The LPUK Fallout

Let's pause for a moment and look at the LPUK "investigation" into their (former? - there seems to be some confusion on that point) leader, Andrew Withers. The report is available, and it is a startling document in almost every way possible. Startlingly poor, that is. It has all the credibility of Richard Nixon promising that there would be no whitewash in the White House.

For me, a report by a political party into the potential wrong-doings of its leader should (a) challenge the allegations head-on and (b) reach some sort of conclusions. This dunder-headed report struggles to do the first; it utterly fails to do the latter.

Throughout it, there is a sense of incredulity that certain basic things, particularly around finances, have not been done. It also adopts a very aggressive tone towards Anna Raccoon (who decisively dissects the report here), who initially alerted an apparently clueless party to the behaviour of its leader. It also takes time out to have a pop at a former leader*, for no other reason than he happened through no control of his own to become embroiled in this disaster for the party.

But those issues do not represent the biggest problem with this report. That comes with the conclusions - which are little more than a set of potential areas for future investigations. Was there a breach of the Data Protection Act? You fucking well tell me - you did the investigation. Is Anna Raccoon's timeline accurate? Again, you tell me - although quite how you're ever going to reach any conclusions on that point is utterly beyond me given the party's self-confessed ineptitude when it comes to pretty much any bit of admin. And the ongoing lack of clarity around financial issues is terrifying - how could any new members, or former members like myself, ever have any confidence in rejoining the party when we don't have the first clue about where our money would be going?

Now, more than ever, the future of the party hands in the balance. There seems to be a lot of anger from grassroots members, despite the decision by Withers to stand aside. There's going to be a new leader, I hear - with the name Max Andronichuk (who has made the occasional cheer leading comment for LPUK on this blog) being mentioned quite a bit. But it also has been hinted that he is Withers' preferred choice of new leader, which in my eyes (rightly or wrongly) automatically raises a lot of questions - after all, should the party right now be taking the advice of Withers of all people?

Besides, leadership isn't the party's main problem - there is now a substantial credibility gap between what the party initially aspired to (a new, more transparent kind of politics) and what it has offered (the very opposite of transparency). A new leader is the very least of the party's worries; basic financial procedures and some sort of transparency about the way the party conducts its business are far more important. And yeah, it's difficult with volunteers manning the party etc etc ad fucking nauseam. But when it comes to fundamental points like the voluntary financial contributions individuals make to the party, a basic level of professionalism is not too much to ask for, surely?

It is very telling that the party's most noticeable event to date isn't a campaigning or electoral success, but rather an utterly depressing tale of ineptitude and irresponsibility at its very heart.

*Ok, let me declare an interest here - I like Chris Mounsey. He has always been encouraging when it comes to my blogging, and he's a good chap to go for a few beers with. But that's precisely why I feel the report if being utterly pathetic when it deals with him. For all of his flaws, he's open and honest - he has a certain level of integrity that appears to be lacking in the current party leadership. He also - when I last caught up to him face to face at the end of last year - expressed no problems (or "issues") with the end to his time running the party leadership. Quite the opposite, in fact. So the decision to make him, in part, responsible for the scandal that has engulfed (and may yet destroy) the party is yet another alarming lack of judgement in a leadership that has already shown precious little judgement to date.