Here is a message from Respect/Left List to its local groups.
1. National Council discussion on Respect name
The National Council of Respect discussed the situation regarding the organisation’s name. As members will be aware, as a result of a legal
loophole, we are currently unable to stand candidates as Respect. In the recent elections, we ran candidates either with no description on the ballot paper, or as the Left List or Left Party.
The NC reviewed the ongoing work of the officers to try to recover the name from Respect Renewal and members wishing to know about the state
of discussions about legal action and with the Electoral Commission should contact Elaine Graham-Leigh on 020 8983 9671. However, we
cannot continue to operate with a variety of different names and it is clearly necessary for us to have one name under which we can campaign
and stand in elections.
The name of the organisation can only be changed by a conference decision and it is intended that there should be a full debate on this issue at the annual conference scheduled for early autumn. In the meantime, the NC felt that it is important to take some preliminary steps that can give members in the branches some guidance and enable groups to continue their campaigning work over the next few months.
The NC agreed that if it is necessary to change the name of the organisation and for the purposes of standing in elections until this question is fully resolved by conference there should be a recommendation made by the next NC (scheduled for Saturday 28 June).
All branches should use the time before the next NC to consider their views on this issue. At the last NC a majority favoured using the name The Left, either in on its own or in combination with another description (i.e. The Left Alliance or The Left Coalition). But some other NC members thought that another name entirely would be better, although the two suggested at the meeting (Solidarity and People before Profit) are already registered as party names with the Electoral Commission are therefore unavailable to us. A list of registered names is available of the Electoral Commission website.
Members and branches are welcome to discuss and recommend one of these names or an alternative name to the NC in time for the meeting on the
28 June. That meeting will make a recommendation to go forward to conference. The minutes of the NC meeting on 21st June are now available from the website www.respectcoalition.org.
2. 10 Point Charter For The Left
Respect/the Left List is supporting the 10 point charter launched by John McDonnell MP, demanding an end to privatisation, restoration of the 10p tax and defence of pay, conditions and trade union rights. John McDonnell’s points are aimed at changing policy within the Labour party, but his demands have resonance far beyond the Labour left and we want to collect signatures as widely as possible, particularly from within the labour movement. Use the attached sheet to approach local trade union branches, local campaigns, Respect/Left List supporters and anyone who wants to sign. Please return completed sheets to the national office.
3. Campaigns and Fundraising
All groups should be aiming to have at least one fundraising event and a public meeting between now and the summer holidays. Suggested public
meeting topics include immigration, the economic situation or the BNP – while it’s important that Respect/Left List members and supporters are also involved in building Unite Against Fascism work in areas where the BNP have made gains, we should also use our own public meetings to present our particular perspective on the BNP, New Labour’s meltdown and the Left.
Liam redux 
Leave a reply to Johnny Rook Cancel reply