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Statement on Pete Willsman

Walter Wolfgang statement, 31 July 2018
I came to Britain as a refugee from Nazi Germany, with a strong and continuing commitment to Judaism, and still attend my synagogue regularly.  I have been a member the Labour Party for 70 years. As a former member of Labour’s National Executive Committee myself, I have served with Pete Willsman and know him to be a committed anti-racist and a strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn. I am dismayed that Pete is under attack at the very time when the ballot for the NEC is taking place, and despite his deep and public apology. Pete Willsman is a staunch champion of party democracy. I will be voting for him, and urge Labour Party members to do likewise.
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Support grows for global nuclear ban

Fifty nine countries have signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and 10 have ratified it so far. But Theresa May has made clear that she has no intentions of Britain signing or ratifying the Treaty. We urge you to generate a debate in your local parties. Richmond Park CLP passed the following motion, submitted by former NEC member Walter Wolfgang:

This CLP notes that the non-nuclear nations are no longer satisfied to leave the promotion of nuclear disarmament to the nuclear powers. Instead they have drafted a treaty banning the production and use of nuclear weapons which is now subject to ratification. This CLP believes that the Labour Party should unequivocally commit itself to sign and ratify this treaty when in office. This implies that it will scrap and not replace the Trident missile programme.

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Trump and the nuclear danger

Labour CND is holding a workshop on Trump and the nuclear danger at the Arise Festival of Labour’s Left Ideas in London, 10am on Saturday 28 July at Student Central, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY.

Speakers are Christine Blower (former General Secretary NUT), Ted Seay (US arms control specialist) and Carol Turner (Labour CND).

Festival details here:
http://labourassemblyagainstausterity.org.uk/arise-a-festival-of-labours-left-ideas/
www.facebook.com/ariselabourleftfestival

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Our Democracy Review submission

Labour CND has made a submission to the Labour Party Democracy Review.

Overview:

How party democracy helps get a Labour government elected

A Labour government will only be voted into office if the electorate is convinced that the party’s commitments – on international as well as domestic policies – are equitable, fair and in the interests of society as a whole, not simply the few elites who exercise political, economic and social power.

In the last analysis, it’s policies that win elections. We believe that the most effective way of ensuring Labour hits the spot with the electorate is by:

  • electing a party leader who respects our members, and is prepared to listen to and reflect our views, recognising that half a million people provide a significant cross-section of opinion in British society as a whole;
  • greater involvement of members in deciding the policies contained in Labour’s manifesto;
  • ensuring CLPs and affiliates have clear and fair access to local, regional and national policy-making; and
  • integrating party members into policy-making structures at all levels.

Over a number of years differences of opinion within the party have been actively discouraged in the mistaken assumption that uniformity of view equates to unity of purpose. It does not. Debate is positive, not divisive. It guarantees issues are properly aired so that sound policy decisions can be reached.

Download full text:

LabCND democracy review submission

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Jobs not Bombs day school – Leeds

Come along to this day school on defence diversification for Labour activists, trade unionists and peace campaigners. The afternoon will be split into two sections, the first featuring expert speakers and a Q&A; the second, parallel small group sessions on taking the ideas forward.

Speakers include Fabian Hamilton MP (Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament) who has been given responsibility by Labour for developing a Defence Diversification Agency; Barnaby Pace (researcher and writer on the arms trade); Ann Feltham (Campaign Against the Arms Trade); Kevin Allsop (Unison) and Julie Ward MEP.

This event is organised by Yorkshire CND and supported by Momentum.

Click here for more information

For any enquiries, contact 01274 730 795 or email info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk

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Motion to Labour Party Women’s Conference

Labour Party Women’s Conference 2018 will take place on Saturday 22 September, the day before Annual Conference opens. This year CLPs and affiliates can submit a resolution for debate by the deadline of FRIDAY 29 JUNE. We encourage all CLPs to submit motions supporting the UN treaty for a global ban on nuclear weapons. Here’s an example from Finchley and Golders Green:

This Labour Women’s Conference:

  1. Welcomes the efforts from North and South Korea to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.
  2. Congratulates ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2017.
  3. Urges Labour women to read and disseminate the Nobel Lecture delivered by Beatrice Fihn and the Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow.
  4. Notes that:
    a.   122 states adopted the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in July 2017
    b.   58 states or more have signed this Nuclear Ban Treaty, including Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa
    c.   Ratification by 50 signatories will bring the Treaty into force; at least 9 have already ratified.
  5. Calls on Labour to support this urgent work to prevent accidental or deliberate use of nuclear weapons by pledging to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”