Press release on behalf of the Campaign for Socialism

The Scottish Government has imposed a real terms cut of around £95

million pounds on local government revenue budgets, in addition to a

£117m cut in the capital spending budget.

This continues a decade long pattern of Westminster government cuts

being passed on and intensified by the SNP Scottish government.

While the Scottish Labour Party has attempted to mitigate the effects of

these cuts throughout Scotland it has not developed a strategy for

outright opposition based on mobilising the trade unionists and

communities who suffer as a result of them.

The Campaign for Socialism therefore completely supports the action of

Councillors Matt Kerr in Glasgow City Council and Gordon Munro in

Edinburgh City council in refusing to support any budget proposals that

generate harmful further cuts to local government. We expect more

Labour councillors will join them.

We call on all Labour councillors to adopt this approach and we ask for

the support of local government trade unions, trades union councils,

community groups and the People’s Assembly for their support in

building mass resistance to these attacks on local jobs and services.

Contact :

Vince Mills (Chair) on 07814615224

Carol Mochan ( Secretary)

Motions for February All Members Meeting

Campaign for Socialism – AMM Motions – February 24th 2019

Policy Motions

1. Vince Mills – Federalism

Campaign for Socialism believes that the Scottish Labour Party and the UK Labour Party should progress plans for a radical, democratic constitutional settlement, based on the commitment to redistribute power and wealth, and that takes account of the consequences of Brexit.

The new settlement should move from the existing model, where power is devolved from the central state to Scotland. It should instead be a relationship of shared power based on partnership, not hierarchy. Campaign for Socialism believes that under this arrangement there must be common minimum standards across the UK on human rights, employment rights, consumer protection and environmental protection and that the Scottish Parliament should have the power to enhance but never detract from these minimum standards.

Campaign for Socialism commits to working with the Scottish Labour Party and the UK Labour Party to ensure that any new constitutional framework will:

• Make our economy democratically accountable;

• Enable the redistribution of wealth and power within and across the UK;

• Sustain and strengthen the Labour and trade Union Movement and class solidarity across the UK.

2. Peter Cooper – Brexit

Campaign for Socialism welcomes the call of 2018 Labour Party conference to halt and reverse privatisation, expand common ownership, protect migrants’ rights, tax the rich to fund public services and abolish the anti-union laws.

The Tories’ Brexit agenda will deregulate and destabilise the economy, attack our rights and freedoms, and undermine our ability to implement a radical manifesto. We welcome the call of conference to put a public vote firmly on the table as a means of stopping this agenda, not because we are fanatics for referendums, but because we need to stop the process by which Tory free-marketeers are driving British society off a cliff.

Any public vote on Brexit must, to be meaningful, include an option to remain. Labour should campaign for such a vote – and to remain. Meanwhile, we must defend every right under attack from the Tories’ Brexit – whether workers’ rights, environmental protections or freedom of movement between the UK and Europe. We must commit to reversing any attacks on these rights the Tories implement.

If we are serious about ending the hostile environment for migrants we must extend, not limit free movement. We must end detention, deportations and denial of access to services. As conference 2018 said, “stagnant wages, crumbling services and the housing crisis” are caused by “government and employers making the rich richer at working people’s expense, and not immigration.” The answer is united workers’ struggles; migrant workers are often in the forefront of such struggles. We cannot campaign for the status quo – either here or across Europe. We want a battle for levelling up of wages, conditions, services and rights across Europe and beyond, and for democratisation of European and international institutions. This would require participation in those institutions.

We therefore resolve:

1. That all Labour MPs must vote against any Tory Brexit deal

2. That Labour must demand, and to prepare for, an immediate general election

3. That Labour must campaign for a public vote on Brexit with an option to remain, and include such a vote in our manifesto

4. To notify the SEC, NEC, NPF and Party Leadership of this motion’s passing.

5. To make this policy part of our CLP, doorstep and street campaigning activity, and to contact Another Europe is Possible for materials, CLP speakers and assistance in campaigning.

