New Members Can Register to Vote in the Leadership Election – Monday 18th to 20th July
IF YOU JOINED the Labour Party or have become a Trade Union or affiliated Socialist Society member after 12th January 2016, you may be interested in registering to vote in the forthcoming election for the Leader of the Party. Those joining prior to 12th January will automatically receive a vote.
Joined after 12th January 2016? Don’t miss out on YOUR vote in the Leadership Election
From 5pm on Monday 18th to 5pm on Wednesday 20 July there will be a link to sign up as a registered supporter to vote in the coming leadership election.
The registration fee has recently been increased from £3.00 in 2015 to to £25.00 in 2016.
A link to register should be available on the page below:
http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/labour-party-leadership-election-2016
Members of affiliated organisations lime Trade Unions and Socialist Societies can sign up here:
As this is not an entirely straightforward procedure and the window for registration has been limited to a very tight time-frame, each of the announced candidates have set up their own pages to assist their one supporters with voter registration.
We have copied the links to each of the announced candidates pages below.
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Owen Smith MP
http://www.owen2016.com/get_involved
When will eligible electors get their ballot paper?
Ballot papers will be sent out in the post (Labour Party members only) and by email from the week commencing Monday 22 August. All ballots must be returned by Wednesday 21 September at midday.
Members will have a choice of returning their paper ballot paper or voting online but should use only one method and your vote will only be counted once.
How does the voting work?
Eligible electors will be asked to rank candidates in order of preference with ‘1’ being their top preference.
You don’t need to use all your preferences if you don’t wish to.
If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of first preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first preference votes will be eliminated and their second preference votes allocated.
This process is repeated until a candidate has more than 50 per cent of votes.
When will the result be announced?
The result will be announced at a Special Conference on Saturday 24 September in Liverpool.
Got a question that isn’t answered here?
Please email us at: leadership2016@labour.org.uk
Respect and unity: our code of conduct
A statement from Jeremy Corbyn.
“This leadership election must have at its heart a debate about the future direction of our Party and country, and should be an example to all of vibrant political discussion.
As a candidate I will treat all with respect, behave with civility and expect all who support me to do the same.
All Labour Party members and supporters should conduct themselves with a high standard of behaviour. This debate is about politics, not personalities, and personal abuse of any nature will not be accepted.
There should be no personal hostility and nobody should feel intimidated at any time. So no foul or abusive language will be tolerated and all candidates should be listened to with courtesy and respect at hustings, meetings and events.
In particular, there should be no demonstrations or protests targeting any individual candidate or outside any MP’s office or surgery – and no personal heckling of any candidate at any hustings, meeting or event.
The personal and family life of each candidate should be respected, and I will do everything I can to ensure that the private lives of candidates and their families are protected from public intrusion. I expect everyone in the Labour Party to do the same.
There will be no tolerance of abuse on social media. All candidates should ensure that anyone who acts in an abusive way on social media is referred to the Party for investigation.
We celebrate the diversity of our Party as a place where sexist, racist, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, or other discriminatory or offensive abuse, has no place.
We expect a high standard of debate in this leadership election and look forward to discussing what the people of this country need; how Labour can be re-elected; and what the next Labour government’s priorities should be: both to address the huge injustices around us and to rebuild Britain economically, ensuring that all parts of the country generate and share in its wealth. “
Labour Party Leadership Election
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Labour Party Membership Surges Past 500,000
LATEST FIGURES INDICATE membership of the Labour Party has now breached the 500,000 mark.
Martin Menear, Secretary of SE Cornwall Labour Party ecstatic about recent membership growth
An astonishing rise of around 128,000 in the fortnight since the EU referendum has increased membership to a whopping 515,000, making us one of the largest political parties in Europe.
In Cornwall. Martin Menear, Secretary of the South East Cornwall CLP said: “I can barely believe what is happening. There 49 new members on today’s report. That’s 140 since the referendum! Thank you all. Together we will be unstoppable!”.
Anecdotal evidence in the Tamar Valley area indicates that membership growth is still on the rise and the next set of figures will make very interesting reading.
The upsurge indicates success for the leader in turning Labour into a mass-membership party, moving ahead of Tony Blair’s peak of 405,000 members in 1997. More than double the 200,000 members the party had on general election day last year.
