RugbyRebels

Security row over Labour conference
Michael Savage, Chief Political Correspondent
August 26 2016, 12:01am, The Times

G4S said that it no longer had enough time to plan for the event

Labour’s annual conference could be cancelled after a desperate last-minute attempt to find a security provider failed.

In an embarrassment for the party, it was forced to ask G4S, a company it has vowed to boycott over its links to Israeli prisons, whether it was willing to secure the event. The company refused and Eric Alexander, the managing director, said it did not have enough time to plan for such a “large, complex event”.

The row over security arrangements has become increasingly farcical, with union leaders warning that the event is still in danger of being cancelled. It is due to take place in Liverpool at the end of next month.

The GMB union threatened to picket the event if Showsec, another security company, covered it. GMB claims that Showsec refused to formally recognise the union and urged Labour to find another provider.

Labour sources fear that supporters of Jeremy Corbyn will use the row to target Iain McNicol, the moderate general secretary of the party, and replace him with a hard-left candidate.

Digby wrote:Maybe not having a conference was what Corbyn had in mind when he said he'd listen to the members more, learning from some of history's big names on the left

Sandydragon wrote:

Digby wrote:Maybe not having a conference was what Corbyn had in mind when he said he'd listen to the members more, learning from some of history's big names on the left

Apparently the Momentum conference will still go ahead so the voice of the Labour leadership will still be heard.

Zhivago wrote:Firstly, this is a one-off post because I simply could not continue letting your collective imbecility continue unopposed.

Sandy, engineered? Seriously? Seems like you're implying Corbyn somehow is involved in this farce. He's not - the boycott of G4S is the stupidity of GMB and McNichol. Rightfully, if someone in a position of responsibility fucks up, they should be held accountable.

Digby, ditto for you - laughable that you try to pin it on Corbyn at all. And listening to the membership? Remind me how the Tory membership decided on Theresa May... oh right, they didn't.

Over and out, from sunny Santorini.

Sandydragon wrote:Well it is in Liverpool so getting red shirts won't be a problem.

Zhivago wrote:Firstly, this is a one-off post because I simply could not continue letting your collective imbecility continue unopposed.

Sandy, engineered? Seriously? Seems like you're implying Corbyn somehow is involved in this farce. He's not - the boycott of G4S is the stupidity of GMB and McNichol. Rightfully, if someone in a position of responsibility fucks up, they should be held accountable.

Digby, ditto for you - laughable that you try to pin it on Corbyn at all. And listening to the membership? Remind me how the Tory membership decided on Theresa May... oh right, they didn't.

Over and out, from sunny Santorini.

The row over conference security is rooted in the decision of Labour’s National Executive Committee last year to boycott G4S after it was claimed the firm was linked to prisons holding Palestinian political inmates.

Unite the Union, one of Mr Corbyn’s strongest backers which sits on the NEC, was a key force in the NEC’s decision and in the broader Stop G4S campaign.

Sandydragon wrote:Are you sure you dot mean Mccluskey?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 02786.html

The row over conference security is rooted in the decision of Labour’s National Executive Committee last year to boycott G4S after it was claimed the firm was linked to prisons holding Palestinian political inmates.

Unite the Union, one of Mr Corbyn’s strongest backers which sits on the NEC, was a key force in the NEC’s decision and in the broader Stop G4S campaign.

Digby wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:Are you sure you dot mean Mccluskey?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 02786.html

The row over conference security is rooted in the decision of Labour’s National Executive Committee last year to boycott G4S after it was claimed the firm was linked to prisons holding Palestinian political inmates.

Unite the Union, one of Mr Corbyn’s strongest backers which sits on the NEC, was a key force in the NEC’s decision and in the broader Stop G4S campaign.

McNicol was seen as not supporting Corbyn's attempts to be on the ballot, and thus is a man in the crosshairs. Additionally the left aren't wrong that this is an opportunity for them to hand a lot of key roles to those more on the hard left, I'd have my doubts that's a useful or good idea, but they may well go for a purge. Any which way we mayn't be seeing blame attached in a number of instances for other than slightly barmy/intolerant political reasons.

Sandydragon wrote: Most likely there will be a cull of anyone who insufficiently believes in the cause. Just when you thought it couldn't get any messier!!!

Zhivago wrote:Firstly, this is a one-off post

Zhivago wrote:Firstly, this is a one-off post

Sandydragon wrote:

Digby wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:Are you sure you dot mean Mccluskey?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 02786.html

McNicol was seen as not supporting Corbyn's attempts to be on the ballot, and thus is a man in the crosshairs. Additionally the left aren't wrong that this is an opportunity for them to hand a lot of key roles to those more on the hard left, I'd have my doubts that's a useful or good idea, but they may well go for a purge. Any which way we mayn't be seeing blame attached in a number of instances for other than slightly barmy/intolerant political reasons.

Most likely there will be a cull of anyone who insufficiently believes in the cause. Just when you thought it couldn't get any messier!!!

Sandydragon wrote:Another one off?

Sandydragon wrote:And back to the OP, Labour agree a deal with the Ocs group to provide security. Nothing like a bit of eleventh hour negotiation played out in the national media.

Mellsblue wrote:

Sandydragon wrote:And back to the OP, Labour agree a deal with the Ocs group to provide security. Nothing like a bit of eleventh hour negotiation played out in the national media.

I bet they've paid well over the odds. What a farce Labour has become.