It is an absolute disgrace that any Labour Party member should be suspended for THREE YEARS without a hearing. We reproduce here, an open letter from Darrall Cozens in relation to his case, to Labour’s general secretary, Jennie Formby and Labour’s West Midlands Regional Director, Fadel Takouri.
FAO Jenny Formby, GS of LP
FAO Fadel Takrouri, West Midlands RO
Dear Comrades,
March 9th 2019 will commemorate THREE years since my suspension from the Labour Party.
According to the letter from the national office of the LP, a letter dated March 9th 2016 which I received on March 12th 2016, I was suspended for “allegations of allegations of intimidating and threatening behaviour”.
Despite now having a dossier of 40 numerous letters and emails to the LP nationally and regionally seeking to ascertain where and when I am alleged to have acted in this way, what it was that I am alleged to have said or done and to whom, and who it was that had made the allegations, all I have encountered is a wall of silence, a refusal to answer my questions.
I have been a very active member of the LP continuously since October 1964, more than 54 years. I am a lifelong trade unionist and at present a member both of UCU and Unite Community.
Despite being a pensioner I have always paid the full subscription rate to the LP and this has happened too during my suspension. I have also been out working for the LP canvassing and delivering leaflets during this time.
In all my years in the LP I have fought for three things:
- A LP programme that when implemented would meet the needs of working class people and for me that means a socialist programme;
- For all members of the LP to have the right to formulate that programme through democratic debate and decision making;
- for LP members to have the right to choose candidates at all levels of the party to stand for public election to defend the democratically decided policy in the name of the LP.
Yet, what I have not been allowed to do since my suspension is attend LP meetings.
This has resulted in the ludicrous situation that when Jeremy Corbyn, for example, was recently in Nuneaton and Rugby I was not allowed to go to the meetings yet members of other parties who stand candidates against the LP were allowed to attend.
I have been denied my rights as a member and there has never been any official communication to the Chair of my LP Ward/Branch nor to the Secretary of my CLP informing them of my suspension.
Even worse there has not been any enquiry or hearing over the past three years where I could have heard the details of the allegations against me and thereby been allowed to defend myself. I have simply been left out to dry!
GIven the failure of the LP to address my suspension I now have no other redress than to take the matter to the law courts.
I have suffered defamation and the loss of my human rights.
The legal path is not one that sits comfortably with me but it seems to be the only way that I can achieve any satisfaction.
In 20 days time it will be THREE years since my suspension!
Before March 9th 2019 I ask that you respond to this email giving me a date for my hearing so that I can know the details of the allegations against me; the names of those who made the allegations as per the Chakrabarti Report; prepare my defence and call witnesses.
Failure to respond will mean that the issue will be dealt with by the law courts.
I have avoided raising this issue over the past three years so as not to bring the LP into disrepute and thereby possibly affect its electoral prospects. And now the departure of seven Tories from the LP could mean it is once again not an appropriate time to deal with my suspension. However, after having waited for three years for my case to be resolved I have to act as you at the top of the LP have manifestly failed to do so. Our twice elected leader Jeremy Corbyn is once again under attack from within and outside the LP. It is therefore a time when all LP members who support JC are able to to all in their power to defend him and the policies democratically agreed at the LP conference. My continued suspension prevents me from playing a full part in that defence. The ball is in your court.
With fraternal greetings,
Darrall Cozens
Labour membership number: A512211
February 20, 2019