Tamar Valley Labour Party Branch encourages readers to comment on our blog using the ‘add comment’ button to the left of each article. Your initial comment will be moderated prior to publication.
The New Economics comes to Liskeard, Cornwall on 30th July 2016
The Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, is convening a series of public events to broaden the debate around economics in Britain. A range of experts will present their views at a number of events across the country, with questions from members of the public.
All participants speak for themselves, rather than for the Labour Party or the Shadow Chancellor, but the themes which emerge will help inform conversations about economic policy across the board.
You can book your place by clicking the link below. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-new-economics-comes-to-cornwall-tickets-25900161079?aff=es2
- Panel discussion + Q&A with Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP and James Meadway, Economic Adviser to the Shadow Chancellor and former Chief Economist at the New Economics Foundation.
**The venue is fully accessible**
WHEN Saturday, 30 July 2016 from 15:00 to 17:00 (BST) – WHERE Liskeard Public Hall – 3-5 West Street, Liskeard, PL14 6BW – View Map
Branch Votes to Back Party Leadership
YESTERDAY THE BRANCH declared its overwhelming support for the Party leadership by passing a resolution stating: “Tamar Valley Labour Party pledges its support to Jeremy Corbyn in his role as the democratically elected leader of the Labour Party.”
Local Party pledges its support to Leader, Jeremy Corbyn
The vote and debate about leadership of the Party formed the centrepiece in a packed evening meeting, held on Wednesday 6th July.
Participants took part in a wide ranging debate about the leadership as well as the present and future direction of the Party. Views both for and against the motion were debated enthusiastically by many of those present. The outcome of the vote was 22 in support, 2 against and 5 abstentions.
The second part of the resolution underlined the “important role” the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) has on matters concerning the leadership. Whilst stressing the PLP should operate “in accordance with the Party rules.”
The resolution will now be forwarded to the Labour Party General Secretary and other interested parties.
Following the mass resignation of MPs from the shadow cabinet last week, the issue of Party Leadership has topped the agenda at Labour Branch meetings up and down the country. Branches have, in the main, backed the current leadership.
Branch Meeting: Party Leadership Debate Wednesday 6th July @ 7.00pm
Date for your Diary: Branch Meeting on Wednesday July 6th 2016 @ 7pm
Meeting focus: The Party Leadership
People will be are aware of the current turmoil in the Parliamentary Labour Party and the challenge to the authority of the leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
Reflecting on the leadership issue, members are invited to draft (beforehand) and present motions to the meeting with the objective of gaining wider support for pledges and specific action you would like to be taken.
If you are unable to attend please email Phil Spurr, Branch Secretary with your views on the subject. Your views will then be circulated by email to all branch members prior to the meeting.
Join the debate and add your views on where we stand on this important issue.
Members and supporters are welcome to attend. If you know anyone keen to find out more about Labour in our locality please bring them along or pass on details of the event.
Meeting location:
Tamar Valley Methodist Church in Albaston, Gunnislake,
Cornwall, PL18 9EP
Brexit Fallout: Working Together is the Only Show in Town
LOCAL PARTY MEMBER AND WEBSITE EDITOR, Steven Wilkinson, shares his personal thoughts on the political turmoil that has swept through the nation and devastated the main political parties in the aftermath of the vote to leave the European Union. On Wednesday 6th July there will be a Branch Meeting to discuss these events.
AFTER A WEEK when nearly half of the nation must have felt like it had been signed up to a mass suicide cult by having the Brexit pill forced upon the 48% who voted to remain, you would have imagined that was it – well at least for the time being. That was not to be.
Len MCCluskey, UNITE Leader, Calls for Party Unity
The political earthquake, known as Brexit, swept like a whirlwind through the main political Parties and has led to an outbreak of political suicides and further instability and conflict in the economy and society as a whole. This highlighted by a spate of high-profile political resignations and a staggering rise in hate crime.
Immediately following the announcement of the referendum, the Tory Party leader David Cameron joined the pact and committed political harikari. The government and country was thrown into a state of complete disarray. The lack of a Brexit plan also led to heightened tensions in the Tory Party and the population – pro and anti alike. Cameron’s resignation sparked one of the most extraordinary Tory leadership contests imaginable. Naked ambition underlying the leave campaign broke free when Gove knifed fellow Brexiteer – and leadership hopeful – Boris in a flagrant act of treachery. The Boris Leadership campaign is now toast. Yet still no agreed Brexit plan on offer. Uncertainty prevails.
