Max’s Evidence 3
Emails to John Nott re ERO
To: "Max Wallis"
<WallisMK@cardiff.ac.uk>
From: chrisrose@gn.apc.org
Date: 12/06/2013 22:16
Cc: "Jon Nott" <ero@greenparty.org.uk>
Subject: Re: Voting resumed for Wales Green Party Euro-list
From: chrisrose@gn.apc.org
Date: 12/06/2013 22:16
Cc: "Jon Nott" <ero@greenparty.org.uk>
Subject: Re: Voting resumed for Wales Green Party Euro-list
Dear Max,
I have not given the Wales ERRO or anyone else any advice beyond my intial
observations and suggestions (not rulings, and not something that carried
any constyitutional force), which was based on partial information (I did
not want to get into looking at the pros and cons of spoof blogs and the
like). Selection disputes are outside of my remit, and I have had far too
much of my time taken up with them in the past, so do not propose to get
sucked into debating this one. There's always some bright spark who comes
up with a wheeze not covered by the rules, which is when the problems
start. I suggest the matter is referrred to the Euro Tribunal, which is
there to deal with these matters. The first point of contact for that is GPEW's SOC.
On the specific point about appointment of the ERRO, that is in the constitution, and the relevant part is as follows:
v) Conduct of the selection process:
a) GPRC Councillors (or if these posts are vacant the Regional
Co-ordinator) shall be responsible for ensuring that a European Regional
Returning Officer (ERRO) is appointed at a properly advertised Regional
meeting which is open to all members resident in that Region. The National
Election Agent shall be notified of the name and contact details of the ERRO forthwith.
There would appear to have been a breach in the letter of the law unless
it had been made clear at the time the Wales RO was appointed that they
would handle the Euro ballot. Having said that, I can see why some people
may have taken the view that it was reasonable to assume that they would
handle this as it is a i) internal and ii) a national ballot. That would
be one of the matters to ask the Tribunal (and not me!) to rule definitively upon.
Yours, Chris Rose.
> Chris Rose, National Election Agent, Jon Nott, Electoral Returning Officer,
>
> In my e-mail to Jon of 13th May (copied to Chris on 16th), I explained the
> steps leading up to the ERO’s suspension (wrong in my view) of the
> Welsh Euro-list election. Chris replied he’d advised consulting the
> SOC, but the ERO reports only you two and an unnamed former ERO for
> implied approval of his new decision to resume the voting process with the
> accompanying statement (‘Newsletter’, forwarded below).
> I now wish to draw your attention to prejudicial statements from the ERO,
> which appear to be undue interference in the election.
> # He put out as reason for suspension that the spoof Pippa Bartolotti-blog
> was "unsubstantiated", which I contested as demonstrably untrue (below)
> but is uncorrected in the new statement
> # He's now telling Members/voters to ignore everything in the March and
> May Members Newsletters or internet - ridiculous as well as improper and ultra vires.
> His word “unsubstantiated” was in Pippa Bartolotti’s
> demand (e-mail of 9th May appended in mine of 13th) over the May
> Newsletter, where she wrote of unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations against one person,
> myself… I consider it appropriate that without delay, an email
> should be sent to all WGP members outlining this fact, and underlining
> that none of these allegations have any substance whatsoever. If necessary
> the entire election process should be stopped forthwith.
This despite the ERO and WGP secretary approving in advance the
> controversial piece (questioning letter). I pointed out to the ERO (20
> May e-mail below) that the “allegations” (in fact questions)
> in the linked spoof blog pippabartalotti.blogspot.co.uk are largely
> “substantiated” in terms of references/quotes from Companies
> House registers and material on the internet including Pippa's own writings.
> Let me add that the ERO letter is contained within a Wales GP Council
> ‘Newsletter’ with an announcement of my personal 'suspension'
> as Campaigns Coordinator, which was false and prejudicial (non-quorate
> phone-conference and contrary to Complaints Procedure), a classic case of ‘shoot the messenger’.
Could I ask you, is it relevant that John Evans was never elected as EERO,
> being elected at the AGM as Wales ERO only? Second, would you clarify how
> far you have approved the ERO’s statement and decision to resume
> voting in this way, and how to pursue my complaint over his prejudicial intervention for Pippa Bartolotti?
> Max Wallis 07714 163254
> Wales GP Newsletter Editor (under dispute)
> ------------------------------------------------
> To: "John Evans"
> From: Max Wallis
> Date: 20/05/2013 12:42
> Subject: ERO statement re. spoof blog
>
> John Evans, ERO for Wales Green Party
> Dear John,
> Could I query your statement re. Anne Greagsby's spoof blog
> Pippabartalotti.blogspot.com that it was set up to discredit a candidate and is unsubstantiated.
> Anne posted up the blog in response to her disciplining by the GP for
> asking probing/hostile questions of Pippa. The blog provides factual
> material on Pippa, also reflecting something of Anne's bitterness for
> being victimised. It dates back to Sept. 2012 and Pippa has not asked for
> any of it to be corrected or taken down (though Pippa has removed some of her own contradictory stuff).
