HOME | IMC UK | Editorial Guidelines | Mission Statement | About Us | Contact | Help | Support Us

Liverpool Indymedia

Solidarity update - BNP's Nick Griffin heavily criticised for interference

Lancaster UAF | 24.07.2007 14:31 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles | Liverpool

More on the Solidarity fiasco...

Much information has been received by Lancaster UAF over the past week, the bulk of it concerning the Solidarity disaster, its unconstitutional and possibly illegal Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and the bizarre and very probably fraudulent election that led to putting Patrick Harrington and the BNP firmly in control of the breakaway Solidarity - the one we'll refer to as Solidarity B.

First things first. If you've not been following the Solidarity fiasco, you're going to be easily confused, in which case you should check out some of our previous posts from June 22nd, June 25th, June 26th, July 5th, July 11th and July 17th.

It has been announced (and repeated ad nauseum) that the support for an EGM was overwhelming, with an excess of the two-thirds membership requirement voting in favour. We've now received five emails from members who have all reported that they never received a ballot paper at all, clearly indicating that there are one or two porkies being told. Based on past experience, we would suggest that the Griffin/Harrington camp are the liars.

The postal ballot itself was described as a 'nonsense', a 'farce' and a 'sham ballot' by a poster on the Stormfront nazi forum who said;

'The "voting paper" that i received was a nonsense. there was no number to the slip and no way of proving who was sending in the slip, and who would count them and how. It was a farce reminiscent of a Zimbabwean election...'

Indeed it was. There was no independent officer to oversee the process, nobody except Griffin and Harrington to send out the ballots, no tellers to count the votes, no indication of how many voted for, against or abstained, nor was there any proof that any ballot papers had been sent out at all.

All the information we have received indicates that the EGM was attended by just fifteen to twenty members - at least we assume they were all members - and a number of heavies, presumably to keep out the riff-raff like the rightful President and Vice-President of Solidarity, Clive Potter and Tim Hawke.

From this fifteen to twenty in attendance, seven were chosen to represent the Executive Committee and one, Graham Williamson, was clearly put in post as the union's public relations guru - despite the fact that he has no experience of public relations at all. More on Williamson here. Near as dammit half of those who attended then, went along in the sure and certain knowledge that they would be voted into a position of some authority - assuming we concede that the Solidarity B union has any authority at all, which we don't.

Whether you like them or loathe them, unions are rightly famed for one single thing - their strict adherence to the rules of the union, or the Constitution. The Constitution of any union is sacrosanct and no member or officer would consider breaking any part of it or bypassing it. A change in a union's Constitution will only be carried out (generally) at the Annual General Meeting.

Part of the problem with Solidarity B is that there is already a Solidarity union (Solidarity A) in place complete with a properly drawn-up and agreed Constitution. Harrington deciding, for whatever reason, that Solidarity A is not for him, and running off and forming Solidarity B, is, whatever way you care to look at it, entirely unconstitutional.

Disregarding all the convoluted facts and outright lies that have been told about the Solidarity split, the simple fact is that it was reported that Tim Hawke and Clive Potter had problems with Patrick Harrington's version of the accounts. It's worth remembering that that is what started the whole Solidarity fiasco off. Harrington then promptly denied the bona-fide President and Vice-President of Solidarity access to the Paypal account which holds the union's funds (in other words, the member's fees that were paid to the properly constituted Solidarity), and denied them access to the membership list and the union website.

With Nick Griffin's collaboration, he hastily presented his version of events and the wheels were put in motion for an entirely unconstitutional EGM. He also announced (again with the BNP's help) the establishment of three new Solidarity (B) websites, announcing repeatedly that they were the proper sites to visit. You'll note that Griffin and the BNP is prominent in this mess but only on Harrington's side. So much for the BNP's belief in fair play and (excuse my laughter) democratic values...

Much more here:  http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2007/07/solidarity-update-nick-griffin-heavily.html

Lancaster UAF
- e-mail: lancaster.uaf@zen.co.uk
- Homepage: http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/

Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

A one-sided account

26.07.2007 16:10

All the information we have received indicates that the EGM was attended by just fifteen to twenty members - at least we assume they were all members - and a number of heavies, presumably to keep out the riff-raff like the rightful President and Vice-President of Solidarity, Clive Potter and Tim Hawke.

The information received seems to be coming from just one side in the dispute. Potter and Hawke obviously have an interest in rubbishing the EGM as the EGM went against them. They did not attempt to attend and explain their position to the membership - indeed they stated in advance that they didn't recognise the right of 2/3rds of the Solidarity to call one! They have never asked the membership to endorse their actions because they know what the answer would be. They are an unrepresentative clique.

Active Unionist


Climb-down on financial allegations

01.08.2007 16:54

"Disregarding all the convoluted facts and outright lies that have been told about the Solidarity split, the simple fact is that it was reported that Tim Hawke and Clive Potter had problems with Patrick Harrington's version of the accounts."

If you trawl through the factional documents on the Hawke/Potter site (one document summary is 12 pages!) you will find that they have abandoned their original allegations. They apologise to Harrington for misunderstanding the word 'Liabilities' and thinking it meant the same as 'Assets'! An easy mistake for mentally challenged fascists to make! That was what they based a claim of 'false accounting' by Harrington on! They now grudgingly accept that Harrington had correctly listed a loan of £150 in the accounts. Potter and Hawke also state that Harrington provided full receipts backing expenditure on the accounts and bank statements showing income as a mere note in their tedious and pompous 'investigation report'.

Harrington remains curiously silent. I predict he will soon turn to his learned friends. No wonder one Billy McLinden (Harrington's supposed replacement) has deserted the Potter/Hawke ship. It is like a soap opera!