6. To support calls for a half-day Emergency Conference so that members can clearly decide Labour’s Brexit policy.

7. That Labour Party and trade union representatives must withdraw from talks with May.

8. To circulate a model emergency motion for the Scottish Labour Party conference, based on the above politics.

9. If possible (i.e. if alternative irrevocable plans are not already in place), to hold a fringe meeting at the conference on the above themes.

3. Stan Crooke – CfS/Scottish Momentum Accountability

This meeting instructs the CfS Executive to provide an explanation in its report to the CfS 2019 Annual General Meeting of the non-implementation of the motion on freedom of movement passed at the 2018 AGM, and to identify the parties responsible.

4. Pat Egan – Housing

House price rises have outstripped wage increases for too long now making increasing housing costs one of many contributory factors to the ever-rising mental health issues for too many of our people.

We therefore propose to radically address this by calling on Scottish Labour to set up a working group to bring forward logistical plans to implement the biggest public sector house building programme this century, and consider adopting the following principles:

- Local authority housing rents be capped at 25% of main wage earner.

- Ringfencing support to local Authority housing.

- People given a 50% reduction in rent after 40 years

- People given a 100% reduction after 50 years or reaching age 70

- Both to be based on eldest in household

5. Ian MacDonald – Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

Campaign for Socialism recognises –

1. That Palestinian struggle for justice has continued for over 70 years, since the Nakba and the establishment of the state of Israel.

2. That the seizure and colonisation of Palestinian land has also continued over this time period.

3. That, as a result of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing, there are now 7 million Palestinian refugees, over 5 million outside of Palestine.

4. That there are now over 600,0000 illegal colonists in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in well developed towns with modern infrastructure.

5. That over 2 million inhabitants of Gaza have endured a total siege for over 10 years, which has included 3 large scale wars, and the attacks by Israeli forces since March 2018 on demonstrators protesting their right of return, which have resulted in nearly 300 deaths and over 20,000 injured.

Campaign for Socialism believes that, after 70 years, the regime of occupation, colonisation and apartheid enforced upon Palestinians will not be dismantled without internal and external pressure on Israel to uphold international law and relevant UN resolutions.

Campaign for Socialism notes the strong support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign from the STUC and many individual unions including Unison Scotland, a co-sponsor of the ‘Time to Divest’ campaign which is targeting Local Authority Pension Funds in Scotland.

Campaign for Socialism therefore resolves –

1. To support the BDS campaign, called for by Palestinian civil society organisations in 2005, as an effective, legitimate and non-violent tactic to help end apartheid, as it was in South Africa.

2. To actively support BDS initiatives in Scotland.

3. To build support for BDS within the Labour Party and trade unions.

Amendment – Jim Matheson

In light of the failure of Stand up to Racism (SUTR) to acknowledge the racist nature of bodies such as the Confederation of Friends of Israel (Scotland) and prevent their presence at SUTR organised events, and, as a consequence exposing trade union office bearers at SUTR organised events whether in a personal or official capacity to the accusation of providing tacit trade union support for racist groups, Campaign for Socialism should use trade union and other official channels to force a review of SUTR decision making and SUTR’s competence for organising future Scotland wide anti-racism events, events which are supported by Scotland’s leading political figures.

In addition, Campaign for Socialism should call on all representative members of the labour movement to join Scottish Friends of Palestine in boycotting this year’s SUTR, March 16, organised event.

Constitutional Amendment

1. Seán Duffy – Disciplinary Procedures

Insert after Point 4. VII and the as an Appendix:

VIII. All members and groups are subject to the Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Proceedings as outlined in appendix 1.

