Momentum (organisation)

Momentum
Founder Jon Lansman
Founded 8 October 2015 (2015-10-08)
Membership  (2016) Increase 20,000 +
National affiliation Labour Party (unofficial)
Website
www.peoplesmomentum.com

Momentum is a British political organisation. It was founded in 2015 by Jon Lansman, four weeks after Jeremy Corbyn's successful campaign for the Labour Party leadership.[1][2] It has been described as a grassroots movement supportive of Corbyn and the Labour Party.[2][3][4]

In February 2016, Momentum agreed to set up a paid formal membership structure, which would require that those wanting to join must support the values and aims of the Labour Party, though membership is not limited to members of the Labour Party.[5] As of October 2016, there are over 150 local groups across the UK and Momentum's membership has increased to over 20,000.[6]

Background

Momentum describes itself as an organisation that "exists to build on the energy and enthusiasm from the Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader campaign, to increase participatory democracy, solidarity, and grassroots power and help Labour become the transformative governing party of the 21st century".[7] It also campaigns on local issues and on topics within the Labour Party.[4] The organisation states that it aims to organise local groups across the country to "encourage mass mobilisation for a more democratic, equal and decent society" and "assist members in making their voice heard in Labour Party debates".[7]

Momentum has over 150 local groups across the UK. Since launching its membership scheme in April 2016, it has seen a steadily increasing membership. In October 2016, Momentum claimed to have over 20,000 full members, as well as over 170,000 supporters.[6]

Relationship with other organisations

Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) have raised concerns that groups including the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Left Unity, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), the Socialist Party and the Alliance for Workers' Liberty (AWL) might attach themselves to Momentum as a means to rejoin the Labour Party.[8]

Left Unity is looking into the possibility of cooperation with Momentum and the Labour Party because it shares Corbyn's values.[9] The Socialist Workers Party, and the Socialist Party have denied any intention to be involved.[9] Momentum has stated that it will resist entryism by the SWP and other groups;[10] however, according to Andrew Gilligan in The Daily Telegraph, several Momentum organisers have held paid roles for other political parties, including a former Green Party spokesperson.[11] One AWL member sits on the Momentum steering committee.[12] In October 2015, James Schneider, a leading organiser of Momentum admitted that he had voted for the Green Party in the May general election, saying it was only because “I'm in a safe Labour seat”.[13]

In December 2015, Momentum announced that it would be setting up a code of conduct to exclude any members of other parties from being allowed to vote or take part in meetings about the Labour Party. This is intended to restrict the influence of the Socialist Party and others, but members of those groups will be permitted to attend meetings on non-Labour Party issues, such as the campaign on Syria.[14][15]

Campaigns and issues

Fears over deselection threats

Critics of Corbyn within the Parliamentary Labour Party have raised a concern that Momentum may look to encourage the deselection of moderate MPs and councillors who disagree with, or are seeking to undermine the Labour leader.[16] Referring to the Militant tendency, Oliver Kamm of The Times wrote in October 2015: "Like the Trotskyists of a generation ago Momentum is an entrist organisation that’s parasitic on the Labour host. This time, though, the far left has managed to gain control of the party structures and is intent on making life tough for Labour MPs".[17] However, Momentum issued a clear denial, saying "we will not campaign for the deselection of any MP and will not permit any local Momentum groups to do so. The selection of candidates is entirely a matter for local party members and rightly so".[18] Author and journalist Michael Crick opposes the comparison to Militant, stating that "the rise of Jeremy Corbyn can be attributed more to the phenomenon of 'Corbynmania' than to hard-left entrism".[19] The Momentum spokesman James Schneider has said "The purpose of Momentum is not to have internal factional battles, it's to look outside".[11]

Democracy SOS

Momentum is undertaking a campaign to address the problem of disenfranchisement of electors as a result of the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration. This is part of a broader goal to improve democracy by encouraging new voters to register. The group believes there may be eight million people missing from the electoral register and that a further 1.9 million people could be excluded by the changes in voter registration on 1 December 2015.[20][21]

Cuts to tax credits

Momentum criticised George Osborne's economic policies, including particularly his proposal to cut tax credit payments for working families.[22][23]