Meanwhile, as the Labour Leadership was preparing to take a lead on Brexit, the Parliamentary Party (PLP) joined the fray and popped their pills. The majority of the PLP set out to unseat Jeremy Corbyn by collectively entering into a suicide pact and resigned in their droves. It would appear these MPs may have now bottled it in what is coming to be known as the #chickencoup.
Ar first, the PLPs actions may have seemed unstoppable. But, as we know, a week is a long time in politics. In this instance, 24 hrs are long enough for the mood to change and for Corbyn’s wide base of support in the membership to make itself felt. The Labour Party is still reeling from the fallout of the #chickencoup that has brought the Party into a state of turmoil not seen since the early 1980s, when the ‘Gang of 4’ split from Labour to form the SDP.
Fortunately, in the Labour Party we have a broad church of stakeholders. It is easy to forget our biggest backers are the unions. Yesterday, Len McCuskey, Unite General Secretary made a positive contribution in the leadership debate asking the PLP to step back from the precipice and reach an agreement to prevent the party damaging itself any further.
This is an evolving situation and we do not know what the outcome will be. What we do know, as party members, is we all have opinions and views on what’s happening and need to listen to each other.
There are millions of people out there who will be even more in need of an alternative to austerity and we need to get our act together pretty dam quick before the Tories lay down a Brexit plan based around further deregulation and free-market economics. Unity means debating and understanding the issues that face us and putting in the hard work to convince the public of our merits as a future government – whoever is our leader.
We should remain loyal to our cause, constituency and their interests in this David and Goliath struggle to mediate the excesses of capitalism whilst seeking to create a real alternative vision to a world driven for profit and not people.
The PLP may be coming to the realisation that fighting each other will not benefit anyone except our enemies. Roll on the debate and please stop the infighting (in public at least). Stand up for what YOU believe in and get involved in your local Party making your voice heard at this crucial point in our history. United we stand – divided we fall.
Steven Wilkinson is a Local Labour Party Member and edits this blog
Tamar Valley Labour Party encourages members and supporters to write to us with their contributions for publication on this blog.
Corbyn’s Statement on His Leadership and the Challenges We Now Face
Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn
STATEMENT FROM JEREMY CORBYN, Leader of the Labour Party, published on 26th June 2016. He introduces the challenges faced by members and the country in light of the vote to leave the European Union and comments on the challenges to his leadership.
‘Our country faces a huge challenge following Thursdays vote to leave the EU.
The British people have the right to know how their elected leaders are going to respond. We need to come together to heal the divisions exposed by the vote , we have to respect the decision that has been made, hold the government to democratic account over it’s response and ensure that working people don’t pay the price of exit.
Neither wing of the Tory government has an exit plan. Labour will now ensure that our reform agenda is at the heart of those negotiations that lie ahead that includes freedom to shape our economy for the future and the necessity of protecting social and employment rights. One clear message from last Thursdays vote is that millions of people felt shut out of the political and economic system .
I was elected by hundred and thousands of Labour Party members and supporters with an overwhelming mandate for a different kind of politics. I regret there ‘s been resignations from the shadow cabinet but I am not going to betray the trust of those who voted for me or the millions of supporters across the country who need Labour to represent them. Those who want to change the Labour leadership will have to stand in a democratic election in which I will be a candidate .
Over the next 24hrs I will reshape my shadow cabinet and announce a new leadership team to take forward Labour’s campaign for a fairer Britain and to get the best deal from Europe for our people.’
60,000 People Joined Labour this Week
Labour Party membership from Blair to Corbyn
‘May you live in interesting times’ is an oft quoted phrase.
We certainly are in interesting times at the moment! Politics is the subject on everyone’s lips and more and more people are keen to become more directly engaged with party politics.
In recent weeks 40 new members have joined the Labour Party in South East Cornwall alone. 60,000 new members have joined nationally.
We would like to welcome those who have recently joined and look forward to working with you to build a brighter future for our communities.
Tamar Valley Labour 
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