Appendix 1

Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Proceedings

Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Proceedings for individuals and local Groups associated with Campaign for Socialism (CfS) Individuals and groups using the CfS or Momentum name in Scotland must operate according to the following principles and expectations at all times:

• CfS promotes the values of fair, honest debate focused on policies, not personal attacks or harassment with a view to building movements both electorally and within communities to achieve a socialist society. All members have a right to contact and receive adequate reply from their elected CfS representatives within a reasonable period, and these interactions at all levels of the organisation must abide by the comradely expectations of the organisation outlined above.

• CfS seeks to build positive relationships with Constituency Labour Parties, trade unions and other labour movement groups or campaigning organisations that share its aims and principles, whilst respecting the fact we are allied to and a key part of the Labour Party. As such actions taken by individuals and groups should not unduly jeopardise that relationship or cause the CfS to be brought into disrepute at an organisational level or indeed the Labour Party at an electoral level.

• CfS seek to reach out across the community and encourage the participation of people who may not have been involved in political activities before. Ensuring the safety of everyone is a priority, especially of those who are often marginalised on the basis of their gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, class, disability and educational or economic status. All members and groups should respect this diversity and make appropriate arrangements to allow for all individuals to take an equal part in any debate.

• Groups of individuals may form local CfS groups to share ideas, organise and participate in activities at their local level, which demonstrate how 'socialist values' and collective effort can make a positive social and/or environmental impact. These groups must be democratic in their nature and be organised around a spirit of collaboration, inclusion and respect. These groups and the individuals acting within them are held to the same standards and are accountable to the CfS executive in line with the constitution and code of conduct.

• All members are expected to abide by the collective democratic decisions of the group in which they are operating under. In the event of a conflict, the decisions of the CfS membership and executive will take precedence. All public and private meetings must allow for proportionate chairing of the debate and respect for the agenda and items outlined prior to that debate.

• CfS and its members are committed to supporting the Labour Party winning elections and entering government at the earliest opportunity at local, Scottish, and UK levels. Any individual or group found to be supporting another political party or obstructing attempts to achieve this goal are in breach of the code of conduct.

Any actions that contravene any of the above goals or jeopardise CfS’s reputation as outlined above will be addressed via the following disciplinary proceedings:

• Failure by individuals to abide by the above code of conduct may result in suspension or permanent exclusion from CfS meetings, online groups and/or membership. Failure by groups to abide by the above code of conduct may result in suspension or disbandment.

• In the event of a complaint being made by any individual to the Secretary of CfS or a similarly appropriate member of the executive in regards the above, the CfS executive must respond collectively within 28 days to the complainant, and if necessary, the individual in question regarding the next steps ahead.

• Any member subject to a complaint that is deemed to have contravened the above has the right to a fair hearing of which they will be given prior notice, provided with an opportunity to answer any accusations against them in front of a panel of their peers, and the opportunity to present their own case with the assistance of a companion of their choosing.

• In this event the executive will convene a disciplinary panel of 3 individual members of the CfS executive, at least two of which must be women, and one of which must be a representative from the individual’s local group (should one exist). The CfS executive will decide which members constitute the panel at an executive meeting.

• The panel will make a decision no later than 7 days after the disciplinary meeting and inform the individual. The individual will have seven days from receipt of the decision to lodge an appeal.

• A written appeal should be submitted to the CfS Executive, stating the reasons why they disagree with the panel’s decision. At the next full Executive meeting, the Executive (minus those involved in the original decision) will consider both the reasons in the appeal, as well as the original panel decision. They can decide at this stage to uphold the original decision or allow an appeal hearing.

• An appeal hearing will be composed of 5 different members of the executive, at least two of which must be women. The CfS executive, minus the 3 original decision makers, will decide which members constitute the panel at an executive meeting.

• The appeal panel will make a recommendation no later than 7 days after the disciplinary meeting to the executive at which point the individual will have the right to view this recommendation. The decision of the appeal panel is final.

• The executive will have the final say on any action that is to follow and reserves the right to suspend the process and make a decision based on the written statements alone if the disciplinary process is deliberately disrupted or not engaged with in good faith by any party involved.

