During the week, Judge Butcher delivered a disappointing ruling in Neslen & Others vs Evans. Diana Neslen and her co-plaintiffs were suing the Labour Party over their treatment under the disciplinary code. This is reviewed at the Mirror, Morning Star by Ammar Kamzi, who has also posted a blog article, , and presented in judgement form at Bailli.
Most disappointing is the idea that the accused do not need to know the charge against them, merely the gist and that the Labour Party’s investigation policy can be secret. I have argued before that the absence of a policy to guide investigators was just deplorable, but the Judge seems to think it’s OK. Apart from being against the Party’s values, this would all seem to be in contradiction of ECHR Article 6.
I might read the judgement and comment further. I’d be interested to know if C2.II.7, a member’s right to fair treatment was deployed.
I feel disappointed that I took my foot of the accelerator over the need to incorporate the ECHR into Labour’s Rules.
Some of us who had more hope in judicial review may need to think our strategies.