Mark McCarthy Watts

[Frank Morgan]

Did anyone actually get to the bottom of Mark's incredible statement?

Well, since you probably didn't, here's the gist. There are a bunch of lefties trying to run  the NUJ (Some news - that's been happening since the late 70s, as those of us who have been fighting them off ever since know).

The candidate they are backing is Rich Simcox (again, hardly Earth-shattering though Rich should have put that on his
leaflets) .

Errr...... that's it.

No need for all the McCarthy-style guff. I don't dislike these people, just their politics and/or methods.

I belong to no party or grouping - I just want what's best for our members - more pay, better conditions and a free press.

[Donnacha DeLong]

I didn't quite make it all the way to the end, but I found it hilarious. Fantastic piece of investigation that clearly involved googling NUJ and going to page 2 (I get NUJ as the 13th result on a search for NUJ) or even just Rich Simcox (one of his posts on the NUJ Left website is on page 1 of the results).

That aside, I want to ask you why you "dislike [our] politics and/or methods." What part exactly? I'm a member of NUJ Left, which is a diverse group of members with a variety of left-wing views. I'm an anarchist, there are various other variations of socialists and communists involved. Do you disagree with people coming together to work together on the basis of areas of agreement, rather than the usual factional conflicts of the left?

As for our "methods" - what part? Our public meetings where we discuss issues of common concern? Our organising of benefits for striking colleagues? Our active participation in union politics? Our active and public support for colleagues we support in union elections?

I find it really odd that people seem to object to like-minded people in a trade union coming together. We want to build a stronger, more active union. The fact that, as Mark points out, "this faction controls a big chunk of the NEC and wields heavy influence over its decisions." is a little thing called democracy - we were elected, we wield heavy influence because there's a group of us with shared perspectives on the issues.

Surely you acknowledge that solidarity is the basis of trade union activity? So what's the problem?

[Frank Morgan]

So you'll be voting for Mark Watts then, will you? I've always found cliques and factions to be disruptive - but I find it odd you attack me rather than the man who is making all these weird allegations. Typical of the NUJ Left!

It's like the Monty Python movie in which they're all shouting "splitters" at each other instead of tackling the real issues.

And, as a democratic sort of person, I always try to reflect the views of those who have elected me. As an "anarchist" NEC member, how many of your constituents agree with your politics in new media? Have you asked them?

Thought not.
 

[John Thompson]

In case non-NUJ members are wondering what this is all about, you can read Mark Watts' full statement here.

Incidentally, Chris Wheal blogged about how block voting works in the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) on 15 October 2009. He also explains the alternative vote system here, which the NUJ is employing for this election. Essentially it means that voters' second, third and later preferences can count as much as their first preference for editor.

[emv54]

God, this is all so depressing. What IS it with journalists? That old herding cats thing has never been more apposite.

I also found Mark Watts' diatribe deeply dispiriting, firstly because it is indeed largely a self-indulgent, self-serving rant, but secondly because - alas - there is also an element of truth in there.

I have no problem with Richard Simcox being an NUJ Left member, but he's done himself absolutely no favours by not being upfront about it. Sorry, but you do have to question why, despite his carefully-worded defence. What's the problem, Richard?

And Frank Morgan's done himself no favours either by immediately sounding off and scattergunning vitriol in all directions in a bid to win votes by discrediting his rivals.

It's all so undignified and unnecessary.

This is a crucially important election for the union. I've very diligently done my homework and Messrs Watts, Simcox and Morgan had in fact been my #s 1, 2, and 3 (though not necessarily in that order).

But you know what? I'm now beginning to get to the point where I really don't give a toss who wins. And if I'm not alone - and sadly I doubt that I am - then all this childish posturing has done our union one massive disfavour.









 

[Richard Simcox]

I have no problem with Richard Simcox being an NUJ Left member, but he's done himself absolutely no favours by not being upfront about it. Sorry, but you do have to question why, despite his carefully-worded defence. What's the problem, Richard?

I'm now beginning to get to the point where I really don't give a toss who wins.

I didn't realise my membership of NUJ Left was a secret. Put my name into Google.

Former Press Gazette deputy editor Jon Slattery reported on his blog on 3 September that I would be running as a candidate with the support of NUJ Left.

It's not on my website because my supporters are a wide coalition, not all of whom support the NUJ Left.

If I'm elected I will of course reflect and represent that breadth in the way I do the job.