Syria bombing

Momentum called for its membership to lobby Labour MPs "to support Corbyn, not Cameron, over Syria" on Twitter, linking to the Stop the War Coalition's "don't Bomb Syria" campaign, which opposed the Conservative Government's proposal to extend its bombing sorties against Daesh (also known as ISIS) from Daesh-held territory in Iraq to also cover Daesh-held territory in Syria. Corbyn had argued that Cameron's government lacked a credible plan for defeating Daesh, and that the bombing in Syria would not increase the UK's national security. Corbyn has also stated his view that military action should always be a last resort. Some Labour MPs criticised Momentum's move to lobby on party political grounds before the Labour party's official position on military action had been decided, with Gavin Shuker asking "Who decided this was your position on Syria, and to lobby MPs in this way?"[24]

Elections to the National Executive Committee

In the 2016 elections for the National Executive Committee, it emerged that Momentum, alongside the centre-left Grassroots Alliance and the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy[25] were jointly backing six representatives for the NEC: Rhea Wolfson, the former chair of the Jewish Society who replaced Ken Livingstone, a senior NEC figure who was suspended from the party for alleged antisemitism;[26] Ann Black; Christine Shawcroft, a senior figure in Momentum who had been a member of the NEC for 15 years, and who was suspended from the party due to her support for Lutfur Rahman,[27][28] and has gained media attention for supporting dialogue with Daesh instead of air strikes;[29] Peter Willsman, Claudia Webbe and Darren Williams, who was forced to apologise in 2013 for saying that Tony Blair should share Margaret Thatcher's coffin.[30][31] All six of the candidates Momentum supported were elected to the six available places.[32]

The World Transformed

From 24 September Momentum held a four day fringe festival alongside the Labour Party conference. Foregrounding art, music and culture alongside political discussions, 'The World Transformed'. One event featured a debate between Caroline Lucas co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Compass chair Neal Lawson and Jon Lansman and Rhea Wolfson of Momentum.[33] In The Times, Tony Blair's former speech writer Philip Collins was positive about the event, compared to the Labour conference, "harnessed and embraced, Momentum could be a force for good", but wrote "the only thing wrong with their slogan 'Jez We Can' is the first word".[34]

Former vice-chair Jackie Walker

The vice-chair of Momentum, Jackie Walker, was briefly suspended from Labour Party membership in spring 2016 for making comments on Facebook which were thought to be antisemitic.[35] Jon Lansman, the chair of Momentum, defended her against these claims.[36]

