onionbagblog

The fightback for the heart and soul of the lost Labour Party in Lambeth stats in, um, Vassall ward.

Blimey.

It is reassuring to know that not everyone in the local party is part of the New Labour sheep herd mentality. With one of its councillors having had the party whip withdrawn, the Vassall ward branch met midweek, to discuss the treatment of Councillor Abrams.

Fighting talk came out of the meeting, with the following resolution passed:

“Vassall branch wishes to express its deep concern and disappointment over Councillor Steve Reed’s (Leader of Lambeth Council) behaviour towards Councillor Kingsley Abrams over the past four months. We do not agree with the suspension and call for him to be reinstated immediately.”

This particular local spot of difficulty for @LambethLabour *isn’t* about personalities. It is more wide ranging, and incorporates growing unrest as a section of the local party shifts even further towards the right.

Such a damning statement issued against @cllrstevereed however demonstrates that Councillor Abrams is not alone as the dissenting voice, something that the New Labour machine has tried to portray him as.

I doubt if the right wing @LambethLabour cabinet will be losing much sleep over the statement. There’s probably more pressing matters to consider - possible probes covering the Data Protection Act, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and the Human Rights Act, as well as common law.

All of these appear to have been transgressed with the orders from the @LambethLabour leadership to hack into an email account in the attempt to frame Councillor Abrams.

The Vassall ward meeting also confirmed it’s backing of @kevindcraig as Secretary of the Vauxhall Constituency Labour Party. This is a key move and sends out a strong signal to the Stop Kev campaign.

The manoeuvring behind the scenes to put in place a New Labour puppet at the heart of the Vauxhall CLP represents far more than simply controlling the party. With Kate Hoey briefing the CLP that she is unlikely to stand at the next general election, the right wing of @LambethLabour is already lining up its poster boy for Westminster.

Not if the Vassall ward has anything to do about it.