By Norrette Moore

Today, I come home from a class to find our local Party discussed by all and sundry on social media, on Labour List, on Skwawkbox and on a journalist’s twitter feed. As a hitherto member of the now defunct Parliamentary Selection Committee I am somewhat concerned, to say the least.

I was advised last night, after 9pm, that the Labour London Region have decided in their wisdom to close down the Uxbridge Selection Committee, yet another CLP Selection in the London area.  London – the heart of Labour politics; London – enabled by a willing army of activists, London which has a Labour Mayor and a Labour GLA.

We originally discovered our CLP was next in line for selection through social media, by certain individuals posting websites advertising themselves as the next Labour Candidate for Uxbridge Labour, individuals based well outside of the constituency. I understand some were able to predict their success back in June. Is this fair?

But Uxbridge Labour were not informed by the Party until after the process had begun.  Why did candidates in North London and other areas know this before we did?

We hurriedly put together our committee and timetable. I should have realised something was wrong at that point – when we were told that we would not be running the postal votes; London region was.  Also, that members would be encouraged to vote online to avoid coming to the hustings, using Anonyvoter. 

We were advised that ward nomination meetings would have to be online.  And again we were surprised that we could not see the applications, nor their CVs and thus could not review and choose our own Long List.  It was a Long List – chosen by the NEC & Region reps, which excluded at least three female applicants, leaving us with just two – less than the 50% female representation defined by the rules.

Personally, having run three successful, fair and transparent selections, as Parliamentary Procedures Secretary (PPS), I found this process increasingly odd.  Our PPS this time asked for advice and instruction throughout the process from our London Region Representative.  Important documentation, such as model letters, draft forms, etc., were not forthcoming, or very slow to arrive. The staffer also had to take leave during the process.  Is this the way that Labour runs things now?

Our ward nominations went ahead – we had an intense four days in running these, using the systems and methods prescribed by our London Rep.  The local candidate clearly had six out of seven nominations. Uxbridge Labour members are aware of how the constituency is: they mostly nominate local candidates.  The Chair of our Selection Committee asked all members present at each ward meeting if this was a fair process. All agreed.

The reason given for standing us down was an email to all members about our foodbank drive.  Every Easter and Christmas we run a drive for donations for either Easter Eggs or food banks across the borough.  Our secretary used images from last Christmas which carried pictures which included, amongst other activists, one of the candidates.  They now realise the mistake, but have been given no opportunity to discuss this with anyone at region.

Now we are blocked from communicating with the membership, I fear very much that our foodbank campaign will fail the needy of Hillingdon this time around. We are so sorry about this.

The irony of this case is that we would probably have arrived at the same shortlist as London Region.

Instead, London have preferred to upset many members, disparage a local candidate who was very pro the London office.  It can only be a mistake or misjudgement on the part of someone.  In the letter we received, releasing us from our duties, not a word of thanks was given for the work we had done, the hours we had spent – work of volunteers, who seem to be treated much worse than employees – employees whose salary we pay.  Shame on London region.  And shame for not having the decency to reply to my response to this action.

Norrette Moore is Treasurer, Uxbridge & South Ruislip (Uxbridge Labour), writing in a personal capacity.