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LiNI Statement: Defending the Indefensible
Some members of Labour in Northern Ireland (LiNI) stood in the Assembly elections as unofficial Labour candidates. Our platform included support for the Good Friday Agreement and for a Labour Government under Tony Blair. A letter was sent to all Labour MPs, enclosing some campaign literature and asking for their support for our campaign which included the demand that we should have the right to join the Labour Party.
According to a report in the Irish Times (12/8/98), this request resulted in Mo Mowlam's office circulating a letter to all Labour MPs, suggesting how they should respond to people in Northern Ireland who raise the issue of Party membership. This letter is reproduced on the page opposite.
It should be stated at this point that Labour in Northern Ireland (LiNI) met with Mo shortly after she was appointed Shadow Secretary of State. She stated then that we had completely won the argument for Labour Party membership and that there was no argument that the Party could put up against it. We have since watched with admiration the skill with which she has handled her Ministerial position and the contribution which she has made to obtaining the Agreement
Unfortunately, Mo has now attempted to produce an argument against Party membership when previously she said there was no argument. First she says the denial of Party membership is supported by the Party constitution. This is completely untrue. There is nothing at all in the constitution which prevents people in Northern Ireland joining the Party. In fact, LiNI is in possession of a legal brief produced by Lord Lester QC (a strong supporter of ours) which argues that the Constitution actually obliges the Party to take members in Northern Ireland. We have considered taking the Party to the High Court on the matter, but have preferred to appeal to the Party's democratic political instincts to win our argument. (This approach also costs less!)
Undoubtedly the establishment of the Assembly does give people more say over their own affairs by agreement within Northern Ireland. But the demand for the right to membership of the Labour party also comes from within Northern Ireland, and is not something which would be imposed from outside as the letter tries to suggest. LiNI is a Northern Ireland-based organisation.
MASSIVE SUPPORT IN FAVOUR
It is quite dishonest to suggest there is not broad support for Labour membership in Northern Ireland. Opinion polls repeatedly find a large majority of people in Northern Ireland, in both communities, support our demand. Support among Catholics
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