Court ruling could be needed to get Labour candidates in NI: Hoey

A legal challenge to a Labour Party ban on running candidates in Northern Ireland could be the only way to resolve the long-running issue, Kate Hoey has said.
Kate Hoey backs the campaign for Labour to stand in Northern IrelandKate Hoey backs the campaign for Labour to stand in Northern Ireland
Kate Hoey backs the campaign for Labour to stand in Northern Ireland

The Ulster-born Labour MP for Vauxhall was commenting after the party blocked Labour activists in the Province from contesting next month’s Assembly election.

In a statement released on Monday, the Labour Party in Northern Ireland (LPNI) confirmed its members are now likely to support independent candidates who are supportive of their “right to stand Labour Party candidates” in Northern Ireland elections.

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“This is because, despite our continuing efforts, the Labour Party NEC (National Executive Committee) does not allow us to stand Labour Party candidates,” it said.

“The Labour Party NEC is currently conducting a full review into Labour’s situation in Northern Ireland. This will involve widespread consultation with interested parties, including LPNI.

“LPNI will not be endorsing any candidates in the Assembly elections.

“While we cannot endorse candidates, we may wish to give support to independent candidates who are sympathetic to our policies and in favour of our right to stand Labour Party candidates,” the statement concluded.

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Ms Hoey said she supported the “long campaign” to have the party contest elections in Northern Ireland but now believes it may only happen on the back of a court ruling.

“I find it shocking that my own UK party refuses to allow candidates to be put up in Northern Ireland, and will continue to support those who are calling for it to happen.

“It may well be that the only way to change the Labour position will be for a legal action to be mounted as happened when original membership was given,” she said.

In 2003, delegates at the Labour Party conference voted to change the rule which prohibited people living in Northern Ireland from becoming members.

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Almost 90 per cent of those voting were in favour of the change, but the motion followed a legal challenge mounted by a Belfast-based trade unionist.

Andy McGivern, backed by the Commission for Racial Equality, argued that the ban was racist in that it unlawfully discriminated against anyone in Northern Ireland.

At the time, Labour resisted the change due to its links with the SDLP.

However, the party’s lawyers advised that their case was weak and unlikely to survive a court challenge if the legal proceedings resulted in a full court hearing.

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Following the 2003 victory, Boyd Black of LPNI said: “This is a basic democratic right to join the party that governs us.”

• Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accepted an invitation to speak at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

Mr Corbyn will address music fans at the event after being invited by organisers of the Left Field, where pop and politics mix.

The line up of speakers and groups at the Left Field is being organised by singer and activist Billy Bragg.