• Any individual or group subject to this procedure should be notified in writing at each significant stage of the process.

• In an individual fails to engage in the disciplinary process without good reason (e.g. illness), the process will proceed in their absence.

Amendments – Stan Crooke

1. Replace the paragraph:

A written appeal should be submitted to the CfS Executive, stating the reasons why they disagree with the panel’s decision. At the next full Executive meeting, the Executive (minus those involved in the original decision) will consider both the reasons in the appeal, as well as the original panel decision. They can decide at this stage to uphold the original decision or allow an appeal hearing.

By:

A written appeal should be submitted to the CfS Executive, stating the reasons why the individual disagrees with the panel’s decision. At the next full Executive meeting, the Executive (minus those involved in the original decision) will arrange an appeal hearing.

2. Replace the paragraph:

The appeal panel will make a recommendation no later than 7 days after the disciplinary meeting to the executive at which point the individual will have the right to view this recommendation. The decision of the appeal panel is final.

By:

The appeal panel will make a decision no later than 7 days after the disciplinary meeting and inform the individual. The decision of the appeal panel is final.

3. Delete the paragraph:

The executive will have the final say on any action that is to follow and reserves the right to suspend the process and make a decision based on the written statements alone if the disciplinary process is deliberately disrupted or not engaged with in good faith by any party involved.

Community Organising in Clackmannanshire

by Grant Aitken, CfS member in Clackmannanshire CLP

Comrades, in our fight to win back Scotland it is important we are active and organising within our communities. This can take many forms but the one I am going to discuss is the community initiative we ran in Clackmannanshire, the school stationery campaign.

For anyone seeking to follow in similar paths it is important to recognise that this requires a lot of time and effort and if you have an unsupportive executive in your CLP it can be frustrating, and you will almost certainly be doing most of the work yourself. 

With this I will detail some simple steps you can follow to run something similar in your community.

First, I would recommend that you approach this as the labour movement, write out to your local TU branches and their national offices. Taking this approach will gain you resources and ultimately you will be tackling an issue as the collective rather than just your CLP, but in all honesty it is always best to run campaigns with the trade unions they are pivotal to our movement and working together going forward will only strengthen your CLP for the task of winning at the next election.

From my experience, before making stationery packs or whatever you may do you must make a google document survey to gather details of whom you will be helping. With this you can even add in an option for people to stay in touch with the Labour Party about future campaigns. Once this is created you will have to promote it on Facebook, this can be done with funds that total around £10-20 depending on how big your area is, but it is crucial that you do this as you can reach thousands of people within days. Although in our campaign we never set a deadline I would suggest that this is done, just so that you can cope with the influx of applications that will come in. 

Once you have the fundamentals set up as detailed above write out to your local press, they should cover such stories and it will get the campaign traction and raise awareness of your issue. You don’t have to necessarily make party political points straight away, that can be done in the aftermath. For example, in a press release explaining how the campaign went after you have done everything.

Now to the mechanism of such campaigns. If you were to do something similar to ourselves we bought roughly £360 worth of stationery this included pencil cases, rubbers, pens, pencils, sharpeners, notebooks and whiteboards (also various resources from the trade unions). Also, if you are struggling, Scottish Labour HQ donated to us and I’m sure they would help others so don’t be afraid to ask.

As soon as you have your resources you can engage your CLP by running packing sessions and this way everyone is chipping in, in whatever way they can. You will also need to find ways of delivering the packs once assembled. I recognise not everywhere is as geographically small as clacks but we delivered 150 packs across the whole county with volunteers from each area taking about 40/50 packs each.

Finally, make sure you are creating graphics and updating the community of what you are doing through social media and local press. If anyone wishes to contact me for tips or help on any of the things mentioned above feel free to email me and we can have a chat.

The Labour Party needs to show communities that we are still on their side and still helping our people despite not being in power.