Near the 2016 Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Momentum organised The World Transformed, a four-day event.[37] Walker spoke at Momentum events. Her comments about Holocaust Memorial Day led to renewed calls for her to be expelled from the Labour Party and, this time, for Walker to lose her position as Momentum's vice-chair.[38] Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the TSSA union, said their Momentum funding would be reconsidered if Walker was not removed.[38] She was suspended from Labour Party membership at the end of September.[39] On 3 October 2016, the organisation's steering committee decided she should cease being vice-chair, but remain a member of the committee itself.[40] Lansman in the Morning Star wrote that they considered Walker's comments about Holocaust Memorial Day "and on the security of Jewish schools to be ill-informed, ill-judged and offensive though not anti-semitic".[41]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Patrick Wontour (8 October 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn leadership campaign gives rise to new social movement". The Guardian.
  2. 1 2 Stephen Bush (23 October 2015). "Labour MPs are worried about Momentum. Should they be?". New Statesman.
  3. ↑ Norman Smith (24 October 2015). "What is Momentum, and why is it worrying Labour MPs?". BBC News.
  4. 1 2 Stone, Jon (8 October 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaign sets up new local activist network called 'Momentum'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Momentum to block supporters of rival parties from membership". Labour List. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Momentum Press". momentumpress.tumblr.com. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Welcome to Momentum!". Momentum. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Wintour, Patrick (24 October 2015). "Unite challenges expulsion of alleged Trotskyists from Labour party". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  9. 1 2 editor, Patrick Wintour Political. "Left Unity party to consider joining Labour". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  10. ↑ George Eaton (16 October 2015). "Pro-Corbyn group Momentum vows to resist SWP "infiltration"". New Statesman.
  11. 1 2 Gilligan, Andrew (8 Nov 2015). "The Corbyn hardcore plotting to deselect Labour moderates". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  12. ↑ http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/11/how-momentum-entered-crisis-zone
  13. ↑ "Momentum Is Not A 'Shadowy' Group With A 'Hit List' Of Labour MPs, Says Leading Organiser".
  14. ↑ "Momentum 'to curb power of non-Labour groups'". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  15. ↑ editor, Patrick Wintour Political. "Corbyn's Momentum group moves to block influence of hard-left parties". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  16. ↑ Wintour, Patrick (8 October 2015). "Activists to harness Corbyn campaign energy with Momentum". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  17. ↑ Kamm, Oliver (13 October 2015). "The real Labour party must refuse to work with Corbyn". The Times. London. Retrieved 26 July 2016. (subscription required)
  18. ↑ "The 66 Labour MPs who voted for Syria air strikes face threats of deselection and branded 'warmongers'". The Independent. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  19. ↑ Crick, Michael (10 March 2016). Militant. Biteback Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78590-029-7. (back cover)
  20. ↑ Jon Stone (19 October 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn's Momentum activist network announces mass voter registration campaign". The Independent.
  21. ↑ "Democracy SOS – Momentum".
  22. ↑ "No Work Penalty".
  23. ↑ Steve Sweeney (24 October 2015). "Momentum's potential to unify and energise political campaigning". Morning Star. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  24. ↑ Dathan, Matt (23 November 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn campaign group urges Labour MPs to reject air strikes in Syria". Independent. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  25. ↑ Pope, Conor (16 July 2016). "Left slate in poll position for NEC race after late spate of nominations". LabourList. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  26. ↑ Doherty, Rosa (10 May 2016). "Former Jewish Society chair backed to replace Ken Livingstone on Labour executive". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  27. ↑ Syal, Rajeev (11 May 2015). "Labour veteran suspended from party for supporting Lutfur Rahman". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  28. ↑ "Jeremy Corbyn supporters urged to use Labour NEC elections to cement his hold on party".
  29. ↑ Riley-Smith, Ben (20 March 2016). "British soldiers should have 'cups of tea' with Islamic State terrorists, says Jeremy Corbyn ally". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  30. ↑ Official leaflets for these elections have been produced by Momentum and the Grassroots Alliance.
  31. ↑ Cooper, Charlie (14 March 2016). "Momentum has urged Jeremy Corbyn supporters to cement his hold on the Labour Party". The Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  32. ↑ Momentum-backed candidates sweep Labour ruling body elections in boost for Jeremy Corbyn
  33. ↑ "A Labour party of the future is beginning to emerge". The Guardian. 2016-09-29. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  34. ↑ Collins, Philip (29 September 2016). "Momentum can be Labour's unlikely saviour". The Times. Retrieved 10 October 2016. (subscription required)
  35. ↑ Mortimer, Caroline (28 May 2016). "Anti-Semitism row: Momentum organiser Jackie Walker readmitted to Labour party following racism allegations". The Independent. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  36. ↑ Lansman, Jon (9 May 2016). "A frenzied witch-hunt is not the way to combat antisemitism or any form of racism". Left Futures. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  37. ↑ Cowburn, Ashley (September 2016). "The World Transformed: A look inside the Momentum movement that helped secure a second Corbyn victory". The Independent. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  38. 1 2 Stone, Jon (30 September 2016). "Momentum set to sack vice-chair Jackie Walker after Holocaust Memorial Day comments". The Independent. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  39. ↑ "Momentum chief Jackie Walker suspended from Labour over Holocaust Memorial Day comments". The Daily Telegraph. Press Association. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  40. ↑ Walker, Peter (3 October 2016). "Jackie Walker stripped of Momentum post in antisemitism row". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  41. ↑ Lansman, Jon (8 October 2016). "A loss of confidence: the real reason why Momentum removed Jackie Walker". Morning Star. Retrieved 9 October 2016.

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