A DELEGATE to the Labour conference expelled just days ahead of its opening in Liverpool has spoken to the Morning Star of her “sadness” at the decision and the loss of representation it means for her constituency party (CLP).

Christchurch delegate Carol Wilcox, her CLP’s only delegate to the conference, was informed on Wednesday that she had been excluded from the party after more than 30 years’ active membership.

Her “offence” was having shared online posts by proscribed groups Labour Against the Witch Hunt and the Labour in Exile Network — before they were banned.

“I was the only Christchurch delegate,” Ms Wilcox said. “My CLP is angry and intends to complain as it has lost representation at the conference, to which we had submitted a policy motion and an excellent emergency motion from Labour CND.

“We’ve lost money as well, the considerable cost of my pass and accommodation; about £400.

“As soon as I was expelled I applied for an exhibitor’s pass so I could help with Labour Land Campaign activities — running the stall at conference, chairing and speaking at our fringe events on Tuesday.

“By next day I was told my application had been refused. [The campaign] has spent nearly £3,000 and exhausted our funds. We won’t be giving the Labour Party any more money.”

Ms Wilcox was suspended once before, in 2016, but that year was reinstated in time to attend conference.

“I know many others who’ve been traumatised by being expelled.

“If this is how the party treats its own members, how is it fit for government?”

Ms Wilcox is far from the only Labour member being expelled in the week before they are due to attend conference, according to Not the Andrew Marr Show presenter Crispin Flintoff.

“Keir Starmer and his adviser Peter Mandelson are doing this so their lack of policies can’t be called out,” he said.

The Labour Party has been invited to comment.

You can attend the Labour Land Campaign fringe meeting, Tax Land – The Wealth You Can’t Hide, on Tuesday September 27, Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool 2pm with John McDonnell, Becky Long-Bailey, Jamie Driscoll and Katy Clark.
www.labourland.org.