Leadership backtracks over Iraq vote (Labour's 2003 Conference)

[Khephra]

Leadership backtracks over Iraq vote

Battle for control of agenda in face of party hierarchy leads to labyrinthine series of manoeuvres

Kevin Maguire and Patrick Wintour
Tuesday September 30, 2003
The Guardian

Labour's hierarchy was forced to backtrack last night after a revolt by union leaders and anti-war constituency delegates over the decision not to allow a vote on the Iraq war threatened to derail the conference.

The row is part of a wider struggle to control the conference agenda which has pitted the increasingly determined and united four big unions against the party leadership.

The unresolved struggle has been going on behind the scenes for months, but over the past few days has been raging off the conference floor as left and right challenge one another over the correct interpretation of the conference's little understood, and ill defined rules.

In order to fend off criticism that Iraq has been sidelined at this year's conference party leaders have to reconsider the controversial decision not to hold a vote on the issue, with an announcement tomorrow. Party officials are desperate to avert both a humiliating defeat for Tony Blair and the embarrassment of widespread protests in Bournemouth.

more...........

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour2003/story/0,13803,1052465,00.html

[roguevalley]

1. SNICKER!

Go UNIONS!

[dfong63]

2. fending off criticism, preventing votes - democracy at its finest