Welsh Labour Grassroots are outraged at the unwarranted interference by Labour UK in Welsh Labour’s democratic processes and the stifling of women’s voices. On Saturday 25th November Welsh Labour Women held their Annual Conference in Cardiff at which a motion was to be debated on Solidarity with Palestinian Women (see below).
This motion had been presented by the then Cynon Valley Labour Women’s Branch and had been approved for debate by the Standing Orders Committee and supported by the Welsh Labour Women’s Committee, with just one dissenting voice from Welsh Labour. The motion was subsequently forwarded, without the knowledge of either of the two legitimate committees, to UK Labour and was disallowed for debate by them.
Delegates were only notified of this on the morning of Conference so there was no way to appeal against the decision. Mysteriously, the title of the motion had changed from one of “Solidarity with Palestinian Women” to “Israel-Palestine Conflict” with no consultation. The motion contained no reference to the present conflict, had been written and submitted prior to 7th October, and called for solidarity with Palestinian women in their fight for freedom from occupation and for gender equality. It applauded the Welsh Government on its stand on the Overseas Matters Bill.
A similar but more topical motion to the Scottish Women’s conference was allowed for debate and was passed, on the very same day.
A WLG spokesperson said, “This is yet another example of central control and the stifling of our voices here in Wales. It suggests that Welsh Labour is a logo only and has no independent voice. It not only undermines democracy and debate within the Party, but misrepresents the authors by changing the title of a motion to represent something quite different from its content and meaning. This cannot continue. The voice of rank and file members will be heard.”
This is the motion in full, as supported by the Welsh Labour Women’s Committee:-
Solidarity with Palestinian women
Conference notes that:
- the Israeli Government is in breach of international law in respect of the rights of the people of Palestine
- the actions of the Israeli Government particularly affect the lives of the women of Palestine
Palestinian women’s fight for equal rights is hampered by the Israeli occupation, which has led to fragmentation of territories and increasing economic hardships. Efforts to organise around a common agenda for gender equality are made more difficult by restrictions imposed on women’s movements by the Israeli occupation. Check points add to the difficulties faced by women travelling to meetings, to work, or for medical care, and are often humiliating and degrading experiences for them. No account is taken of any special needs such as pregnancy. Israeli Government policies such as punitive home demolitions have a devastating effect on women, and Palestinian women who resist can find themselves imprisoned in appalling circumstances without trial.
Conference therefore records its solidarity with the women of Palestine in their struggle for freedom from occupation and for gender equality.
Conference applauds the Welsh Government on its position on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill and calls on Welsh Labour to redouble their efforts to support the Palestinian people in accordance with their wishes.
In other developments:
Restore the whip to Andy McDonald MP!
Seven non-affiliated trade union General Secretaries have written to Keir Starmer to urge him to restore the whip to Andy McDonald MP. Mick Lynch of the RMT, Mark Serwotka of the PCS, Steve Gillan of the Prison Officers Association, Daniel Kebede of the NEU, Sarah Woolley of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union, Jo Grady of the UCU and Bob Monks of the United Road Transport Union are the signatories. McDonald had the Labour whip removed by the leadership after speaking at a rally in support of a ceasefire in Palestine a month ago.
The General Secretaries say: “it is perfectly clear from what was actually said that Andy McDonald was supporting a two-state solution and advocating that both Israelis and Palestinians in the region should be able to live in ‘peaceful liberty’. Our members would find it utterly inexplicable if Andy was prevented from remaining a Labour MP on the strength of what he said here.”
Labour lose another Council over Gaza
Meanwhile, the leadership’s refusal to call unequivocally for a ceasefire in Gaza has lost Labour another Council. The resignation of four City Councillors means Labour has lost control of Norwich. The Deputy Labour Group Leader at Norfolk County Council has also quit.
This latest blow comes after Labour lost control of Oxford and Burnley Councils as a result of resignations in protest against the leader’s position. More than 50 Councillors have quit the Party in protest at Starmer’s refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza.
Take action locally!
On Saturday 2nd December, join an action in your local area to call for a permanent ceasefire now. There are at least fifty local protests taking place tomorrow and more on Sunday: for your nearest activity, see here.
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