I have not given the Wales ERRO or anyone else any advice beyond my intial
observations and suggestions (not rulings, and not something that carried
any constyitutional force), which was based on partial information (I did
not want to get into looking at the pros and cons of spoof blogs and the
like). Selection disputes are outside of my remit, and I have had far too
much of my time taken up with them in the past, so do not propose to get
sucked into debating this one. There's always some bright spark who comes
up with a wheeze not covered by the rules, which is when the problems
start. I suggest the matter is referrred to the Euro Tribunal, which is
there to deal with these matters. The first point of contact for that is GPEW's SOC.
On the specific point about appointment of the ERRO, that is in the constitution, and the relevant part is as follows:
v) Conduct of the selection process:
a) GPRC Councillors (or if these posts are vacant the Regional
Co-ordinator) shall be responsible for ensuring that a European Regional
Returning Officer (ERRO) is appointed at a properly advertised Regional
meeting which is open to all members resident in that Region. The National
Election Agent shall be notified of the name and contact details of the ERRO forthwith.
There would appear to have been a breach in the letter of the law unless
it had been made clear at the time the Wales RO was appointed that they
would handle the Euro ballot. Having said that, I can see why some people
may have taken the view that it was reasonable to assume that they would
handle this as it is a i) internal and ii) a national ballot. That would
be one of the matters to ask the Tribunal (and not me!) to rule definitively upon.
Yours, Chris Rose.
> Chris Rose, National Election Agent, Jon Nott, Electoral Returning Officer,
>
> In my e-mail to Jon of 13th May (copied to Chris on 16th), I explained the
> steps leading up to the ERO’s suspension (wrong in my view) of the
> Welsh Euro-list election. Chris replied he’d advised consulting the
> SOC, but the ERO reports only you two and an unnamed former ERO for
> implied approval of his new decision to resume the voting process with the
> accompanying statement (‘Newsletter’, forwarded below).
> I now wish to draw your attention to prejudicial statements from the ERO,
> which appear to be undue interference in the election.
> # He put out as reason for suspension that the spoof Pippa Bartolotti-blog
> was "unsubstantiated", which I contested as demonstrably untrue (below)
> but is uncorrected in the new statement
> # He's now telling Members/voters to ignore everything in the March and
> May Members Newsletters or internet - ridiculous as well as improper and ultra vires.
> His word “unsubstantiated” was in Pippa Bartolotti’s
> demand (e-mail of 9th May appended in mine of 13th) over the May
> Newsletter, where she wrote of unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations against one person,
> myself… I consider it appropriate that without delay, an email
> should be sent to all WGP members outlining this fact, and underlining
> that none of these allegations have any substance whatsoever. If necessary
> the entire election process should be stopped forthwith.
This despite the ERO and WGP secretary approving in advance the
> controversial piece (questioning letter). I pointed out to the ERO (20
> May e-mail below) that the “allegations” (in fact questions)
> in the linked spoof blog pippabartalotti.blogspot.co.uk are largely
> “substantiated” in terms of references/quotes from Companies
> House registers and material on the internet including Pippa's own writings.
> Let me add that the ERO letter is contained within a Wales GP Council
> ‘Newsletter’ with an announcement of my personal 'suspension'
> as Campaigns Coordinator, which was false and prejudicial (non-quorate
> phone-conference and contrary to Complaints Procedure), a classic case of ‘shoot the messenger’.
Could I ask you, is it relevant that John Evans was never elected as EERO,
> being elected at the AGM as Wales ERO only? Second, would you clarify how
> far you have approved the ERO’s statement and decision to resume
> voting in this way, and how to pursue my complaint over his prejudicial intervention for Pippa Bartolotti?
> Max Wallis 07714 163254
> Wales GP Newsletter Editor (under dispute)
> ------------------------------------------------
> To: "John Evans"
> From: Max Wallis
> Date: 20/05/2013 12:42
> Subject: ERO statement re. spoof blog
>
> John Evans, ERO for Wales Green Party
> Dear John,
> Could I query your statement re. Anne Greagsby's spoof blog
> Pippabartalotti.blogspot.com that it was set up to discredit a candidate and is unsubstantiated.
> Anne posted up the blog in response to her disciplining by the GP for
> asking probing/hostile questions of Pippa. The blog provides factual
> material on Pippa, also reflecting something of Anne's bitterness for
> being victimised. It dates back to Sept. 2012 and Pippa has not asked for
> any of it to be corrected or taken down (though Pippa has removed some of her own contradictory stuff).
That surely shows its purpose was to put material challenging Pippa into
> the public domain, not discredit a candidate in the current election.
You wrote on 10 May that the link was to a blog page that was supposedly for one of the candidates, Pippa Bartolotti.
It was obvious the blog did not belong to Pippa.