Momentum NCG Report, January 2019

by Lorcan Mullen, CfS rep, Momentum NCG

The National Coordinating Group is the governing body of Momentum, with quarterly meetings and annual elections for its various seats. Contentious decisions requiring quick responses are typically made within the smaller NCG Officers Group, which is elected from the broader NCG. NCG minutes can now be found at http://peoplesmomentum.com/ncg/ 

The key themes of discussion in recent NCG meetings have been: party structures, slate formation and slate management, Brexit, and managing a maturing organisation grown out of short-run campaigns. 

Party Structures

Momentum has led and coordinated campaigns leading to unprecedented left power within key Labour Party structures. The NCG has advised and reviewed the conduct of these campaigns, and the conduct of NCG Officers / Momentum staff throughout Conference. While we have made incredible progress in recent years, there is much regret at the fate of the Democracy Review, largely scuppered by block voting from the largest affiliated unions. Despite disappointment at some TU decisions at Conference and the NEC, the NCG has made it clear that we cannot tolerate a 'members vs unions' dynamic, not least because so many Momentum members and activists are passionate, active trades unionists. We hope for renewed cooperation between members' reps and left TUs to make a party fit to build sustained socialist change throughout the country. 

The NCG has also pushed its Officers towards more transparent decision-making at key moments. This should allow for maximal democratic input, but also allows NCG reps to link meaningfully with the local groups and members who elect them. This in turn should allow for more trust and discipline from left delegates broadly affiliated to Momentum. Due to the nature of decision-making within party structures - characterised by backroom dealing, shifting alliances and constant tactical and strategic considerations - it is not always easy to take soundings from reps all round the country, but where possible, this is what we want to see. We also hope to build a deeper link with representatives of Jeremy's office. We are a loyal force dedicated to supporting and sustaining Jeremy and the left's leadership of the party, but we cannot allow ourselves to be taken for granted.  

Slates

Reflecting feedback from a number of Scottish activists, I relayed criticism of the Willsman exclusion to NCG Officers, and supported others in pushing for a more coherent, transparent method of forming 'slates' for Labour Party elections. Momentum is not the only group on the Labour left, but has responsibility for marshalling those forces and takes the brunt of criticism when things, as sometimes happens, go wrong. Momentum's candidates are endorsed by NCG Officers after an application and interview process, while other groups are a little more ad-hoc. Again, there is a difficulty merging a process of horsetrading and prolonged negotiation with a nationally transparent process, all under the scrutiny of a hostile press and establishment. With that said, NCG Officers have heeded recent criticism and I'm confident that will be reflected in future practice. 

Brexit

Brexit has been discussed a number of times within the NCG. This has come about after sustained lobbying from a substantial minority of members and the democratically decided position of the TSSA, a left union with representation on the NCG. After much debate, the NCG has consistently reaffirmed a position of doing its utmost to limit political headaches for the party leadership, allowing them space to play a near-impossible hand on the way to a General Election victory. Based on feedback from the CFS exec and Scottish activists, I have consistently argued for this position. 

Resources

According to reports at our most recent NCG, Momentum continues to grow, with membership moving well past the 40,000 mark. Despite this growth, resources remain scarce, as the organisation matures in to a permanent entity with a need for stable office space, equipment and decent pay and conditions for its workforce. As well as coordinating successful campaigns within Labour Party structures, Momentum wants to play a role building socialist hegemony in Britain, laying the foundations for political success beyond the cycles of Parliament. As part of this work, and in line with the CFS-originated policy on political education, The World Transformed has begun work to develop a national political education programme, starting in early 2019. This will take a while to scale up from a number of local pilot projects, but the plan is to have centrally available resources, a speakers network for CLPs, and advice and limited training for those willing to establish political education programmes in their CLP or locality. I have been closely involved in this work, and hope to report on further progress in 2019. 

