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Thread: The latest from the Party's spokesperson on Derek Hatton's readmission is yet another example of an institutionally unfit organisation incapable of being honest about dealing with its demons /1 jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/derek-hatton-s…
Hatton was expelled by the Labour Party 32 years ago. This is the highest sanction that can be metered down by the disciplinary process. Unlike a suspension, the unique thing about an expulsion is the caveat that re-entry *MUST be via an NEC decision /2
Hatton would have had to write to the Gen Sec & NEC, setting out why he should be readmitted. This would have been reported to the NEC Disputes Panel, and a panel of three members appointed to hear in tribunal style the case /3
Because there are so many, membership appeals are heard by an NEC chair and two members of a regional board. I know because I've done quite a few myself. On Monday, its reported that Jim Kennedy (UNITE) chaired that hearing /4
The procedure of the meeting is that the NEC's representative, usually a party staffer, sets out why the member shouldn't be readmitted, and the member responds. The tribunal decides and its reported to the Disputes Panel. /5
It isn't an interim decision. Its not subject to appeal. Its a decision taken with delegated NEC powers. This is important. The Party control the composition of the panel, and the NEC gets to decide the standard / quality of the case it puts forward /6
A cursory glance at Hatton's twitter feed and public statements are enough to demonstrate why his readmission to the Party might possibly constitute prejudicial and grossly detrimental behavior. Bullying, obfuscation, denial. /7
But the structures of the Party, and the people who govern them, threw out the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership that you'd expect from any other organisation /8
Hatton is someones mate. Someones political ally. So rather than protect the integrity of the Party, someone somewhere decided to try and do the Party over, and they almost got away with it. This will keep on happening if it isn't stopped. /9
And here is the kicker. Hatton now has a contract with the Labour Party. We've let him in. He's now entitled to due process. So rather than prevent his entry, he's now suspended, pending an investigation, potential referral and and NCC case. /10
Obviously I won't now be on that case. Any number of factionally elected CLP reps or TULO brokered Union reps will be. Wonder how that will go. /11
But of course there won’t be an NCC case, because Hatton did what he did when he wasn’t bound by our rules. We had a chance to stop it being the Labour Party’s problem *and we didn’t take it*. Detest is in the Labour Party now and there’s nothing to be done /12
This is the central problem. If you don’t want antisemites, misogynists, homophobes, militants and generally disagreeable people running havoc inside the Party: don’t let them in, an ask yourself what it is you’re doing to make them try to join /ends
I’ve just spotted that Degsy got autocorrected to Detest. Just leaving that one there without comment. /ps
