MSF witchhunt is hotting up
After a protracted period of delay the leadership of MSF has decided to pursue a disciplinary investigation into its London Regional Council.
The issues involved are wholly political: the Regional Council opposed Labour Party policy of a directly-elected mayor for London and asked that candidates for local elections seeking financial support from the Regional Council give an indication of support for union policy.
In neither instance is there a breach of union policy – national MSF had no policy on the question of a directly-elected mayor in advance of Regional Council taking its decision, and there is no policy on the treatment of candidates.
A ‘preliminary investigating panel’ has been looking at the issues for several months. They demanded the attendance of the Council secretary, Hugh McGrillen, and President, Sue Michie – but refused them the right to hear the complaints against them, to record proceedings or to have a ‘friend’ present. With the full support of the Regional Council at every stage, they refused to attend under these conditions.
It seems that the complaints stem wholly, or in large part, from the Labour Party, no doubt in cahoots with the union leadership. Terry Ashton, Director of the London Region Board (!) of the Labour Party wrote complaining that the Regional Council was a ‘thorn in the side’ of the Labour Party.
This seems to relate primarily to the crime its delegates committed of demanding a vote (!) at the ‘consultation conference’ the London Labour Party held on the question of London government
Ashton (and, presumably, MSF General Secretary Roger Lyons) do not see unions as autonomous organisations with the right to decide their own policy and argue for it within the Labour Party.
Ashton did not even bother raising his complaint with the London Region Board of the Labour Party before writing to MSF.
Now a new panel has been set up to attribute individual responsibility, formulate charges and recommend punishment to the MSF NEC. Recommended punishment could be anything from suspension of individuals from office to reconstitution of the Regional Council.
The hearing is likely to take place at the NEC meetings of February 6 or March 13. There will be a demonstration outside MSF Head Office whenever this takes place.
MSF branches and regions elsewhere in the country should pass resolutions demanding an end to a blatant attempt to silence critics of Labour Party policy.