The post you are reporting:
Wendy
thank you for your contribution, it should be added that yourself and Reg raised thousands of pounds for the local party before your departrure.
just to add to yout short imput, when Mr Eddy found out his seat was on the hit list he first changed it to Dover town being (one seat)where bill and i stood a women only shortlist.
Bill and I would not oppose each other in such circmstances.
and after a long drawn out argument with the regional/local party party then went as you say after reg's seat.
To follow on as you say, the labour party has lost some of its most hard working members, together with members who helped to raise a lot of dosh for the party.
You will recall wendy, that when the KCC elections were up at that time, the letter that came down from labour HQ was a GUIDLINE only, it was SUGGESTING ways of getting more women into all parts of local and national govt.
You will also recall wendy, the meeting locally of the executive labour party when i asked Mr Eddy where the proposal had come from and how long he knew about it.
You will recall he replied he had known for a while but was asked to keep it a secret!!!
a secret from the very people it affected???? you will recall mr Eddy had a rough ride at that time for the way he had handled not only the GUIDLINE but also attempted to protect his own seat and that of mr Birkett
total double standards.
you will recall wendy, we also suggested as a compromise to have one seat in deal and one in dover town all women shortlist, although i don't agree with any woman only shortlist, this to was rejected by the local/national party.
So what did it achieve for labour nationally/locally at the KCC election?
We lost one of the most respected labour county cllrs but not only respected by the labour party, at county hall mr hansell was respected by all 3 parties at county hall.
Labour didn't gain any credibility at any level inside or outside of the party, and it probably didnt help with its choice of its imposed candidate.
you will also recall wendy, bill reg and my constant battles at county hall with mr Eddy who was on a power trip.
You will remember my being called twice to the county labour group by mr eddy for daring to challenge him at local party meetings, which i continued to do and you will also recall at the labour executive both times they threw out the case
once not even getting as far as the meeting
Wendy, it would be easy for us now no longer in the party(and my being a labour voter from the age of being able to do so) to sit back.
But it's driven by passion wanting a credible labour party.
Putting this aside we could have said nothing and that way stop mr Eddy from having a chance to put up for these seats or that of MP
But unlike mr eddy we believe in democracy, and people being elected on ability rather than sex creed, etc.
Jan
just a small point on your view of the selection process, you are correct someone could be bussed in, but that is the case with or without a womens only shortlist, thats about labour party members having the choice to vote for all the candidates be they male/female or whatever, and of course if they are not local you have that choice to vote for an alternative.
The woman only shortlist gives you no guarentee's and no such ability
it would be the party saying this is the list of women you can vote for., and takes away the abilty for you to decide on your preferred candidate.
As i have said even in the present system you could end up with someone female and local but they would have got there with the support of the local party and it's members.
The woman only shortlist takes your right to this away.
You can see why wendy/reg and I have such concerns and no longer part of the party, its because we care passionatly about the party, but at the same time want honesty and fairness.
As wendy says, she achieved high status in the local council not because she was a woman but because of the support of male/female persons
Also it's like wendy says, it's all down to the local party, the local party bottled out last time over reg's seat, so i dont share john's confidence in this being overturned.
But the local party can come out of this smelling of roses and even encourage people like reg/wendy back into the party.
But i won't hold my breath,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,