Christine Shawcroft, who was recently re-elected to Labour's National Executive Committee, spoke to Solidarity in a personal capacity.
What difference will the victory for the left slate for Labour's National Executive make?
When we won the decision to put Jeremy Corbyn on the leadership ballot paper the left won by four votes. The election makes a difference of two votes, and so some decisions will now not be so tight.
What are your priorities on the NEC?
We need to take a good look at the Party’s democratic structures – candidate selection procedures, the political vetting that has taken place and the functioning of Policy Forums.
Should the Policy Forums be abolished?
Well, certainly, they have not covered themselves in glory. They could work if we held proper votes and were used in the way we were originally told they would be used. Certainly they could fulfil the function of having very detailed policy discussions and looking closely at text.
Weren’t the Forums a mechanism to take power away from party conference, where power should really rest?
Motions from Policy Forums should all go through conference. Motions should be clear and precise and subject to amendments.
At conference the priorities motions ballot should be abolished and items should be put on the agenda according to how many resolutions have been submitted.
Reselection of Labour MPs is a live issue. How do you think the Corbyn movement should react to those MPs that have opposed Corbyn?
Jeremy has had little support in the Parliamentary Party. When he was first elected he proceeded cautiously. It is reasonable not to want to panic Labour MPs.
The fact is that there will be selection meetings in most areas, given that boundary changes are coming in. We need to make sure that the process is democratised. In particular the practice of parachuting picked candidates – the most notorious example is Angela Eagle in Wallasey after Lol Duffy did all that good work against the sitting Tory MP, Linda Chalker.
And the trade unions have got to have a good look at who they are backing. Some of the unions lists include right wingers. These lists need looking at.
We (Workers' Liberty) have a particular issue. Tom Watson started a silly witchhunt against us in order to get at Corbyn. The attacks on us in the press have dried up, but on the ground the witchhunt seems to be getting worse. Should Workers' Liberty members be able to join the Labour Party?
Yes, we need to have a look at the rule book. Pete Willsman and I have raised this on Labour Party committees, together with the expulsions of Socialist Appeal supporters.
We don’t have a proscribed list in the Labour Party, and we don’t need one either.
Green Party members, Liberals, even UKIP members have joined recently. If they sign up to our principles and support Labour candidates in elections they should be eligible to be Party members. Even if people supported another party a few years ago, they should be eligible to join now if they support Labour – people should be able to change their minds!
Can Labour win the next general election? How?
The idea that Jeremy is unelectable is a myth. Of course, after the coup attempt, his poll ratings are low – but that is not his fault.
I’m a teacher and my partner’s an analyst. We’re “middle class,” and also convinced socialists. If labour campaigns on the NHS and housing we can win. These issues affect both working class people and the middle classes.
There is 58% support for rail nationalisation. It is a popular policy. Of course we can win!
