On Thursday, left-wing organisations CLPD (Campaign for Labour Party Democracy) and Momentum each announced competing – albeit overlapping – ‘slates’ for Labour’s important elections for additional members of the party’s senior disciplinary body, the National Constitutional Committee (NCC).

The CLPD slate, announced first, has been supported by Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), Labour Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and, on Thursday evening, the LRC (Labour Representation Committee).

Momentum’s slate contains three candidates who also appear on the CLPD version – but omits a highly-regarded JVL member and two others, in favour of three other candidates.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is, of course, not backing any candidates publicly. But the SKWAWKBOX understands that he has talked positively about at least two out of the three candidates omitted from the Momentum slate.

Momentum founder Jon Lansman had objected to the inclusion of JVL member Stephen Marks during Wednesday’s discussions with CLPD and other organisations about the proposed left slate. However, he subsequently told the SKWAWKBOX that this was a personal view and that Momentum as an organisation was set to back Marks before talks broke down.

In spite of that, Marks did not appear in the Momentum list. But Corbyn has made clear that he would not wish to see JVL excluded.

Also omitted from Momentum’s list is Islington councillor Gary Heather – even though last weekend Lansman told the SKWAWKBOX that Heather was one of two completely ‘uncontroversial‘ candidates, alongside Cecile Wright, who would reliably be approved by all parties to the slate discussion. Ms Wright does appear on both slates.

Corbyn is familiar with Heather, who is a councillor in the same borough as Corbyn’s parliamentary constituency – and has gone as far as to say that he considers Heather an ideal candidate for the NCC.

In spite of Momentum’s genesis as an organisation to support Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, it seems that on these two candidates at least, the organisation is at odds with the opinion of the Labour leader.

The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.

If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.

Like this: Like Loading...