8th May 2003

Tribune Pins De-Merger Leak on AEEU Right

Confounding rumours that MSF Spare General Secretary Lyons personally leaked last week's de-merger story to the Sunday Times, Tribune maintains that it came from the AEEU Right. It is true that Lyons would normally leak to the Independent - part of his long running feud with the Guardian over their '25p bun' story. Lyons however is a regular contributor to Tribune.

What is clear is that the de-merger noises are not coming from the Left, who have nothing to gain by a split. The main individual beneficiary would seem to be Lyons, whose enforced election this year looks increasingly inevitable. Incredibly he may believe he could win an election; his only opportunity for this is if MSF splits from AEEU, otherwise he would have to suffer the indignity of becoming Simpson's deputy (disputed rule 27 (3)). By contrast the Right wing executive members gain from a split by not having to stand for election; the Right are widely expected to be demolished in any poll of members for the new executive. On a grander scale, Blair is known to be wary of Derek Simpson's migraine attacks and, despite encouraging the merger when Jackson would control the super-union, now that Left winger Simpson is in charge there is little doubt that Blair would prefer a split.

The Left, particularly on the MSF side, are opposed to the draconian new rule book, it is possible the Right could seize on this and blame an amicus split on the Left, and on rejection of the rule book. MSF's Right wing National Executive has already taken steps to prevent discussion and distribution of the document:

(ii) Motion from London Regional Council

London Regional Council requests the NEC to propose to the JEC that the draft Rulebook, as proposed by the Rules Commission, be circulated to Regions, Branches, Industrial & Equality Advisory Committee for comment and consultation before the JEC takes a decision on its adoption.

It was AGREED TO REJECT this motion.

MSF National Executive Committee minutes 15th March 2003.

What, consult with the elected bodies of the union on something as important as the rule book, an outrageous suggestion!
[Tribune] Split Story: AEEU Right Blamed
[Leaked] Final version of the New Rulebook (large)
[Leaked] MSF Rule book issues
[Leaked] MSF Rule book covering letter
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 8th May 2003