I have just written to the GMB Milton Keynes Branch Secretary Mr Jim Hiom seeking the Branch's views as regards the GMB motion at their recent conference about Progress.
Please see the letter below:
Dear Jim
As
GMB Milton Keynes Branch Secretary I thought I would write to you to
seek the branch's view on the motion at GMB Conference to seek a change
to the Labour Party rules regarding membership of Progress, which will
be going to the next Labour Party Conference for a resolution.
As
you know I am a GMB member and proud of it, and I am also a member of
Progress and attend their conferences, this years key note speech was
made by the Labour Party Leader Ed Milliband MP who praised Progress for
its policy debates and its foward thinking ideas to help bring a Labour
victory at the next General Election, unlike Milltant who activetly
worked against the party leadership, Progress has been supportive
towards the leadership
hence why every Labour Leader has made a key note speech each year.
Far
from being a New Labour mouth piece Progress is about seeking policies
for the new centre ground and is progressive and foward thinking and
knows that what was a winning formula when the party was in opposition
in the 1990's will not do for the 21st Century as society has moved on
thanks mainly to the achievements of the last Labour Government.
I
have a lot of respect for Paul Kenny as General Secretary of the GMB
and was surprised that he made such an attack on Lord Peter Mandelson
who defended Progress as normally Paul is very supportive and measured
in his critisisms of the Labour Party.
As
regards the accusation that Progress is training and seeking candidates
for Parliamentary selections, this is the case for the Labour
Women's Network and Emily's List and I am sure no one is seeking for
these groups to investigated or banned.
I
am amazed that the motion was moved by a delegate who has been a Labour
Party member for only 24 months and is a marxist supporter and if I
have read correctly no body spoke against which I find quite
disappointing.
Also
Lord Sainsbury who has chiefly funded Progress was an excellent Science
Minister in the House of Lords in the last Labour Government and a
regular and substancial donor to the party are we now saying when the
party is in such financial straits that his money is now not good
enougth?
Lastly I
hope that this matter blows over as it is not the chief concern of party
members or the voters who are struggling financially and worried about
their jobs this disunity could be a gift
to the Tories and effect our lead in the polls.
I
would like to place on record that I do not agree everything Progress
says and does but I will defend its right to exsist, like a lot of its
members including myself I do not identify with a faction such as old or
New Labour I am just a member and activist of the Labour Party.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Brian Barton
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