From: Peter Gregson <postmaster@roseburn32.plus.com>
Sent: 03 February 2019 21:46
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Cc: complaints@Labour.org.uk; legal_queries@labour.org.uk
Subject: LAW, Tony Greenstein Fundraiser, Disciplinaries, Annual Conference 2018, GMB- Rhea Wolfson + Rabbi Cohen
Dear NEC member,
Labour Against the Witchhunt (LAW)
Yesterday the LAW AGM agreed to set up a working group to compile lists of those accused by Labour of anti-Semitism and of those red-baited. My motion “LAW Support to Activists” was unanimously approved and means LAW can give advice to those under investigation, compile a database on those you are charging, etc. I have offered to assist LAW in this matter and the steering group know I am writing to you.
Would it be possible for Ms Formby to assist us by providing names (on a confidential basis of course) of those under investigation, who have been suspended or who have been expelled? If so, I shall contact these folk and offer them support. Would that be OK? If, on the other hand, you fear handing over such data might be in breach of GDPR, might I suggest that you add, on the disciplinary letters you send out, next to the part offering the Samaritan’s details, a line for LAW as well? Where it says “There are a number of organisations available who can offer support for your wellbeing:” I was thinking something along the lines of:
“Labour Against the Witchhunt may be able to provide advice, suggest lawyers and help fundraising to meet any court costs you may bear should you seek to contest the NCC’s findings. You can email them at info@labouragainstthewitchhunt.org ”
Then the unfortunates can contact us directly themselves. I hope the NEC can support this proposal.
Tony’s Fundraiser
Tony Greenstein (whom some of you may know from LAW, and his excellent blog at https://tonygreenstein.com/ ) is fundraising for his action against the Campaign Against Antisemitism, a far-Right Zionist group. Please consider contributing to his libel action against them at www.gofundme.com/saying-no-2-the-antisemitism-libel . I’ve bunged in £20, maybe you could do so too.
Labour Party Disciplinaries
Also discussed yesterday at the LAW AGM was Labour’s failure to provide info on disciplinary procedures to those under investigation. This continues to be your biggest failing; this in a party that aspires to be the home of social justice! Natural justice demands you furnish such details. Virtually every single body in the UK, including the trade unions, provide such information to defendants. Labour is singularly obstinate in its refusal to conform to decent, responsible, humane, conduct around this. At your last NEC meeting you reviewed Labour’s papers covering Party Procedures and Codes of Conduct. The proposed Charter of Members’ Rights should surely include this responsibility as being incumbent – that “Information on Disciplinary Procedures will be provided alongside any “Investigatory” letters?”” Your ongoing dereliction of duty on this leaves you vulnerable in a judicial review since it is a clear failing in your disciplinary procedures. I urge you to point this out to your Executive Director of Legal Affairs, Gordon Nardell QC.
Annual Conference 2018
I read in Skwawkbox that at your last NEC meeting you discussed Annual Conference. I wanted to alert you to the fact that my complaint against Merseyside Police is ongoing. Of the 13,414 visitors to conference, only a handful got to see the image on my banner before the police demanded I roll it up. Three times I tried, each time they prevented me. Police Constable Pope actually told the internal police investigation that followed my complaint that it was because “it featured Corbyn dropping bombs on Jewish people” and that this would have caused offence to Jewish people present. Would you agree this is what the banner says?
Mine was the only banner forcibly removed. If you choose to let Labour book Liverpool as a Conference venue again, it might help if you asked the police to understand that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism and to respect the right of Party members to criticise Israel.
My complaint against the police was dealt with under their Local Resolution process and my appeal against the finding that there was no infringement of my freedom of expression was not upheld. I am therefore escalating my complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. I have 4 witnesses that the police are telling lies.
GMB
As you may have heard, the GMB union, popularly known as the military wing of the Labour Party, is pressing ahead with its plan to expel me over anti-Semitism. (see the Times of 29.12.18)
I discovered at the GMB hearing in Glasgow on 19th December that the reason I was in the dock was because of a complaint lodged against me on 28th Sept. I trawled back through my correspondence to find out what I’d done that day and realised on that date I had lodged this complaint with Ms Formby about the Jewish Labour Movement. Who did I send it to? Your complaints unit, plus all NEC members, including Rhea Wolfson.
Interestingly, a GMB mole informed that the GMB officer who had lodged the complaint against me for anti-Semitism was…. Rhea Wolfson!
Of course, when I wrote to all of you back in September, I had been unaware that Ms Wolfson was a leading light in the Jewish Labour Movement and I believe, a raving Zionist. I have compiled a dossier on Rhea; read it here. In any event, it is heart-warming to know that one of you, at least, has been reading and acting upon my emails.
Anyway, the GMB Central Executive Council will, on 5th February, appoint a sub-Committee to hear my appeal. I have prepared a video where you can see my principal defendant, Rabbi Ahron Cohen, explain why I am blameless. Please view it at www.tinyurl.com/gmbihra and afterwards consider a donation to my legal fees at www.tinyurl.com/legalihra – I’ve already spent twice what I’ve raised from there. [Note to Jon Lansman – you can make your contribution anonymous!].
Finally, if you want to help me beat this IHRA, you can download here a pdf of the video flyer promoting it (with clickable links) – if you want to forward it onto your friends using email, please do. Posting the link to the film on social media as well would be helpful: it’s at tinyurl.com/gmbihra . Tony Greenstein of LAW described the film as “essential viewing for those who believe in freedom of speech”. The Spanish subtitles are to aid distribution in South America and the USA.
To conclude, I look forward to hearing from you regarding my proposal for Labour to work with LAW to support Party members at what, you will agree, will be a difficult time for them.
Best wishes
Pete Gregson
(Still a Labour Party member, but under investigation by your officers as an anti-Semite, for this petition, which has now been signed by 1,349 Party members)