim to be among the biggest in the country. The Kemptown constituency party has 2,007 members, of whom 365 have joined since 1 November. |
| “The frontline has shifted as we have made more and more advances. There is an irresistible tide at local level. There is no way of going back to the old ways,” said Hadfield, who remains a member even though he is suspended. | “The frontline has shifted as we have made more and more advances. There is an irresistible tide at local level. There is no way of going back to the old ways,” said Hadfield, who remains a member even though he is suspended. |
| Sunday | Sunday |
| The primary business in the main conference hall is entitled “protecting our communities", and the session ends with a report on June’s election. On the conference fringe, Ed Miliband makes a relatively rare appearance, discussing the economy and austerity. | The primary business in the main conference hall is entitled “protecting our communities", and the session ends with a report on June’s election. On the conference fringe, Ed Miliband makes a relatively rare appearance, discussing the economy and austerity. |
| Monday | Monday |
| Highlight in the conference hall is the setpiece speech by John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. For an insight into Labour thoughts on Brexit, a fringe event in the afternoon promises Keir Starmer, Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper, and is grandly called “How to handle Brexit.” | Highlight in the conference hall is the setpiece speech by John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. For an insight into Labour thoughts on Brexit, a fringe event in the afternoon promises Keir Starmer, Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper, and is grandly called “How to handle Brexit.” |
| Tuesday | Tuesday |
| Business begins with constitutional changes and Labour’s NEC – which could include moves to allow a would-be successor to Corbyn to stand with the support of relatively few MPs. In the afternoon Tom Watson, deputy leader, will makes his speech, expected to be scrupulously loyal to his leader. | Business begins with constitutional changes and Labour’s NEC – which could include moves to allow a would-be successor to Corbyn to stand with the support of relatively few MPs. In the afternoon Tom Watson, deputy leader, will makes his speech, expected to be scrupulously loyal to his leader. |
| Wednesday | Wednesday |
| The conference ends with a lunchtime speech from Corbyn, who arrives in Brighton bolstered by the election result. | The conference ends with a lunchtime speech from Corbyn, who arrives in Brighton bolstered by the election result. |
| The newfound dominance of the left marks a huge turnaround for a Brighton party long dominated by the right. Ivor Caplin, the Labour MP for Hove from 1997 until he stood down in 2005, was a defence minister in the Blair government who became a target of anti-Iraq war protests and remains a force in the party locally. Peter Kyle, who won the seat for Labour in 2015 and greatly increased his majority in 2017, also became a target of the left before the election, mainly because of his public hostility to Corbyn. | The newfound dominance of the left marks a huge turnaround for a Brighton party long dominated by the right. Ivor Caplin, the Labour MP for Hove from 1997 until he stood down in 2005, was a defence minister in the Blair government who became a target of anti-Iraq war protests and remains a force in the party locally. Peter Kyle, who won the seat for Labour in 2015 and greatly increased his majority in 2017, also became a target of the left before the election, mainly because of his public hostility to Corbyn. |
| The shift to the left on the ground manifested at a contentious meeting in July last year to elect new officers. Hadfield, a journalist, was overwhelmingly elected secretary. Amid accusations from the right of intimidation, ballot-rigging and an emotive allegation of spitting, Labour headquarters in London led by the general secretary, Iain McNicol – not an ally of Corbyn – annulled the result and suspended the party. | The shift to the left on the ground manifested at a contentious meeting in July last year to elect new officers. Hadfield, a journalist, was overwhelmingly elected secretary. Amid accusations from the right of intimidation, ballot-rigging and an emotive allegation of spitting, Labour headquarters in London led by the general secretary, Iain McNicol – not an ally of Corbyn – annulled the result and suspended the party. |
| Then in October, Hadfield was suspended and the constituency party broken in three. Hadfield, still a member of the party, says he has yet to be notified as to why he was suspended. | Then in October, Hadfield was suspended and the constituency party broken in three. Hadfield, still a member of the party, says he has yet to be notified as to why he was suspended. |
| In new elections in February and March the left triumphed, the right unable to cope with the influx of new pro-Corbyn members. Anne Pissaridou, who was elected last year along with Hadfield only to see the executive suspended five days later, was elected to chair the new Hove constituency Labour party. | In new elections in February and March the left triumphed, the right unable to cope with the influx of new pro-Corbyn members. Anne Pissaridou, who was elected last year along with Hadfield only to see the executive suspended five days later, was elected to chair the new Hove constituency Labour party. |
| Members of Momentum, the movement set up after Corbyn was elected in 2015 to push a leftwing agenda, were influential, seeing most of those on its slate being elected. | Members of Momentum, the movement set up after Corbyn was elected in 2015 to push a leftwing agenda, were influential, seeing most of those on its slate being elected. |
