Candidates:

Teresa Delaney
Nominated by Cardiff LU

Joseph Healy
Nominated by Southwark LU

Sheila Mosley
Nominated by Leicester LU

Robert Sparks
Nominated by Mid Glamorgan LU

Alan Story
Nominated by Leicester LU and Nottinghamshire LU

Annie Tunnicliffe
Nominated by Crouch End LU

Statements:

Teresa Delaney
Nominated by Cardiff LU

I wish to stand for election to the Disputes Committee. We must learn from recent events on the Left and ensure LU develops a strong disputes resolution procedure. We need to understand what such a committee can do, and make sure it does it sensitively, supportively and well, but also to understand the limits to what it can do. I want to be part of the process.

I believe I have  useful abilities and experience. I am mental health nurse with over a decade of experience, including one to one and group therapeutic work. I am warm, friendly, diplomatic, and respect confidentiality. I am also confident and will give my opinion.

I was not a member of any tendency. I have worked as a trade union representative in various workplaces. I have served on Standing Orders Committee in political organisations and understand policy and procedure.

Joseph Healy
Nominated by Southwark LU

I am currently a temporary member of the Disputes Committee, having been elected in January by the Transitional National Council. I served for 4 years on the Regional Council of the Green Party, which is the judicial body of the party. As such, I dealt with many disciplinary matters, expulsions and appeals, some of which were very detailed. I have also studied law and am absolutely committed to fair, transparent and constitutional processes being followed in order to protect the rights of all members. I have been on the Left all of my life and am also a committed trade unionist member of UNITE. I have been involved in supporting equalities issues for many years and particularly the rights of disabled and LGBTQ people. I am currently Vice Chair of the UNITE LGBT committee for London & Eastern region. I am also disabled and work in the disability sector.

Sheila Mosley
Nominated by Leicester LU

I see the Disputes Committee as a place that is central to keeping a healthy heart beating within Left Unity. I have some experience of dispute resolution, not within a political party but where people are angry and in tension with each other.

It will involve speaking truth to power, whether that power comes from organisational structures or elsewhere. I want to approach disputes with respect for all involved and an enquiring mind, to understand how tensions arose and build on strengths if possible to find a resolution willingly agreed by everybody.

We also need to know when to stop trying to reach a consensus, and then to be robust and fair.

I welcome a Party of the broad left, and joined the Left Party platform.

Robert Sparks
Nominated by MidGlamorgan LU

I have been a “left” supporter for all my working life. For the most part via the Labour Party. I was active in opposing the National Front in London and the Conservative Government’s reaction to the MIners Strike. I arrived in Wales towards the end of the miners strike and learned directly about the distressful events in the closure of local pits in the Cynon Valley. My support of the Labour Party weaked and fell with the advent of New Labour (New Tories?).

Alan Story
Nominated by Leicester LU and Nottinghamshire LU.

Disputes, disagreements and discipline matters are not uncommon in left-wing parties, including in those such as Left Unity which are still finding their political wings. Indeed, conflict and contradictions are inevitable and they can be excellent teaching and growing moments.

I believe our party needs a strong, creative, INDEPENDENT and wise disputes resolution committee. Such a committee must act (or try to act) as a ‘healthy heart’ of LU, as my colleague Sheila Mosley of the interim disputes committee (IDC) sees our role.

On the one hand, we must not act as a group of stooges and flunkies for our party leadership; there are far too many negative examples of this occurring in other left-wing groups. When our leading bodies makes mistakes in disputes being handled by our committee, they need to be told…and the IDC has recently done so. On the other hand, we need to ensure that disputes are dealt with rapidly and with equity… and that the good health of the entire organisation is at the centre of our mission. FAIR procedures are paramount.

My directly relevant experience: a) member of housing co-op dispute resolution committee in Canada; b) law lecturer in the UK for 18 years and taught alternate dispute resolution course; I’ve just retired; c) was closely involved with a safe space issue here in Nottingham; d) served on the IDC since January 2014; member of 3-person panel handling the sole IDC dispute to date.

More generally: a) formerly joint secretary of LU Nottingham; b) one of several active builders of the new LU Nottinghamshire branch and now interim branch secretary; c) UCU member (retired); d) activist in local campaigns (Men Supporting Feminism; FrackFree Nottingham, bedroom tax; Nottingham People’s Assembly) e) one of the organisers of upcoming Scots Solidarity Speaking Tour, f) Marxist political activist in three countries since 1966. I am not a member of any LU political tendency.

Any questions? nottinghamshire@leftunity,org

Annie Tunnicliffe
Nominated by Crouch End LU

My background experience is diverse and includes teaching, training, management, group facilitation, organising events, counselling, supervision, mediation (and welfare at festivals like the Big Green Gathering and Glastonbury)

I currently work as a psychotherapist, supervisor, coach and trainer.

I have been involved in CND on and off since the 1960’s, was active at Greenham Common Peace Camp and Upper Heyford in the 80’s and on CND National Council during that time, involved in setting up the non-violent direct action group. I remain committed to nuclear disarmament, to finding non-violent ways of resolving conflicts and to social justice.

I am tired of feeling depressed and apathetic about politics in this country and am encouraged by the emergence of Left Unity!