Difference between revisions of "David Evans"

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(JVL tells David Evans – End harassment of CLP Officers)
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|linkedin=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-evans-7979299
 
|linkedin=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-evans-7979299
 
|employment={{job
 
|employment={{job
|title=General Secretary of the Labour Party
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|title=General Secretary of the Labour Party (Acting)
 
|start=26 May 2020
 
|start=26 May 2020
 
|end=
 
|end=
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[[SKWAWKBOX]] view: {{QB|If Evans is appointed, [[Labour Party|Labour]]’s switch from being run by a left-wing, working-class union activist to a company director keen on branding and focus groups will be an ominous sign of the party’s direction under [[Keir Starmer]], especially with the issue of the leaked Labour report<ref>''[https://wikispooks.com/w/images/1/18/Labour_internal_antisemitism_report.pdf "The work of the Labour Party’s Governance and Legal Unit in relation to antisemitism, 2014-2019"]''</ref> still unresolved.<ref>''[https://skwawkbox.org/2020/05/19/right-winger-evans-who-praised-blairs-positive-branding-set-to-become-labours-new-general-secretary/ "Right-winger Evans – who praised Blair’s ‘positive branding’ – set to become Labour’s new general secretary"]''</ref>}}
 
[[SKWAWKBOX]] view: {{QB|If Evans is appointed, [[Labour Party|Labour]]’s switch from being run by a left-wing, working-class union activist to a company director keen on branding and focus groups will be an ominous sign of the party’s direction under [[Keir Starmer]], especially with the issue of the leaked Labour report<ref>''[https://wikispooks.com/w/images/1/18/Labour_internal_antisemitism_report.pdf "The work of the Labour Party’s Governance and Legal Unit in relation to antisemitism, 2014-2019"]''</ref> still unresolved.<ref>''[https://skwawkbox.org/2020/05/19/right-winger-evans-who-praised-blairs-positive-branding-set-to-become-labours-new-general-secretary/ "Right-winger Evans – who praised Blair’s ‘positive branding’ – set to become Labour’s new general secretary"]''</ref>}}
  
==Letter to the General Secretary==
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==Letters to the General Secretary==
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===NEC members' letter===
 
On 24 November 2020, left members of Labour’s [[National Executive Committee]] (NEC) ‘walked out’ of a virtual [[NEC]] meeting. They had written this letter to the party’s General Secretary David Evans about the walk-out, condemning the factionalism, contempt for rules and process and the undermining of the [[NEC]]’s legitimacy by the leadership that they say drove the walk-out:
 
On 24 November 2020, left members of Labour’s [[National Executive Committee]] (NEC) ‘walked out’ of a virtual [[NEC]] meeting. They had written this letter to the party’s General Secretary David Evans about the walk-out, condemning the factionalism, contempt for rules and process and the undermining of the [[NEC]]’s legitimacy by the leadership that they say drove the walk-out:
  
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[[Howard Beckett]], [[Jayne Taylor]], [[Andi Fox]], [[Pauline McCarthy]], [[Mick Whelan]], [[Ian Murray FBU]], [[Andy Kerr]], [[Yasmine Dar]], [[Lara McNeill]], [[Laura Pidcock]], [[Mish Rahman]], [[Gemma Bolton]] and [[Nadia Jama]].<ref>''[https://skwawkbox.org/2020/11/24/exclusive-left-nec-members-letter-to-evans-condemns-leaders-undermining-of-nec-legitimacy-and-evanss-failure-to-uphold-rules/ "Exclusive: left NEC members’ letter to Evans condemns leader’s ‘undermining’ of NEC legitimacy and Evans’s failure to uphold rules"]''</ref>
 