| Pissaridou, who is in her 60s, says she is not a member but she is a socialist and a Corbyn supporter. She does not accept that anything untoward happened in last year’s vote and is sceptical about the spitting allegation. | Pissaridou, who is in her 60s, says she is not a member but she is a socialist and a Corbyn supporter. She does not accept that anything untoward happened in last year’s vote and is sceptical about the spitting allegation. |
| Several members present at the meeting said it was shambolic, with the venue too small and people having to vote in relays. But Pissaridou said: “As far as I was concerned, it was the most orderly meeting.” | Several members present at the meeting said it was shambolic, with the venue too small and people having to vote in relays. But Pissaridou said: “As far as I was concerned, it was the most orderly meeting.” |
| Members from the right and centre of the party who asked for anonymity acknowledged they remain unconvinced by Corbyn. One said he was wary of the rise of Momentum and was keeping a close watch on them and expressed unhappiness over a meeting before the general election at which Kyle had been heckled. Another conceded the right and centre of the party had been “outgunned” by the left. | Members from the right and centre of the party who asked for anonymity acknowledged they remain unconvinced by Corbyn. One said he was wary of the rise of Momentum and was keeping a close watch on them and expressed unhappiness over a meeting before the general election at which Kyle had been heckled. Another conceded the right and centre of the party had been “outgunned” by the left. |
| With the election of Pissaridou and others from the left on to the executive, there was an assumption Kyle would be in trouble. Before the June general election, some on the left had been pushing for Kyle’s deselection. But the better-than-expected result for Labour at the election has eased tensions. | With the election of Pissaridou and others from the left on to the executive, there was an assumption Kyle would be in trouble. Before the June general election, some on the left had been pushing for Kyle’s deselection. But the better-than-expected result for Labour at the election has eased tensions. |
| Pissaridou said the attitude towards Kyle had changed, mainly because he increased his majority at the general election. What about deselection? “Yes, it has gone away. It was such a good result. And, well, he is not [critical] of Corbyn any more. We had a talk about this. He does not agree with everything Jeremy does. That is his prerogative. But he is certainly behind the manifesto and he knows the manifesto and Jeremy’s campaign helped achieve his huge majority.” | Pissaridou said the attitude towards Kyle had changed, mainly because he increased his majority at the general election. What about deselection? “Yes, it has gone away. It was such a good result. And, well, he is not [critical] of Corbyn any more. We had a talk about this. He does not agree with everything Jeremy does. That is his prerogative. But he is certainly behind the manifesto and he knows the manifesto and Jeremy’s campaign helped achieve his huge majority.” |
| Kyle’s increased majority was topped on election night by the victory of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who took Brighton Kemptown from the Conservatives. Russell-Moyle, a leftwinger who had chaired the 9 July meeting, had the support of Momentum, which had made the seat one of its target marginals. | Kyle’s increased majority was topped on election night by the victory of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who took Brighton Kemptown from the Conservatives. Russell-Moyle, a leftwinger who had chaired the 9 July meeting, had the support of Momentum, which had made the seat one of its target marginals. |
| Miriam Binder, constituency chair for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, describes herself as a socialist who left the party when Blair abandoned clause IV and rejoined in 2015 because of Corbyn. She says the win in Kemptown was down to a lot more than Momentum members. “I am not saying they did not do well and got people out at weekends, but the day-to-day business was run by local members who worked their cotton socks off,” she said. | Miriam Binder, constituency chair for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, describes herself as a socialist who left the party when Blair abandoned clause IV and rejoined in 2015 because of Corbyn. She says the win in Kemptown was down to a lot more than Momentum members. “I am not saying they did not do well and got people out at weekends, but the day-to-day business was run by local members who worked their cotton socks off,” she said. |
| Meanwhile, as the annual conference looms, the party’s left-right tensions have not entirely fizzled out. “One thing our local Momentum would like to achieve is to reverse all the unjust suspensions and expulsions that McNicol implemented in Brighton and Hove,” Barnes said. | Meanwhile, as the annual conference looms, the party’s left-right tensions have not entirely fizzled out. “One thing our local Momentum would like to achieve is to reverse all the unjust suspensions and expulsions that McNicol implemented in Brighton and Hove,” Barnes said. |
| This Sunday, members of the left are hoping to hold a demonstration in Brighton calling for McNicol to resign, less than an hour before the general secretary is scheduled to speak on the opening day of conference. Hadfield is scheduled to address a fringe meeting about his year-long suspension in his home town. | This Sunday, members of the left are hoping to hold a demonstration in Brighton calling for McNicol to resign, less than an hour before the general secretary is scheduled to speak on the opening day of conference. Hadfield is scheduled to address a fringe meeting about his year-long suspension in his home town. |
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