I have been an active member of the Labour Party for over 50 years, holding a range of distinguished positions, including that of local Councillor. Nevertheless, the Party have just expelled me on the “balance of probabilities” that I have been a supporter of a (now) proscribed group since September 2018.

This is manifestly unjust, on several grounds:

The proscribed group was not even in existence in September 2018 so I cannot have joined it at that time

The only ‘evidence’ submitted is that the group in question has appeared on a defunct facebook page in my name that I thought I had closed and that I haven’t used since March 2021, over a year before the group was proscribed

In 2018 the facebook group existed under another name that has not been proscribed and only later changed its name to that of the proscribed group

I have no recollection of ever joining the original facebook group and so cannot be described as ‘possessing membership’ of it

The group was only proscribed in March 2022

There is no activity regarding the group on my current active facebook account nor any evidence linking me in any way to the proscribed group since it was created

I have informed them that I am not a supporter of this or any other proscribed group and therefore the allegation is inaccurate. They have ignored my statement and have not provided any evidence to indicate my support for that group.

I believe that the NEC approach is contrary to its duties of fairness as laid out in the LP Rule Book and is therefore in breach of contract and unlawful. Even the Leader of the Party stated on BBC R4 in November 2021, referring to MPs lobbying and second jobs: “Don’t penalise people now for doing things in the past that were allowed at the time” and that principle should apply equally here.

I consider this to be an outrageous breach of natural justice and I have submitted an appeal to have my membership reinstated.

To do this I need funds to pay for legal support. I hope that others will agree that it is worthwhile to challenge this decision and will donate to this crowdfunder if able to do so.

Thank You.