Labour party members in Manor Park had to cancel their Christmas social at short notice last week because the mayor couldn’t attend.
The ward party chair sent round an apologetic email, explaining that the social couldn’t go ahead because of Labour party “rules”:
I have to inform you, regretfully, that after an emergency meeting, the Manor Park Social Event for next week (17th), has been cancelled.
This is due to three rules: firstly, one of our guests cannot attend. (If our Mayor cannot attend then we cannot proceed with the social). Secondly, branches are not allowed to officially socialize as part of the Labour Party, only CLP. Finally, no guests outside of Newham are allowed to be invited to a Labour Party social event and there was some doubt about the music and choir at a Labour Party event.
This is very disappointing, as it was discussed and agreed at our branch meeting three weeks ago.
However, I have asked the Chair of East Ham CLP if we can have a social event in 2016 for all of East Ham branches and this can go ahead. So we can look forward to this event.
I am very sorry for any inconvenience this cancellation may have caused.
My sincere apologies.
Anyone searching the Labour party rule book will, of course, come away empty-handed. There are no such rules. It is straightforwardly an attempt to control and stop East Ham members meeting up and working together ahead of the trigger ballot to confirm Sir Robin, yet again, as the mayoral candidate. Divide and rule!
The ward chair was instructed to cancel the event, but maybe she should have seen it coming. She is also East Ham’s social secretary and has previously complained to the CLP secretary, Mariam Dawood, about the impossibility of organising activities without access to the full list of party members.
These shenanigans are an interesting contrast to the West Ham party, which has held many events open to all Labour supporters, mostly without the mayor. Some have included non-Newham guests – and even non-Labour people (disclosure: I’ve been to a couple).
Members in East Ham ought to be asking themselves about the motives of the people running their local party. Whose interests are they looking after?
forestgatedotnet 
I’ve just read a book called `The Death of Stalin’ by Georges Bortoli, published 1975. It’s Armando Ianucci’s next film. Anyone wishing to understand Mayoral politics in Newham will be enlightened by reading it.
Well put Kevin, I thought we fought in 1977 to make the Labour Party more democratic – You should be ashamed of yourself Robin Wales!!!
sadly, I wouldn’t be surprised
This email that describes Labour Party ” rules ” about parties, socials, etc. is simply incorrect–this is a set up, wind up , hyperbole, etc. …and pure game playing.