Just the facts


A Small Matter of Trade Union Legislation

02.08.2007 23:39

There are currently a few matters not being considered by the whole membership. Such as any particularly aggreived member of the Union contacting the Attorney General on the basis that

"the Attorney General has the power to apply, when he thinks it appropriate, to the High Court for an injunction to prevent breach of the criminal law, including offences under trade union legislation. In making such decisions he acts as guardian of the public interest."

But some people have thought it through, even so far as finding out which of the two certification options (£150 to be listed as a trade union or £4066 to be listed as an independent Trade Union) was followed. The current Certification Officer is David Cockburn, appointed on 1 August 2001 and re-appointed for a further three years in August 2004. Because that has a bearing on complaints that three members are considering making.

These are not the high and mighty - but rank and file.

Nick Griffins Accountant


New targets for the shooting gallery?

07.08.2007 11:17

"But some people have thought it through, even so far as finding out which of the two certification options (£150 to be listed as a trade union or £4066 to be listed as an independent Trade Union) was followed. The current Certification Officer is David Cockburn, appointed on 1 August 2001 and re-appointed for a further three years in August 2004."

Wow, someone who can google. Impressive. Harrington must be quaking in his boots.

Who are the mugs being lined up as new targets for the shooting gallery by the gang of two?

Marksman


Don't make assumptions

15.08.2007 14:02

Indeed it was. There was no independent officer to oversee the process, nobody except Griffin and Harrington to send out the ballots, no tellers to count the votes, no indication of how many voted for, against or abstained, nor was there any proof that any ballot papers had been sent out at all.

I don't think that you should assume from the fact that little has been said by Harrington about the process that no process has been followed. He has the benefit of legal advice after all. I think he will know it is likely to come to Court and is setting traps for his opponents. He is remaining suspiciously silent on a number of issues...

Doubting Thomas


Many 'heavies' are members too

21.08.2007 13:09

All the information we have received indicates that the EGM was attended by just fifteen to twenty members - at least we assume they were all members - and a number of heavies, presumably to keep out the riff-raff like the rightful President and Vice-President of Solidarity, Clive Potter and Tim Hawke.

Quite a few of the 'heavies' are members too. Harrington made a point of recruiting from amongst Security at both their AGM and his Special Meeting (or EGM). That's not strange as many of them fit the Union recruitment profile. Since the SM he has been recruiting very heavily too. He actually claims to have offered Hawke and Potter personal protection if the attended the SM but they decided to boycott it instead. He has presented this as an act of cowardice on their part and a refusal to put their case before the members. Potter and Hawke don't seem very confident of winning support from Solidarity members as they have not themselves sought to call any General Meeting.

Amazingly, he has just published a line by line commentary on the 34 page 'Special Investigation Report' of Hawke, Potter and McLInden. Whilst Griffin tends to ignore allegations made against him Harrington never does. He seems to have people analyse all documents and deconstruct them proposition by proposition. I presume it is his people in the cult-like Third Way. For those interested in the arcane it is in the archive section of the Solidarity website at www.solidaritytradeunion.org

Mack the Knife


EGM probably Constitutional

23.08.2007 14:34

I have read through their Constitution and the commentary on the 'Special Investigation Report'. Harrington appears to be arguing that what was termed an EGM was in fact a Special Meeting to discuss the attempts to dismiss him. The terminology is not so important to a Court as the necessity and intent. They called their Annual Conference an Annual General Meeting but that doesn't really matter - decisions are still binding.

The Constitution allows for a SM to be called by two thirds of the membership writing to the General Secretary. Harrington argues that he remains GS and that two thirds of the members wrote to him and requested a meeting. It seems to me that he has an arguable case here. Unless Potter and Hawke have substantial financial resources for a civil action I think they are to use a legal term 'stuffed'!

A learned friend


Solidarity tactics

01.09.2007 11:39

The tactics of Solidarity are extremely agressive and confrontational. They are currently laying virtual siege to a school that is investigating (not even yet disciplining!) one of their members. They have publicised fax, emails and telephone and are blocking the lines. They are going round in speaker cars calling for a picket and at stalls in the High Street. They have even leafletted the whole catchment area. They seem to be living in the 1970s!

Stonewall


Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

Topics

Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

[navigation.actions2016]

[navigation.actions2015]

[navigation.actions2014]

NATO 2014

Actions 2013

G8 2013

Actions 2012

Workfare

Actions 2011

2011 Census Resistance
August Riots
Dale Farm
J30 Strike
Occupy Everywhere

Actions 2010

Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands

Actions 2009

COP15 Climate Summit 2009
G20 London Summit
Guantánamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
University Occupations for Gaza

Actions 2008

2008 Days Of Action For Autonomous Spaces
Campaign against Carmel-Agrexco
Climate Camp 2008
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Smash EDO
Stop Sequani Animal Testing
Stop the BNP's Red White and Blue festival

Actions 2007

Climate Camp 2007
DSEi 2007
G8 Germany 2007
Mayday 2007
No Border Camp 2007

Actions 2006

April 2006 No Borders Days of Action
Art and Activism Caravan 2006
Climate Camp 2006
Faslane
French CPE uprising 2006
G8 Russia 2006
Lebanon War 2006
March 18 Anti War Protest
Mayday 2006
Oaxaca Uprising
Refugee Week 2006
Rossport Solidarity
SOCPA
Transnational Day of Action Against Migration Controls
WSF 2006

Actions 2005

DSEi 2005
G8 2005
WTO Hong Kong 2005

Actions 2004

European Social Forum
FBI Server Seizure
May Day 2004
Venezuela

Actions 2003

Bush 2003
DSEi 2003
Evian G8
May Day 2003
No War F15
Saloniki Prisoner Support
Thessaloniki EU
WSIS 2003

IMCs


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech

Publish Your News


Temporary Scroogle search

-->