With over 4,000 members, Bristol West is one of the biggest local Labour parties in the country. In recent years, it has stood steadfastly on the left, consistently supporting Jeremy Corbyn during his leadership.

The CLP Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last night was an utter shambles – a total denial of democracy that bears more resemblance to Belarus than Bristol West.

539 members ‘attended’ the Zoom-based AGM. But over 100 of these were effectively prevented from voting, as the issuing of ballots dragged on until 11.30pm. By this time, the vast majority had given up and gone to bed.

Some people were issued more than one vote, while others never got a vote at all, having waited four-and-a-half hours. Some of the ‘ballots’ distributed even included both candidates for CLP treasurer against just one vote box!

At 11.59pm, the results were read out. They showed approximately 260 for the right wing slate, and 160 for the left. Over 100 voters were unaccounted for.

RECALL CONFERENCE NOW!

Socialists in Bristol West are now collecting detailed data about who was blocked and not given a vote. We are raising protests with Labour Party HQ and with the NEC.

We are demanding that the party:

- Reinstate our suspended officers and members.

- Nullify this shambles, and let the preexisting EC reconvene a democratic AGM that members can properly participate in.

- Launch an inquiry into political interference and organisational incompetence regarding the Labour Party regional office

This fiasco indicates gross incompetence on the part of the regional Labour Party bureaucracy. But we mustn’t limit our protests to this. The problems go far far deeper. This is more than a purely ‘South West’ issue, or simply a case of incompetence.

Indeed, there have been many reports from across the country of regional party offices blocking motions, or taking control of CLPs out of the hands of local members.

The roots of last night’s shambles are in the political civil war that is being waged by the right wing against the left of the party. Events at this CLP AGM show the lengths that the right wing around Keir Starmer and David Evans – and their apparatchiks in regional offices – will go to in order to block socialist voices in the Labour Party.

Some left-wing members are talking about tearing up their cards. Instead, we must rally our forces and take the fight to the right wing.

We must build the campaign for an immediate recall conference of the Labour Party, where rank and file members get to decide. This means fighting to have our voices heard: to say no confidence in this right-wing leadership; to demand open selection for Labour MPs; to start the battle for genuine party democracy; and to transform the Labour Party into a vehicle for bold socialist policies.

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