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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Richard,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Has Democratic Left Scotland ever
considered registering as a political party with the Electoral Commission and
does it accept members from the rest of GB or just <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Also if it doesn’t accept members
from outside <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region></st1:place>
has it ever taken a position on whether the Democratic Left could be
re-established in the rest of GB?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I’m sorry to bombard you with
questions but I also would be interested in what you think about attempting to
register the name ‘European Left’ or ‘Democratic Left’
with the Electoral Commission as an alternative to a ‘Left Independent’
strategy for 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Best<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Stephen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>ps I know this is the kind of comment that
gets me in trouble with the EL powers that be, but I know there has been and
likely still is contact between Die Linke and other EL national parties with
the Labour Representation Committee inside the Labour Party. I have always
wondered whether part of the problem in getting assistance with affiliating a GB
individual members body has included the national parties being reluctant to ‘rock
the boat’ with LRC because they get something out of that connection that
they are reluctant to compromise or perhaps more innocently that LRC has run
the ‘nothing outside Labour in GB will work because of the electoral
system’ line and they listen to that more than those of us who would like
some help in establishing an alternative to working in Labour.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de
[mailto:individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Richard Dunphy<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 28 June 2012 01:58<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Indiv.
Members EL</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re:
[Individual-members-EL] EL Indivual Members</span></font><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Dear Norbert,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Lovely to hear from you, and thanks for this
advice. It's not in my power to send the application again, but I have
forwarded your message to Stuart Fairweather (<a
href="mailto:s.fairweather703@btinternet.com">s.fairweather703@btinternet.com</a>),
who is the national convenor of Democratic Left Scotland, with a recommendation
that he do as you suggest.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Richard.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
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color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<div id=divRpF152683>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black;
font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>
individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de
[individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de] on behalf of Norbert Hagemann
[norberthagemann@web.de]<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 27 June 2012 19:02<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Indiv.
Members EL</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re:
[Individual-members-EL] EL Indivual Members</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Hi Richard,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>I was not able to enter
the debate between you and Stephen but I will do so a little bit later, sorry
to much to do right now. Regarding the DLC I would like to ask you
to "resend" this request please to Helmut Scholz. You can
reach him under the following mail address: <a
href="mailto:helmut.scholz@europarl.europa.eu" target="_blank">helmut.scholz@europarl.europa.eu</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>I talked to him right
now. He will table it at the EL ExBoard meeting next month in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Athens</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Kind regards<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Norbert
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style='border:none;border-left:solid #C3D9E5 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 8.0pt;
margin-left:7.5pt;margin-top:7.5pt;margin-right:3.75pt;margin-bottom:3.75pt;
word-wrap:break-word' name=quote>
<div style='margin-bottom:7.5pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Gesendet:</span></font></b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'> Mittwoch, 27. Juni 2012 um 16:03 Uhr<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Von:</span></b> "Richard
Dunphy" <r.a.g.dunphy@dundee.ac.uk><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>An:</span></b> "<st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Indiv. Members EL</st1:PersonName>"
<individual-members-el@listi.jpberlin.de><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Betreff:</span></b> Re:
[Individual-members-EL] EL Indivual Members <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div name=quoted-content>
<div>
<div>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Dear Stephen,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Just by way of keeping you fully in the
picture, so to speak, there is an organisation here in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> called
Democratic Left Scotland (which grew out of the old CPGB, but is now a network
rather than a party, with some members from the Greens, etc.). I am in it, as
are maybe half-a-dozen or so other independent EL members in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. DLS
is small (about 100 members) but good - it publishes an excellent
quarterly journal called Perspectives (<a
href="http://www.democraticleftscotland.org.uk" target="_blank">www.democraticleftscotland.org.uk</a>).
The point is that DLS applied to become an observer member of the EL last
autumn. They still have not received any reply from <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Brussels</st1:place></st1:City>. It would seem that the chronic
inefficiency at the top doesn't just apply to the issue of individual
membership!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Richard.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<div id=divRpF923828>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black;
font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>
individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de [individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de]
on behalf of Stephen Spence [stephen_spence@btinternet.com]<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 27 June 2012 13:22<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Indiv.
Members EL</st1:PersonName>'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re:
[Individual-members-EL] EL Indivual Members</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Dear Richard,</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>In my lunch break so relatively quickly.</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>You are of course correct, a European Left badge would be
better. Currently there isn’t one although with three people and
£150 you can register a party name with the electoral commission and run under
it. As long as European Left didn’t object although on what grounds
they could do so anyway I’m not sure. They have a EU registration
but that doesn’t get you on the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> ballot paper even in EU
elections. </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>To this point in time other <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> based people I’ve spoken
to haven’t supported doing that on the grounds that it would be a hollow
organisation, and therefore simply another non-resourced label rather than
anything real. I’m not sure I agree with that. I’ve
always thought that one candidate with a Party name is enough. But the
point is I’ve never had two other people prepared to do it and for
registration you have to list three people in total as officers of a named
party.</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>That’s why I thought a ‘Left Independent’ openly
advertising an affiliation with the European Left might be a way to go.
It still costs £5000 deposit, the appointment of an agent, so two people per
constituency minimum required. In addition you would need finance for
leaflets etc and yes it would have to be the small number of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> people left
as EL individual members who would have to try to do that. So far I know
of you and Luke and two others who were involved before I’m still in
contact with personally. In addition I think I could draw in a dozen or
so personal contacts who would have an interest if something was happening but
who have no interest if it isn’t.</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>I often get advice to start locally but there are lots of little
left groups all round the country which haven’t moved much beyond the
parish pump. I think you’ve got to make a top end intervention to
kick things off.</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>The Party of the European Left is to me a democratic left party,
and to me the democratic left is subtlety different from other socialist and
communist groups. To me it’s a form of left social democracy at heart
that I agree with. </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>It is of course possible with your £150 and three people (when
three emerge pointing in the same direction at once) to register a party name
that is UK specific, that could then seek to affiliate to EL. I’ve
thought of lots of them for example;</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Democratic Left, Progressive Left, Radical Left, Radical Democrats,
Left Green Democrats………………I assure you the
list goes on.</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>So far any attempts to do this have floundered on different views
to any proposal which is why some of us concentrated on getting individual
membership of EL and then trying to get recognition for individual members.