As ever, if people want to ask NCG-related questions or feed back on Momentum-related issues, please get in touch at lorcanmullen@gmail.com. I am also happy to speak to local groups, if you would like to have a more in-depth insight in to the workings of the NCG. 

Support the CfS-backed candidates for the Scottish Executive Committee

Ballot papers will start arriving for the Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) elections this week.

It is crucial that we elect as many socialists as possible to this important body, and support the policies and politics of Richard Leonard and Jeremy Corbyn. Here you can find the full list of CfS-supported candidates.

Please share this graphic on social media and with your contacts.

CfS Executive Report – 19/01/19

by Sean Duffy, Secretary

• CfS continues to maintain a healthy membership of over 1000 individuals. The executive agreed to allocate sufficient funds to assist the eight SEC candidates, the election of which begins 25th January.

• The SEC campaign is now well established and a campaign plan has been agreed with all candidates. The 8 candidates are agreed on the campaign focuses and request that members actively engage with and support their campaigns as and when requested.

• CfS will put a further call out for individuals who are interested in standing for Holyrood, with a particular focus on developing new candidates who will espouse the politics of socialism.

• The Chair is consulting with former SLYS members regarding that organisation’s failure to prosper in the hope of finding a way forward to reconstitute the organisation in some form.

• CfS are organising a conference fringe and will look into the cost viability of having a stall in Dundee at Scottish Labour conference.

• The Momentum NCG representative will build further links with Welsh Labour Grassroots with a view to mutual visits and the bolstering of relationships.

• There will be an All Members Meeting to deal with policy proposals in February and the AGM is scheduled for March, once again in Kirkcaldy.

The Executive aims to meet on the first Saturday of each month, where feasible. Members can submit motions or raise issues at any time by emailing campaignforsocialism@gmail.com

Local Campaign Forum - the Experience in Edinburgh

by Mike Cowley, CfS Publications Officer

Edinburgh LCF meetings have become an increment more interesting over the last year or so. With CLPs seeking to fill their full quotas of delegates, the Forum has emerged as a focal point for discussions around the Labour Group’s majority decision to enter into coalition with the SNP.

At All Members LCF meetings (the next one is scheduled for the 2nd February, 10am at Nelson Hall), activists gathered have offered criticism of the cuts programmes in which Labour is complicit. Members recognise the good that Labour Groups do, as well as the kinds of policies – the privatisation of refuse services to take one instance – which might go ahead were we to withdraw our moderating influence. However entering coalition has consequences too. Morally, the LP must take partial responsibility for the escalating cuts inflicted on some of the most vulnerable people of a city often thought of as ‘booming,’ a beautiful Grecian diamond in the Scottish rough. In fact, Edinburgh has some of the worst levels of poverty in the country.

There is of course some sympathy for those Cllrs supportive of remaining in the coalition. There are no easy options for socialists. But the political price we pay – hamstrung in our criticism of the Scottish government and SNP-led council, unable to develop the ‘21st C municipal socialism’ urged by SLP leader Richard Leonard and colluding in cuts that can no longer be described as ‘humane’ – can no longer be ignored.

A minority of Cllrs maintain that a line has been crossed. They point to the SNP leader Adam McVey’s false promise to lobby the Scottish government for a settlement sufficient to off-set austerity. The SNP have failed, both locally and nationally, to frame an anti-austerity approach consistent with their rhetoric. Devolution was not secured as a conveyor belt for the passing on of Tory ideology. Where are the SNP activists leveraging pressure on their representatives from below? Conspicuous for their silence and fixated on independence, they care little for the real life consequences of their government’s agenda.

At what point do Labour Cllrs say enough is enough?’ The coalition agreement locks both parties into a campaign of lobbying the Scottish Executive for additional funding. The SNP Group has reneged on that commitment. It is up to CLP activists to send delegates to the LCF well versed as to the circumstances their communities now find themselves in. Grassroots activists should voice the anxieties of their neighbours, friends and families as more millions are severed from a budget already ill-equipped to meet basic needs.

