In late September I posted about the rumour I had heard that the Labour Party had apparently “purged” at least one person for being a “member” of the Ultra left “Alliance for Workers Liberty” (AWL). Due to possible appeals I didn’t mention any names.Last week Leicestershire UNISON member, Nick Holden, posted an article on his website run jointly with his partner, Kate Ahrens (UNISON NEC member). This article was called “Expelled” and confirmed that both of them had been expelled from the Labour Party. A shorter version was also posted on the AWL website yesterday by Nick here.
Nick is pretty bitter about the expulsion. However I must admit that I find most of his complaints somewhat surprising and even a little naive. He freely admits to have been a “supporter” of AWL (even calling himself an “AWLer”) for 16 years. However, I think the chief issue is that he doesn’t appear to think there is anything fundamentally wrong with being a member of the Labour Party but supporting candidates who stand against the Labour Party in elections.
I think this is crucial. Not only is the AWL registered as a Political Party in its own right but it has supported electoral candidates who have stood against the Labour Party. If you don’t think that this deserves expulsion then this does make you wonder what will? How can any political Party ever win anything if they allow its members to support opponents? He says there is no appeal but I understand (and may be wrong), if he is willing to deny being a "supporter" of the AWL then he would have a right of appeal. However, “membership” of the AWL and the Socialist Party (I am reliably informed by another usually well informed Labour blogger) is automatic ground of expulsion “if proven”. Sorry Nick and Kate, but I think quite right too.
LRC Grimmerupnorth (Susan) who I don’t normally see “eye to eye” on many Party things (except this year wearing red poppies!) does, I think, lay into Nick about things in the “Expelled” post comments and her own blog. To be fair, Nick as usual, is quite restrained in his response. As are most (not all) AWLers.