[[Howard Beckett]], [[Jayne Taylor]], [[Andi Fox]], [[Pauline McCarthy]], [[Mick Whelan]], [[Ian Murray FBU]], [[Andy Kerr]], [[Yasmine Dar]], [[Lara McNeill]], [[Laura Pidcock]], [[Mish Rahman]], [[Gemma Bolton]] and [[Nadia Jama]].<ref>''[https://skwawkbox.org/2020/11/24/exclusive-left-nec-members-letter-to-evans-condemns-leaders-undermining-of-nec-legitimacy-and-evanss-failure-to-uphold-rules/ "Exclusive: left NEC members’ letter to Evans condemns leader’s ‘undermining’ of NEC legitimacy and Evans’s failure to uphold rules"]''</ref>
 +
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===Solicitors letter===
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On 23 December 2020, [[Geoffrey Bindman|Bindmans LLP]] wrote accusing Labour’s acting general secretary David Evans of exceeding his authority under the rules and in law in his assault on members’ rights to freedom of speech. Solicitors Bindmans, acting on behalf of two suspended constituency party (CLP) officers and [[Jewish Voice for Labour]] (JVL), set out Evans’s breaches in a 20-page legal letter,<ref>''[https://skwawkbox.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020.12.23-Letter-to-General-Secretary-of-the-Labour-Party.pdf "Bindmans' letter of 23 December 2020 to acting general secretary David Evans"]''</ref> including:
 +
* misapplication of Labour rules to justify his attempt to ban free speech
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* discriminating against the party’s left-wing Jews – and against other minorities
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* discriminating against Palestinians to protect the feelings of pro-Israel members
 +
* discriminating against Jews by acting as if there is only ‘one Jewish view’ – and acting as if he has the right to decide what is ‘acceptable for Jews to say’
 +
* banning free speech in a ‘blanket’ manner, without evidence to support his actions
 +
* unlawfully assuming that Labour has the right to dictate what local parties can discuss
 +
* wrongly treating human rights laws as if they ban anything someone might find offensive
 +
* acting disproportionately and outside his powers
 +
* misapplying and selectively applying Labour’s rules – including in the direct opposite effect of what they actually say
 +
* breaching Labour’s codes of conduct
 +
 +
Bindmans' letter concludes:
 +
:"We look forward to hearing from you within 14 days, that is, by 6 January 2021.<ref>''[https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/statement/evans-end-harassment/ "JVL tells David Evans – End harassment of CLP Officers"]''</ref> In the absence of a satisfactory response our clients will have no option but to consider all legal and other options available to them."<ref>''[https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/jvl-suspended-lp-officers/ "JVL + suspended officers test lawfulness of Labour Party instructions"]''</ref>
 +
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As well as [[JVL]], Bindmans is acting for Louise Regan, chair of Nottingham East CLP and Dr Marion Roberts, vice-chair of Camberwell and Peckham CLP. Both officers were suspended by Evans after local members insisted on discussing and voting on motions relating to [[Keir Starmer]]’s withdrawal of the whip from the party’s former leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]], which itself breaches the recent [[EHRC]] report’s ban on ‘political interference’ in disciplinaries.<ref>''[https://skwawkbox.org/2020/12/24/leading-lawyers-tell-evans-youve-exceeded-your-legal-authority-with-unlawful-and-disproportionate-war-on-free-speech/ "Leading lawyers tell Evans: you’ve exceeded your legal authority with ‘unlawful and disproportionate’ war on free speech"]''</ref>
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{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>

Revision as of 13:25, 26 December 2020

Person.png David Evans LinkedInRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
David Evans.jpg
Alma materUniversity of York
Founder ofThe Campaign Company

David Evans is Keir Starmer's pick as General Secretary of the Labour Party succeeding Jennie Formby.[1]

Labour's NEC confirmed David Evans' appointment on 26 May 2020.[2]

Controversial

The appointment is controversial, as David Evans was the author of a report that recommended a “radical overhaul” and a "New Labour solution" under Tony Blair to isolate the Old Labour left, doing so in derisory terms – and in the language of branding and marketing so typical of Blairism.[3]

SKWAWKBOX view:

If Evans is appointed, Labour’s switch from being run by a left-wing, working-class union activist to a company director keen on branding and focus groups will be an ominous sign of the party’s direction under Keir Starmer, especially with the issue of the leaked Labour report[4] still unresolved.[5]

Letters to the General Secretary

NEC members' letter

On 24 November 2020, left members of Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) ‘walked out’ of a virtual NEC meeting. They had written this letter to the party’s General Secretary David Evans about the walk-out, condemning the factionalism, contempt for rules and process and the undermining of the NEC’s legitimacy by the leadership that they say drove the walk-out:

Dear David,

As proud members of the NEC we find ourselves unable to stay in today’s meeting. As you will be aware we recently wrote to you to request that you admonish the Leader of Labour, Sir Keir Starmer, for his decision to undermine the role of the NEC by withdrawing the whip from Jeremy Corbyn MP.

The withdrawal of the whip directly undermined the legitimacy of the NEC decision to reinstate Jeremy Corbyn’s membership. It was made worse by Keir Starmer subsequently permitting his shadow cabinet members to make commentary on media that was clearly intended to undermine the legitimacy of the NEC process.