Believe it or not since 2004 on two separate occasions we had a <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> website
including an on-line blog, a post office box, and we’ve had people attending
Congress, Trade Union Network, summer Schools but the Party has always been
slow to help develop it further. Even now I’m waiting for George in
<st1:City w:st="on">Brussels</st1:City> to provide me with a list of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> based
individual members, following a response from him criticising a statement from
me that a lack of support existed. No such list has ever been provided to
me despite requests over eight years. The EL want individual members but
up until now they don’t seem to want them organising but in the same breathe
tell to organise yourselves. They mean I think as a Party that can
affiliate, individual membership has always been a bit threatening to existing
member parties, even though we don’t have one in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>. </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>However I now have this dialogue going with Waltraud and frankly
I’m hoping through that they pick up on efforts to consider candidates in
the UK and give some help, but I’m not holding my breathe.</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>So it does indeed come down to what we think we could do. I
think there is no point in being an EL individual member long term if the EL
can’t intervene in politics in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It’s taken me eight
years to get to that point. Therefore in 2014 I want to do something one
way or another as the welfare state crashes and burns around us.</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>My ‘Left Independent‘ idea comes from an absence of any
other bright ideas right now. So far the two comrades who dropped out
after previous efforts, who I still write to off line, don’t think it is
a good idea and you have raised legitimate points. A comrade from <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region> has
said ‘good luck’ and that so far is it.</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>My conclusion is after eight years of EL discussion in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> someone
needs to say ‘I’m going to run in this constituency can I rely on
your support’. In order to get someone to take that step I’m
seeing if there is a way of doing it that has some degree of support. </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>If not it might be better for EL individual members in the UK, such
as we are, to simply decide to support to Respect, TUSC or the Greens in 2014
or all of the above, and with EL concentrate on getting some form of Individual
Members Branch in the discussions with Waltraud.</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Happy to hear all additional thoughts.</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Best</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Stephen </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:
black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>
individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de
[mailto:individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Richard Dunphy<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 26 June 2012 13:04<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Indiv.
Members EL</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re:
[Individual-members-EL] EL Indivual Members</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Dear Stephen,</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Many thanks for doing this work on behalf of us
all.</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>As regards your proposal for running candidates
in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>
in the 2014 EP elections, I would love to have the option of voting for, and
campaigning for, an EL party candidate, but I am not sure about the wisdom of
running (an) independent candidate(s). If it is not possible to draw attention
to the existence of EL as a party, and run on the basis of an EL Manifesto,
what would be achieved by running as independents? Speaking personally, I must
admit that I usually don't take independent candidates seriously (except,
perhaps, at local council level) and tend to vote for a party, not an
individual.</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Also, would an EP campaign have to be
financed entirely within the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>
by a small group of supporters? Presuming so, again I wonder how feasible it
would be - and all, more than likely, for a couple of hundred votes. OK, it
might be argued that even a candidate running on an EL party platform might not
poll more than a tiny vote, but at least in this case it would put the party on
the map, so to speak, and remind many disenfranchised left-wingers in this
country that there is a party alternative to Labour - at the European level at
any rate. Would an independent candidature achieve this?</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Sorry if this sounds negative. I'm not entirely
close-minded, just exploring my initial reactions!</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>best wishes,</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>Richard.</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<div id=divRpF141253>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'> individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de
[individual-members-el-bounces@listi.jpberlin.de] on behalf of Stephen Spence
[stephen_spence@btinternet.com]<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 24 June 2012 11:26<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Indiv.
Members EL</st1:PersonName>'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Individual-members-EL]
EL Indivual Members</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Dear All,</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>CONFIDENTIAL TO THIS LIST</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>I would like to advise you that I am in ongoing correspondence
with Waltraud of the EL Statutes Commission trying to get a trying to get a
date to meet in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brussels</st1:place></st1:City>
about individual members. I am proposing, following up Nobert’s
letter, a European wide individual members branch that can meet a couple of
times a year, with a Branch Executive, a seat on the Executive Board, the Chair
able to attend the Council of Chairpersons, and the Branch able to send
delegates to the EL Congress based on the number of members. In essence I
am suggesting an Individual Members Branch should be treated like a Member
Party. I will let you know how these discussions progress. I am
happy to do this work but if there ever becomes a need for something to be said
about it publicly I will need someone to do this, as I can only do this in a
private capacity, behind the scenes, due to my public trade union work.</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>For individual members in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> I would like to know your
opinion on an additional matter. I am wondering whether it might be
possible for individual members of the EL to run as ‘Left
Independent’ candidates affiliated to EL in the 2014 European
Parliament. Where there is no <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> registered political party running
as an ‘independent’ is an alternative option. I had thought
as the ‘European Left’ is registered party at the European level it
might be possible to use that name but I can’t get any clear advice on
that, and I think there were have to be a <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> registered party to do it.
So the ‘Left Independent’ idea came into my head. Does anyone
have a view?</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Best</span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Stephen </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'><br>
The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Dundee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> is a registered
Scottish Charity, No: SC015096 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><br>
The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Dundee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> is a registered
Scottish Charity, No: SC015096 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Dundee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> is a registered
Scottish Charity, No: SC015096 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
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