Barrister slams Labour Party gag order

The gagging order issued to local constituency Labour parties has sparked an outcry on social media and accusations that it’s illegal.

Newly appointed Blairite general secretary David Evans – who wants to see an end to party democracy – listed four topics he says members are not allowed to discuss or voice an opinion by claiming they are not “competent business”, code for out of bounds.

The topics are: ‘Starmer’s decision to spend £600,000 paying off the 2017 general election gang of 5th columnist staffers; the leaked report that detailed the gang’s dirty deeds in detail; the stitch-up being prepared by the politically motivated equality commission and anyone expelled from the party by the anti-left witch-hunt.

Barrister, Duncan Shipley-Dalton, tweeted: “The NEC (the ruling National Executive Committee) and therefore the GS has no authority in the rules to dictate what is ‘competent business’ for a CLP (constituency labour party) to discuss. The only authority is in Chap 1, VIII, 3.E – “The NEC shall from time to time, issue guidance and instructions on the conduct of meetings…” CONDUCT not CONTENT.”

Duncan then spends his following four tweets tearing David Evans’ instructions to shreds, highlighting their irrationality and how they breach party rules. He concludes: “The absurdity just piles up at times.”

Starmer allegedly rejected legal advice that the party would win a court case. Members money paid for this rejected advice they should see it full. Starmer’s abject apology states that the accusations against the 5th columnists are untrue. By doing that he has jumped the gun on any findings of the ongoing Forde inquiry that he set up. He has made a mockery of the party.

Many CLP chairs are expected be cowed into abiding by the GS’s illegal gagging orders, either because they do not know better or fear repercussions, locally and from the region’s bureaucrats.

Test the water and let The Word know if your local party abides by the general secretary’s ban or not.