If your CLP has places unfilled, consider standing. It’s a forum much under-used, and an injection of anti-austerity blood can bring even the most moribund LCF to life.

Local Campaign Forum - an Introduction

by Paul McNally, CfS Treasurer

The Local Campaign Forum (LCF) is constituted Labour Party Committee which exists in your local Council area with the purpose of co-ordinating the activities of CLPs within the area and to secure the return of Labour Councillors. The specific rules of the formation of the LCF are written in Chapter 12 of the Labour Party Rule Book 2018. Chapter 12 Rules for Labour Party Local Campaign Forums 52. Clause I. Name 52 Clause II. Objects 52 Clause III. General Principles 52. membership recruitment and retentions. 

The LCF in Scotland meets with three representatives per CLP, that is two elected representatives and the CLP’s Campaign officer. The Labour Group’s Leader and Business Manager usually attend to update the LCF about ongoing issues. The LCF’s stated aim is defined as:

“To work with the Labour Group to organise opportunities for individual members, branches, trade unions, affiliated organisations and community organisations to enter into dialogue with the Labour Group on current local government policy issues and ideas for the Party’s future programme and manifesto.”

The LCF has great power on paper to organise campaigns in the area, however there is generally little feedback form CLPs and the attendance of representatives is erratic. CLP members are generally unaware of the existence of the LCF or it’s actions as larger campaigns are generally conducted on a National level.

Clause 3 of the rules states a role of the LCF :

“To compile a panel of candidates in accordance with the provisions of chapter 5 of the national rules of the Party.”

This inoccuous sentence is the real power of the LCF whose main job is the direct appointment of Councillors in every local election, councillors are not automatically reselected in the way that Westminster MPs are. The LCF has a visiting role at each Labour group usually restricted to four people and speaking rights at the meeting of the Labour group. (Clause 10 of rules).

CLP Members should ask at their CLP All members meetings for a report from the representatives and may ask for issues to be raised. Enquiries and scrutiny will help the LCF focus on current political issues within the region. The elections are generally held in May each year to appoint a Secretary, Treasurer and Chair as with each year we grow closer to an local election cycle interest will grow, it’s worth getting involved as - as is the case with all Labour Party units - the functionality can be quite complex and those unfamiliar with the rules will rarely understand why things are happening. 

CfS Executive Report – 06/10/18

Sederunt
Martyn Cook (Chair), Stephen Low, Mike Cowley, Alistair Craig, Mike Williams, Paul McNally (minutes), Lorcan Mullen, Siobhan Mcready

Dial-in: Laura McDonald, Carol Mochan

Apologies:
Cara Hilton, Maureen Sharkey, Sean Duffy

1. Chair report

Stevie Nolan from Unite is coming over 13th-14th October to contribute to our political education courses.  Our Highlands and Islands group ran the ‘History of labour in Scotland’ session, with Fife, Dundee and Glasgow to follow shortly.

Jess Galloway has finished working with Momentum and the executive wished to thank Jess for all her contributions and hard work, wishing her well in the future.  Noted that it is unlikely there would be a new organiser in the short term at least.

2. Treasurer report

The new required signatories have been agreed with the bank.

3. Matters arising at Holyrood

In light of recent events at Holyrood, it was noted that more work needs to be done to ensure that the left has a proactive message as opposed to responding. More work is required to coordinate the left’s approach, and strengthen the presence and voices of socialists in Scottish politics.

4. SLYS

Noted that there has been a break down in communications within SLYS after a report given by SLYS rep, Alistair Craig. It was agreed that the Chair of CfS would write to the committee on the first instance to propose a way forward.

5. U.K. Conference

Members there thought it was a good event for member involvement. Relationship to CLP’s and Unions needs some political education as many of the new CLP members and delegates were unaware of the role or presence of Trade Union Delegates.

