Note 1: A PDF
version of this document suitable for printing is
available
on the Party's website.
Note 2: These minutes are not official until amendment and adoption by
the EC.
Present: Carter, White, Chesham, Helps, Deutz, Easton, Stair, Browne,
Miller, and numerous visitors
The meeting was called to order at 14:01.
1. Suspension of standing orders
It was agreed to suspend standing orders.
2. Election of Chair
Motion 1 (Easton & Carter) That Deutz be chair.
Agreed
3. E-mail from Birmingham Branch containing a requisition for a Party
poll
Motion 2 (Stair & Helps) After making the decision to deal with
the various political transgressions of Cde Michelle Martin under a
Rule 31 charge by a majority of the elected EC members for various
reasons, all not necessarily being held by all members but
including the following:
* The political views of Cde Martin were/are of a serious nature
and in conflict with the party's Declaration of Principles and
Object;
* That the Rule 31 charge was deemed correct, appropriate and was
unchallenged by other EC members;
* That Cde Martin's health is/was not best served by having her
Branch friends ask her awkward questions that could lead to an
uncomfortable decision being made by those same friends;
* So as not to prolong any further or any presumed agony for the
party and for all concerned;
* West London Branch's failure to deal with another of their
member's, namely Cde Alan Brady Smith's personal and possible
political views, in a timely and appropriate manner
* That Cde Adam Buick, a consistant attendee and member of West
London Branch, failed to inform his own branch for months if
not over a year of Cde Martin's errant views;
it should be noted that the EC's decision was born out of
thoughtfulness, conviction and integrity, not malice, but by
members conscious of their views as socialists.
Not wishing to denigrate his long standing rational and massive
contribution to the party, it has also been noted that since the
call for the Rule 31 charge Cde Buick has been unnecessarily
offensive to all the EC members who voted for the charge and what
can surely be described as part of a smear campaign against many of
these members, whether they be in Central London Branch, on the EC,
or work at Head Office--members who continue with sincerity to work
for the cause of Socialism.
One can easily assume that this all serves to deflect attention
away from cde Buicks own actions in relation to his involvement
with Cde Martin.
Nonetheless, this EC is of course in favour of following the
rulebook and now on the basis of six branches calling for a poll
will look to the membership to decide whether the charge should be
dropped and the matter referred back to West London Branch.
The chair ruled this motion out of order on the grounds that it
is a statement of opinion rather than a resolution dealing with
the matter.
Motion 3 (Chesham & White) That the chair be directed to
accept the motion.
For: Chesham, Helps, White, Miller, Stair. Against: Carter,
Browne, Deutz. Abstaining: Easton.
Carried 5-3-1
Amendment (Browne & Carter) Delete everything up to and
including "Nonetheless"
. For: Easton, Carter, Deutz, Browne,
Helps. Against: Miller, Stair, Chesham, White. Abstaining:
None. Carried 5-4
Amendment (Miller & Stair) Restore the text beginning "After
making the decision" up to "as socialists". Failed 3-5-1
Amendment (Chesham & Stair) Insert "However, this EC is
gravely concerned by the methods which have been used to
achieve this objective. Two members were aware of Martin's
infractions from the outset and either one could have brought
her reformist and nationalist views and activities to the
attention of West London Branch at least twelve months ago and
thus averted the present state of affairs. Instead, presumably
because of their close relationships with her, they chose to
remain silent. But when her antisocialist behaviour became
known to other members which resulted in the charge being laid
against her under Rule 31, they embarked upon a campaign to
frustrate by any means at their disposal the process which this
EC had properly instigated. These means included but were not
limited to smears, innuendoes, falsehoods, and the
inappropriate use of the membership database. Their actions
have plunged the Party into turmoil and generally disrupted its
work. One of these members has since resigned from the Party.
The membership at large will have the opportunity to decide
which sanctions, if any, are appropriate in the case of the
other member, Cde A Buick."
The chair ruled this amendment out of order on the grounds
that it was written in advance of the meeting and that it
is an expression of opinion.
Motion 4 (Stair & White) That the chair be directed to
accept the amendment.
Carried 5-3-1
Vote on amendment: For: Stair, Miller, White, Chesham. Against:
Helps, Easton, Deutz, Carter, Browne. Abstaining: None.
Failed 4-5
Vote on Motion 2 as amended:
Carried 8-0-1
Motion 5 (Browne & Carter) That the Party meeting to be held this
afternoon under Rule 31 become a meeting under Rule 26.
Motion 6 (Chesham & Stair) That the Chair be instructed to
rule this motion out of order.
For: Chesham, Stair, White, Helps. Against: Miller, Deutz,
Browne, Carter. Abstaining: Easton.
Failed 4-4-1
Vote on Motion 5:
For: Easton, Deutz, Browne, Carter, White. Against: Miller,
Helps, Stair, Chesham. Abstaining: None.
Carried 5-4
Motion 7 (Easton & Helps) That in view of the two previous
resolutions, this EC affirms that the charge against Cde Martin,
while still extant, is for the time being frozen unless and until
the West London Party poll votes in favour of referring the matter
back to West London Branch.
For: Carter, Deutz, Browne, White, Easton, Helps. Against:
Stair. Abstaining: Chesham, Miller.
Carried 6-1-2
4. Adjournment
Motion 8 (Browne & Easton) That the meeting be adjourned.
Agreed
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