> I agree, this was obvious; likewise the wikipedia page also linked describes its material on Pippa as unverified, being taken from her own blog and giving references to that. Pippa asked for the letter writer to be referred to her already published statements.
> As far as I can see,.
> So whether or not my inclusion of the link was “unfair” to Pippa in context of the election, do you agree that your description of the blog to members was inaccurate?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -----Forwarded by Max Wallis on 12/06/2013 05:27
> Subject: Wales Green Party NewsletterWales Green Party Member's Newsletter.
>
> Dear Member,
> Please find below a statement from the Wales Euro Regional Returning
> Officer regarding the suspension of the Euro list selection procedure.
>
> "Dear Member,
> Since suspending the European Election list selection process on 10th May
> 2013, I have sought advice and guidance from the National Election
> Returning Officer, the National Elections Agent and an experienced former Electoral Returning Officer.
>
> The consensus was that we could not undo any damage already done and it
> would not be possible to re-level the playing field.
>
> In coming to my decision I considered the advice and guidance received. I
> also took into consideration information I received at the Special Conference of 11th May 2013.
>
> Taking into consideration all of the above, it is my decision as Wales Green Party European Regional Returning Officer, to reverse the suspension and proceed with the selection process.
>
> If you have not posted your ballot papers please do so now. I must urge
> you when making your decisions not to let anything you may have seen in
> the March and May Members Newsletters or internet, influence your choice of listing on the ballot paper.
>
> If you have already sent in your ballot, I will have received it and it will be included in the count.
>
> The deadline for receipt of ballot papers is midnight on 22nd June 2013.
> John Evans WGP ERRO
3rd June 2013."
>
> Other Items of News -
> The Wales Campaigns Coordinator has been suspended from his role on Wales
> Green Party Council due to the forwarding of confidential emails on to a
> non party member. If anyone is interested in being co-opted into this role
> please let me know. - Ann Were ann_were12@######### or tel ##########
>
> Following some uncertainty, National Conference will be held in Brighton
> as originally planned. The date is September 13th - 16th. More information
> is available on the Green Party website.
> The next Wales Green Party Council meeting will be held in Bridgend on 6th
> July. All party members are welcome but the meeting is not open to non
> party members. Please phone or email me if you would like further details.
> Ann Were
>
> WGP General Secretary
> Published and promoted by and on behalf of the Green Party of England and
> Wales. Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT.
> the public domain, not discredit a candidate in the current election.
You wrote on 10 May that the link was to a blog page that was supposedly for one of the candidates, Pippa Bartolotti.
It was obvious the blog did not belong to Pippa.
> I agree, this was obvious; likewise the wikipedia page also linked describes its material on Pippa as unverified, being taken from her own blog and giving references to that. Pippa asked for the letter writer to be referred to her already published statements.
> As far as I can see,.
> So whether or not my inclusion of the link was “unfair” to Pippa in context of the election, do you agree that your description of the blog to members was inaccurate?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -----Forwarded by Max Wallis on 12/06/2013 05:27
> Subject: Wales Green Party NewsletterWales Green Party Member's Newsletter.
>
> Dear Member,
> Please find below a statement from the Wales Euro Regional Returning
> Officer regarding the suspension of the Euro list selection procedure.
>
> "Dear Member,
> Since suspending the European Election list selection process on 10th May
> 2013, I have sought advice and guidance from the National Election
> Returning Officer, the National Elections Agent and an experienced former Electoral Returning Officer.
>
> The consensus was that we could not undo any damage already done and it
> would not be possible to re-level the playing field.
>
> In coming to my decision I considered the advice and guidance received. I
> also took into consideration information I received at the Special Conference of 11th May 2013.
>
> Taking into consideration all of the above, it is my decision as Wales Green Party European Regional Returning Officer, to reverse the suspension and proceed with the selection process.
>
> If you have not posted your ballot papers please do so now. I must urge
> you when making your decisions not to let anything you may have seen in
> the March and May Members Newsletters or internet, influence your choice of listing on the ballot paper.
>
> If you have already sent in your ballot, I will have received it and it will be included in the count.
>
> The deadline for receipt of ballot papers is midnight on 22nd June 2013.
> John Evans WGP ERRO
3rd June 2013."
>
> Other Items of News -
> The Wales Campaigns Coordinator has been suspended from his role on Wales
> Green Party Council due to the forwarding of confidential emails on to a
> non party member. If anyone is interested in being co-opted into this role
> please let me know. - Ann Were ann_were12@######### or tel ##########
>
> Following some uncertainty, National Conference will be held in Brighton
> as originally planned. The date is September 13th - 16th. More information
> is available on the Green Party website.
> The next Wales Green Party Council meeting will be held in Bridgend on 6th
> July. All party members are welcome but the meeting is not open to non
> party members. Please phone or email me if you would like further details.
> Ann Were
>
> WGP General Secretary
> Published and promoted by and on behalf of the Green Party of England and
> Wales. Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT.
No comments:
Post a Comment