TWT had some very good sessions, including our well attended session on Brexit and Federal politics. Agreed to look at organising a Scottish equivalent with TWT.

6. Motions from members and Edinburgh Momentum re procedures

The executive noted the motions which had been received but agreed that they could not be actioned. The executive would write back and confirm the details of this.

7. Relationship with Labour Briefing

Unfortunately Labour Briefing has posted and shared content which has been attacking CfS and the executive in particular. It is clear that we have reached different political positions and priorities, so it was voted on (9 in favour, 1 abstention) to end the formal relationship with Briefing.

8. Women’s Conference

Agreed that candidates nominated from the CfS women’s group would be endorsed.

9. Present and future campaigns

Agreed to promote and support the Coatbridge-by election. We would also in principle coordinate with local activists to have a CfS campaign day, provisionally on the 20th/21st.

11. AOB

Brexit and Freedom of Movement statement. Following on from our session at conference, and the leader’s speech, now would be a good time to action the AGM motion on Freedom of Movement. Draft text presented which called for action in CLPs to build solidarity with migrant and anti-racist organisations.

Next meeting: First Saturday of November.

CfS Glasgow Momentum AGM Minutes 2017

Glasgow Campaign for Socialism-Momentum

AGM Minutes

Thursday 31st of August

Attendance:

Sean Duffy, Martin Lennon, Michael Calder, Lauren Bryden, Sandy Burney, John Beattie,

Danny O’Neill, Matt Kerr, Paul McNally, Stan Crooke, Michael Muir, Willie Griffin,, Jess

Galloway, John Cork, Chris Cassells, Jim MacKechnie, Anna Dyer, M Davis, Christopher

Barbour, Kathryn Kelly, Gerant James, Martyn Cook, Hazel Nolan.

Motion A:

Two priority areas of work for Glasgow CfS-Momentum over the next 12 months are:

- Monthly all members meetings which have as their prime purpose political discussions

and education.

- Building CLP Youth Sections

Carried.

Motion B:

Glasgow Momentum CfS/ notes that both Unite (2016 Policy Conference) and the Scottish

Left Review new support the open reelection of Labour MPs. Open reelection is essential

to ensure that Labour MP’s and candidates represent the views of the membership, the

overwhelming majority of whom are support Corbyn. To that end, the incoming executive is

instructed to drag a model motion in support of open reelection and to coordinate and

organise support for the submission of said motion to Glasgow CLPs.

Carried

Motion C:

Glasgow Momentum recognises that the fight to defend workers’ rights if France against

President Macron’s attempt to amend the Labour code is important to workers throughout

Europe. We declare ourselves in solidarity with the works and youth fighting to preserve

rights under the current Labour code and we hope further issues in the course of the

struggle. Glasgow Momentum will take part in organising meetings, demonstrations and

other solidarity with the struggle for workers’ rights in France.

Carried.

Motion D:

Glasgow Momentum will aim to stand a left slate in every CLP AGM in Glasgow and a left

candidate for casual vacancies on CLP ECs and local bodies like the LCF where they

occur. The incoming executive to keep a view on the number of momentum supporters in

each CLP EC.

Carried.

Executive Proposal

The name of the group will be either:

1. Campaign for Socialism

2. Campaign for Socialism-Momentum.

3. Momentum.

1) 14 votes 2) 16 votes 3) 1 Vote.

The organisation will adopt the name ‘Campaign for Socialism-Momentum’

Adoption of Standing Orders

http://www.campaignforsocialism.org.uk/articles/2017/8/22/glasgow-cfs-momentum-agmand-

standing-orders

Carried

Election of Officer Roles.

Chair: Paul McNally

Secretary: Laura Dover

Social Media Officer: Callum Warwick

Data Protection Officer: Christopher Barbour.

CLP Officers:

Daniel O’Neill, Stewart Wakelam, John Cork, Mathew Jones,

Lauren Bryden, Kate Kelly, Michael Calder, Anna Dyer.