I don't think it’s fair to associate all of my supporters with a group they don't necessarily support.

I hope you will vote in the election.

I agree with Mark about the desirability of increasing the turnout from the 16% who voted in the election for deputy general secretary last year.

Best wishes.
 
Richard

[emv54]

Richard, I didn't suggest you were in the cloak-and-dagger business; I was merely questioning why you chose not to make it plain in your official campaigning material that your allegiance lies with NUJ Left. Not talking about your own website or anybody else's, or your supporters' sensibilities, just about the official bumf distributed to support your candidacy. If it's not, as you argue, an issue, then why not be entirely transparent? You might have avoided it becoming an issue if you had.

[SteveUsher1]

Journalist. Not Politician.

[Dave Tilley]

Hi,

I'm really not sure about internal union politics becoming the subject of public conjecture, but I do worry about what effect such inflammatory remarks will have on current and future members, and surely one of the main aims is to recruit members from a broad cross section and not do anything that will compromise this.

I've known of NUJ Left's existence for quite some time, I didn't realise they were a secret organisation, certainly I don't know many of those that have a public-facing website and regularly give out leaflets at meetings.

I am not a member of NUJ Left or any other political party or organisation, but have worked with lay and full-time activists who have been open about their affiliation to the group and found many of them to be committed to the basic aims of the union to achieve the best pay, hours and conditions for our members.

As our president said on Hold the Front page if you don't like the direction in which this union is travelling, if indeed it is going to the extreme left as some claim, then 'get active' and change it.

[Mark Watts]

"I don't know many of those [secret organisations] that have a public-facing website."

Dave, try this one: http://www.mi5.gov.uk. And they give out plenty of leaflets, too.

[Miles]

Frank
Thanks for writing about NUJ Left.
As a result of all the publicity during the Journalist election campaign we have had hundreds of extra vistors to our website.
So we have decided to hold a NUJ Left get-together on the evening of the election count.
All NUJ members are invited to join us anytime from 5pm on Monday November 16 for a drink at the Bread and Roses, a pub owned by the trade union movement, on Clapham Manor Street, Clapham, London, SW4 6DZ.
It's just off Clapham High Street where there are loads of buses - and a short walk from Claphan North and Clapham Common tube and Clapham High Street train stations.
http://www.breadandrosespub.com/finding-us.aspx
It will be an entirely informal event in the bar. Please come and ask us about the NUJ Left, discuss the outcome of the Journalist editor election, the union, socialism, or anything else that takes your fancy.
If you don't know what any of us look like we'll be wearing green on white NUJ lapel badges.
 
If you are from outside London you might prepfer to attend the NUJ Left public meeting at 6pm on Thursday November 19 in the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, Promenade, Southport, PR9 0DZ. All trade unionists welcome.
 
If you would like to join the NUJ Left it costs a pound a month. You can pay for as long as you like. Just see one of us at the Bread  and Roses or at the NUJ annual delegate meeting in Southport.

Miles Barter
Treasurer
NUJ Left
http://www.nujleft.org/

[whealie]

The NUJ Left is not a political party, more a coffee morning for people who like an argument.

It makes no effort to instruct members or anyone else to vote in any particular way. It makes recommendations. It has backed Simcox.

Had there been no NUJ Left members standing, it would still have backed a candidate as its preferred choice. It might have even backed Watts before his outrageous assault.

Many of us do not follow all the NUJ Left's advice on everything , or even anything.

But the question "will you be voting for Simcox" is a strange one. Even Mark Watts recommends voting for him - in eight place.

I'll be voting for all the candidates. In fact I think today I shall work out in which order I should vote for them.

Then I shall tell my wife, also an NUJ member with a ballot paper to complete. She will probably treat my advice as if it had come from the NUJ left - and ignore it.

[Mark Watts]

Dave’s gone a bit quiet. Is he still reading the MI5 website? Or did he join up? Anyway, when you’re done, try this some of these:

http://www.sis.gov.uk/output/sis-home-welcome.html
https://www.cia.gov
http://www.fsb.ru
http://www.mossad.gov.il
http://www.ugle.org.uk
http://freemasonry.org
http://www.scientology.org.uk
http://www.conservatives.com

And every single one gives out plenty of leaflets too. Oh alright, the Conservative Party doesn’t count. They call that a website? But, Dave, be careful. I would not join any of them if I were you.