At today’s NEC the agenda item of election of the Chair and Vice Chair of the NEC appears. It is a matter of disagreement as to whether these agenda items can be heard absent the officers agreeing the agenda. But regardless it has become apparent that the longstanding protocol of the Vice Chair being elected as Chair is not to be followed.

Instead the leadership has lobbied for Dame Margaret Beckett to be Chair. The public reason for such lobbying is to be given as Dame Margaret being the longest serving member of the NEC. This is not protocol and is another example of the Leader promoting factional division within Labour. We believe the true reason for the Leader lobbying for Dame Margaret, and indeed the reason that had been given by senior party MPs in private, is because the Vice Chair, Ian Murray FBU, was a signature to the previous correspondence sent to you seeking admonishment of the Leader: The Leader’s decision to again promote factionalism comes at a time when the historic relationship with trade unions is under tremendous strain.

Already we know that the Bakers’ Union are balloting their membership as to affiliation and the decision of the Leader to lobby and brief against the President of the FBU taking the Chair, as would be protocol, must be seen in this context.

As the General Secretary of the Labour Party you should be stepping in to uphold the Rulebook, maintain protocol, remind the Leader that he is an officer of the NEC and prevent factionalism. We have decided not to remain in the NEC meeting today in order to show very clearly how factional the decisions of the current Labour Leader have become. We will be returning to future NEC meetings to be the legitimate voice of the membership and to continue to demand that the party unite and reject the current factional approach of the Leader.

In solidarity,

Howard Beckett, Jayne Taylor, Andi Fox, Pauline McCarthy, Mick Whelan, Ian Murray FBU, Andy Kerr, Yasmine Dar, Lara McNeill, Laura Pidcock, Mish Rahman, Gemma Bolton and Nadia Jama.[6]

Solicitors letter

On 23 December 2020, Bindmans LLP wrote accusing Labour’s acting general secretary David Evans of exceeding his authority under the rules and in law in his assault on members’ rights to freedom of speech. Solicitors Bindmans, acting on behalf of two suspended constituency party (CLP) officers and Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), set out Evans’s breaches in a 20-page legal letter,[7] including:

  • misapplication of Labour rules to justify his attempt to ban free speech
  • discriminating against the party’s left-wing Jews – and against other minorities
  • discriminating against Palestinians to protect the feelings of pro-Israel members
  • discriminating against Jews by acting as if there is only ‘one Jewish view’ – and acting as if he has the right to decide what is ‘acceptable for Jews to say’
  • banning free speech in a ‘blanket’ manner, without evidence to support his actions
  • unlawfully assuming that Labour has the right to dictate what local parties can discuss
  • wrongly treating human rights laws as if they ban anything someone might find offensive
  • acting disproportionately and outside his powers
  • misapplying and selectively applying Labour’s rules – including in the direct opposite effect of what they actually say
  • breaching Labour’s codes of conduct

Bindmans' letter concludes:

"We look forward to hearing from you within 14 days, that is, by 6 January 2021.[8] In the absence of a satisfactory response our clients will have no option but to consider all legal and other options available to them."[9]

As well as JVL, Bindmans is acting for Louise Regan, chair of Nottingham East CLP and Dr Marion Roberts, vice-chair of Camberwell and Peckham CLP. Both officers were suspended by Evans after local members insisted on discussing and voting on motions relating to Keir Starmer’s withdrawal of the whip from the party’s former leader Jeremy Corbyn, which itself breaches the recent EHRC report’s ban on ‘political interference’ in disciplinaries.[10]


 

Related Documents

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
Document:Bristol West CLP condemns suspension of CorbynArticle10 November 2020SKWAWKBOXLabour’s hierarchy has banned CLPs from debating or voting on Corbyn’s suspension or the EHRC report and some Regional Directors have blocked attempts to do so. It seems Bristol West members hold their democracy and their former party leader in too high a regard to toe the line.
Document:Former Labour leader honoured by Palestinian ForumArticle19 December 2021Steve WalkerJeremy Corbyn receives award for ‘remarkable efforts’ to support Palestinians against oppression
Document:UK Labour party teeters on brink of civil war over antisemitismArticle27 July 2020Jonathan CookLabour Party member Mark Howell is suing former General Secretary Iain McNicol for “breach of contract” and is demanding that those named in the leaked report be expelled from the party (see "Mark Howell for Justice": https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mark-howell-for-justice/).
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References